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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Worst Christmas present

461 replies

Bookworm512 · 25/12/2023 20:40

I feel ungrateful but also very disappointed. My husband is crap at gifting but this really takes the biscuit. I am a 53 year old woman and we have been together for 26 years. He bought me a periscope. Am I being unreasonable to be disappointed and ungrateful?😓

OP posts:
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6
SmileyClare · 27/12/2023 21:46

SoOutingWhoCares · 27/12/2023 21:13

This is going to sound really ungrateful, and I am sorry as I'm sure the giver meant well...

I am in my 30s and over the past couple of years became a carer for my newly disabled mother who is in her late 70s...I love her very much but I have given up a lot and feel old before my time. I go to work and am a carer and that's pretty much it. No room for a love life or much fun.

Anyway, we were both given matching button up unisex flannel pyjamas by a friend, sort of a grandfather style. For some reason, it's upset me. Old, sexless, unfeminine, have basically become one with my mother as she can do very little without me - they just feel like a symbol of how life is and I hate those bloody PJs. My Mum isn't too keen on them either! I'd bin them but the friend would know and has already been asking if we're wearing them.

I've also been given a shit ton of candles.

Oh god I’d hate that gift too! Don’t feel bad about chucking those flannel pyjama to your nearest charity shop and buying yourself something trendy instead! Don’t give it another thought.

Hats off to you for making such huge sacrifices for your mum. Don’t ever lose yourself Flowers

OptimisticMermaid · 27/12/2023 21:50

My ex, on our first christmas together, wrapped up a small mysterious present and hung it on the tree. He encouraged me to squeeze the package and hinted at nice jewellery. It turned out to be a packet of revels. I was a bit disappointed but then realised that I had only got him a toilet brush as I knew he badly needed one.

Mikimoto · 27/12/2023 21:56

I expected this thread to be rubbish, about "furry slippers", but
periscope is BRILLIANT!!!

Bitchassmosquito · 27/12/2023 21:58

I was wondering where this years “my present wasn’t good enough” thread was. A periscope though, that’s hilarious 😂

Lube is just grim 😬

BreakfastAtMilliways · 27/12/2023 22:02

I remember the ex at uni who bought me a book called ‘The A-Z of Superstitions’ for Christmas. All very well but the last thing I need is some random rhyme in my head telling me what days I’m allowed to cut my fingernails. He was the one who bought me, for my 21st birthday, a set of gold-coloured costume jewellery (not gold, or even gold plated). I mean, it had its uses for student parties, but as a present it was tacky.

Sebsaloysius · 27/12/2023 22:03

LouMorris · 25/12/2023 20:51

Periscope 😂😂

I got a horse calendar, I’ve got nothing against horses but that’s as strong as my feelings on the subject get 😂

The periscope made me laugh, but this just finished me off 😂

thebestinterest · 27/12/2023 22:03

😂😂😂😂 OP, your husband has a sense of humor! 😂 I would have cracked up laughing SO DAMN HARD!

Rubbishao · 27/12/2023 22:04

My husband bought me 10x radox bath soak. The ones that you’d usually just pick up in the weekly shop as you need them, nothing special. Also happens to be the same thing he got me for my birthday, of which 9.5 of them are still sat on the bathroom side because we have no storage.

SoOutingWhoCares · 27/12/2023 22:06

Thank you @HabitsDieHard & @SmileyClare your kind words mean a lot. And maybe my reaction to the PJs is telling me something and they are a kick up the bum in a good way.

Shuggie1234 · 27/12/2023 22:08

I just buy a few things I fancy in December so I’m never disappointed by gifts from others as I’ve already got what I want! This year a lovely KG bag, a Barbour jacket, 5 dresses and a couple of jumpers Merry Christmas to me 😃

kittylion2 · 27/12/2023 22:11

Yearsandyearsandyearsandyearsago - before we were married (and we have been divorced 20 years now) ex bought me a .....

pogo stick. 😕
(I honestly have no idea why - even to this day.)

Does that make you feel any better OP?

Nickinoo22 · 27/12/2023 22:12

Avacardo2023 · 25/12/2023 20:59

I'm similar age and marriage length OP and my DH handed me a bag of utter shite today. I have started to dread receiving any sort of presents from him but today I'm pissed off.

Anyway today's haul was a Mr Frosty (because I wanted one as a child and didn't get one, but he completely forgot he already bought me one for my 29th and another on my 40th and Mr Frosty was actually a bit shit and not how it looked on TV). So that, two silk eye masks (because why would you only need one, or in fact any) and a box of nut brittle.

