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Original poster

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
Grammarnut · 27/12/2023 22:59

One year I asked my ex-husband for Mrs Gaskell's 'Wives and Daughters', which I had begun reading but had to return to friend who leant it to me. He decided it was 'unsuitable' (thought it was a radfem book, I suspect) and bought me 'Manwatching' by Desmond Morris, who I do not like. It was about the same size as Gaskell and I was really pleased to see the present under the tree. Then I opened it and was so disappointed. I asked if he could not get the book I had wanted, which was when he said it was 'unsuitable'. I was furious and also couldn't imagine how he could be so stupid. I rather think I started reading 'Manwatching' but gave up after a while. I never did get a copy of 'Wives and Daughters'. I left him a few years later. Mind, a periscope sounds fun and also your DH has not commented as my ex did. I'd go out and buy the books you'd like and wrap the periscope up for this birthday.

Happilyobtuse · 27/12/2023 22:59

soupmaker · 25/12/2023 23:20

We, very bizarrely, got a very heavy marble rolling pin with a wooden stand from our neighbours. They gifted our kids really amazing tech, so I'm hoping it was lurking at the back of a cupboard and has been regifted. I have absolutely no idea what I said to her to make her think it would be a good gift. I've got a perfectly good wooden on which is 30 years old and does for all my rolling needs!

Are your neighbours asian? A marble rolling pin and wooden stand would be used for making a lot of indian/pakistani/bangladeshi food. I want one! 😁

ThatWhiteElephant · 27/12/2023 23:00

Bookworm512 · 25/12/2023 22:38

Picture of periscope. When I said nothing, looking shocked, he added that it is apparently used by the military. Like I should be impressed.

I'm sorry but this is so funny!

If it makes you feel any better my dh got me a candle, from Sainsbury's.
We'd smelt them in the shop together last week and I told him how horrible this particular one was. He bought it because he liked it Confused

AmIEnough · 27/12/2023 23:01

Did he get you the submarine to go with it??!! What a strange present!!

Pigsinpainauchocolat · 27/12/2023 23:01

@ItWasnaMeGuv yes that is TMI 🤮🤮🤮

PurplePositivity · 27/12/2023 23:10

What a random present!

I'd love to know his thought process, 'ah a periscope just what DW needs'. I'd have to ask him WTF he was thinking, comedy gold though.

QueenMegan · 27/12/2023 23:13

What did you get him out of interest. I feel you need to definitely indulge in some whacky response next year?

Pliudev · 27/12/2023 23:14

I got 4 books (from friends), three of which I'd already read and recommended to said friends. Also, 6 months membership of an organisation I'm already a member of.

Lopoem · 27/12/2023 23:23

My DH bought me Folic Acid one year (amongst other things). Yes we were about to try for a baby. The problem was we were opening gifts in front of the whole family. Way to pile on the pressure.

My Mum is notoriously bad at buying gifts. I have zero expectations now. You would think she might have some idea what I might like as her daughter, but apparently not. I have gone beyond finding it hurtful now how thoughtless her gifts are. I now just find the waste frustrating. I try and encourage her not to buy gifts or even send her links to what I would actually like. She still insists on buying things that are so not my taste.

DC1888 · 27/12/2023 23:33

My aunt, who is a bit 'different' to all my other aunts on both sides, was so bad at gifts that is what we remember her most for.

Of her numerous bizarre gifts she gave each of us kids a clothes peg that holds a pen (similar to the one pictured). As a kid you just looked at it in silence with a puzzled "what the" expression. Being shoved by my mum to say thank you I can also recall.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386320879416

Large Clothes Peg Pen Holder Vintage 1980s Lucite/ Perspex | eBay

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Daffodilsandtuplips · 27/12/2023 23:49

My in laws were crap at gifts, I got a tea stained second hand cardigan one year from PILs. SIL gave me a box of Typoo tea bags.
DH seemed to have inherited the gene the year he gave me a Bryan Ferry CD, we didn’t have a CD player. I just looked at him and said “Really?. Don't you dare”. I knew what his game was, to buy himself a CD player.
He’s improved a lot since then. I have had lovely thought out gifts since then. I
asked for and got an air fryer this year.

Mamanyt · 27/12/2023 23:54

Bookworm512 · 25/12/2023 20:44

He thought I might like it to look out of the skylight! I would have preferred one of the books I asked for.

I highly suggest using it to peek around corners at him randomly, yelling, "GOTCHA" every time you do. Do it frequently. Do it with glee. Do it when he's in the loo. Or getting dressed. Tell him it is the best thing ever. It may not actually help his gift selections, but he might actually listen to what you might like next time.

serendippity · 28/12/2023 00:02

I love the periscope, how random! 😂My SIL was the Queen of gifts. Among her best were a set of pyjamas (size 20. I was a 12) a boots by 2 get 1 free shower gel (buy 2 get 1 free stickers still on it) and one memorable year....oven pride. Gift wrapped fucking oven pride. She never liked me, and liked to make sure I knew it 😒

Happilyobtuse · 28/12/2023 00:07

A periscope is way out there! A telescope would have made a bit more sense I think. I would have liked a telescope, bit random but still nice.

I am sure this differs from person to person but my family do the best gifts for me as they know me best. My parents and sibling always buy me lovely thoughtful and usually expensive gifts that I would not be able to buy for myself.

My DH does ok, compared to a periscope! Nothing over the top or unusual but he does try to remember things I said I liked. I had mentioned a perfume I liked in October and he bought me the gift set. Then he got me lounge wear pyjamas from next which were practical but nice. And also a woollen hat as I walk a lot and usually wear a hat in autumn and winter as my ears are always cold.

Some years he tries to do something different, I once got a hotel chocolat velvetiser and the hot chocolat selection for Christmas. That was one of my favourites. Otherwise he sticks to a small piece of jewellery. We don’t do big Christmas presents, we spend more on birthdays and anniversary.

I am told by my DH’s parents and sibling that he was a rubbish gift buyer before he met me, but I think if you give generously usually you will receive too. I make a lot of effort in getting nice gifts for my DH, so he reciprocates. His parents rarely buy us or our kids anything. So I kind of get why he never goes overboard for them. But we always buy them things that they will like.

Christmasnutcracker · 28/12/2023 00:08

This thread is great.

MIL gave me one plain white little cereal bowl. I suppose it could be a soup bowl. I'm really not sure. At first I thought it was for the cat seeing as we are a family of four plus cat. But nope she explained that it was one little cereal bowl......for me.....as she likes to give 'practical' gifts.

Penguin2024 · 28/12/2023 00:12

Thanks for giving me a good laugh! No doubt he is a fan of submarines or just gadgets. I hope you can give him a present list next year!

wingsanddreams · 28/12/2023 00:14

Ok in any situation where a husband makes you unhappy, you should go and buy yourself something you really like from the shop, paid from your joint account. It will instantly make you feel happier and will make you forget about his unwanted gift.

lingo · 28/12/2023 00:16

Handcream from my mum - the same handcream set she got me last year that I still haven't touched. And a sewing box. Not sure why I bothered with close to £200 of gifts for her, things I know she would like, when she clearly knows me so little. Know I'm ungrateful but I'm not hard to buy for - even shower gel would have been better!

Femme2804 · 28/12/2023 00:17

My husband always ask what i want. Often he just give me the money. Sooo unromantic. But all gifts its what i want. This christmas i got demellier bag and dyson hair wrap. I dont think i can called it a gift as i’m the one who buy it from the website with his money. Always like that every year, every birthday, anniversary and christmas 😅

sumayyah · 28/12/2023 00:18

I got a cheap pocket first aid kit....... I have an entire drawer filled with plasters of every size, bandages, gauze etc plus a portable kit for days out
I responded enthusiasticly and ordered myself a new book

JLW24 · 28/12/2023 00:21

Aw I think maybe he was trying to be creative and thoughtful with his gift but failed…. At least he tried to surprise you with something even if it is totally bonkers! Men are such crap gift givers. Try to see it as a compliment that he’s still trying to bring you joy

Christmasnutcracker · 28/12/2023 00:22

Stressybetty · 26/12/2023 03:17

DH and I agreed we'd just give token presents under 20 quid so wasn't expecting much.
Didn't expect to be presented with a latex mask of a black poodle.
He'd got himself a Labrador one and thought we could film YouTube videos on dog boarding in disguise 🫤
Tried it on and can't even see out of it!

I'm in bed coming down with the flu and this thread has cheered me up so much.

Between this and the periscope - I'm laughing out loud.

Chichimcgee · 28/12/2023 00:22

That’s so weird BUT I didn’t get anything from anyone so I’m going to say you’re being unreasonable because I’m mardy, sorry!

Original poster
Bookworm512 · 28/12/2023 00:24

I am happy to have made some of you laugh. I have treated myself to a lovely Elemis gift set. The periscope is going in the garage tomorrow, until husbands birthday!

OP posts:
CleansUpButWouldPreferNotTo · 28/12/2023 00:28

So sorry for both of you, @GreySantaRabbit and @Beautiful3 - not even a chocolate bar!

I hope you get the opportunity to treat yourselves to something special just for yourself. Perhaps even a periscope?! 😃

Yes to going away solo next Christmas!