Love it 😅😅😅

RaspberriesUpside · 27/12/2023 22:12

OP I am in a minority. I don’t find it funny at all. Your husband who knows you and apparently loves you, bought you a gift with very little thought. He made no effort to really understand what you would like. He didn’t get you books. He got you a random gift that I expect he may end up having a bit of fun with.

I would feel quite hurt and disappointed at the lack of thought OP. Unless you have just recently become a couple in which case I would give more leeway.

Nickinoo22 · 27/12/2023 22:17

This thread is brilliant 😂 I am lucky not having an OH so no grotty presents but have had a few in the past .

Mothership4two · 27/12/2023 22:26

I do the same @Shuggie1234 I don't wrap them but keep them to one side and get them out over Christmas to wear or enjoy

Speedygonzales78 · 27/12/2023 22:28

I don't think I've ever got anything truly crap but I've certainly had some disappointments or things I didn't like or would use.
A Grogu mobile phone holder, massive mug with his ears, lots of other Grogu items purely because I watched The Mandalorian and thought he was cute and at the grand age of 50 these seem suitable gifts.
A Gino recipe book from my OH who clearly didn't flick through first because most of the recipes are stuff that he either wouldn't eat or contain an item he is allergic to.
Some cheap plastic truly hideous bracelets from a friend.
Age 13 I received odour eaters and some shoe lace clip on faces from a friend.
The same soap and glory set every year from mil, a few years running also a Boots teenager type set that I forget the name of, not Naturals, one after that, looked kind of like mini milk bottles.
A chocolate fondue set TWICE
Starbucks sets from ils 4 years running.
Above and other ceramic items from same set of ils already broken "because one of their kids dropped it".
I'll think of more in the morning 🤣

Wristfolds · 27/12/2023 22:30

OP not sure if this has been established yet but do you live underground? If you’re being held somewhere subterranean the periscope would be ideal

Suchasonganddance · 27/12/2023 22:32

After the brushed cotton animal pattern nightmare debacle we agreed to drop Christmas presents to each other.
This after about 10 years wed.
Makes me quite sad when I think of the effort some put into choosing the right present, but at least saves any further hurt.

ItWasnaMeGuv · 27/12/2023 22:35

IjustbelieveinMe · 25/12/2023 21:16

I got lube.
At first I thought ooh it's hand cream or something else skin care related and when I opened it I thought oh ok.
There were two other presents I got too, but the lube is all I could think about.
I was told to not buy him a Xmas present, I think I know why now, as him using the lube on me will be it won't it Biscuit

I bought my DH something like this, sort of massaging lube stuff which was 'played with' on Christmas night Xmas Shock. Apparently "tastes nice" Xmas Grin [TMI]. Also gave him my old phone, all set up to use, some hand-made whiskey chocolates and a mystery weekend treat TBC Xmas Wink.

Mothership4two · 27/12/2023 22:39

My Dad gave me a set of headphones when I was about 12. The sort you plug into a record player - this was late 70s. I unwrapped it and waited for the record player to appear - it didn't. I didn't have a record player of my own.

Fortunately Mum bought my presents and Dad would just get a few extra randoms.

At the same time he bought me sheepskin slippers even though I had been very vocal about not wanting a sheepskin coat (some of my cousins had them - there must have been a trend at the time) or anything with fur on. And who buys an 12 yo sheepskin slippers for Christmas?

Wristfolds · 27/12/2023 22:40

My ExH forgot my birthday entirely the last year we were together, it was a bit of a gut punch :( First year with a baby too so felt quite sad he hadn’t helped her out with gifts. Have now remarried and opened Hamilton tickets for Christmas with a hotel and all the childcare arranged- so glad I moved on!

Happilyobtuse · 27/12/2023 22:47

WhatWouldAliciaDo · 26/12/2023 00:59

🤣

Hilarious! Love it! 😂🤣

Barbiesdreamhousenotmojodojocasahouse · 27/12/2023 22:52

@SoOutingWhoCares 💐

Howbizzare22 · 27/12/2023 22:52

This made me laugh out loud sorry OP! Unless you’ve talked about spying on the neighbours or a new found interest in submarines I cannot understand-so odd! Please ask him in the nicest possible way-whhhyyyy?

Sensibleandboring · 27/12/2023 22:53

Yeah that sounds rubbish. I got an air fryer & was finding it hard to get excited also.