Fallout with MIL over a tricycle

232 replies

Cam007 · 05/03/2024 22:21

My MIL mentioned that she wanted to buy my 11 month old baby a tricycle during a stroll in the park. I expressed safety concerns due to my own past experiences as child (I had a bad accident on a tricycle when I was a toddler). I let her know that me and my husband would need to look at tricycle reviews and their level of safety to choose the most appropriate one and that we won’t be able use it until 18 months. The day before his 1 st birthday my MIL tells us that she has bought his birthday present and it’s a tricycle. I replied that we had talked about this and my MIL shucked. The next day our son is presented with a wrapped box containing said tricycle. My husband and I decided not to open the box because we were unhappy that she had gone against our wishes. The next day my husband called his mum to tell her that we weren’t happy about the situation and that we felt that she had undermined our parenting. She got upset and hang up on my husband. Are we being unreasonable or should we accepted the gift and not made an issue out of it?

OP posts:

NewFriendlyLadybird · 08/03/2024 21:04

Red0 · 07/03/2024 21:28

Not quite the same, but MIL presented our very excited DCs with an enormous trampoline despite us saying no to it because it wouldn’t physically fit in our garden (well it would, but we wouldn’t have been able to get out of the patio door). We told her to take it back because we didn’t want it and didn’t appreciate her giving it to kids when we’d said no. She sulked and we had to deal with DCs who were really upset with us for saying no.

The reason your MIL was wrong was that she presented the trampoline to your children. The OP’s MIL has given the unwanted gift via the parents. The child has no idea that it has been given. The parents could have said thanks (but no thanks, privately) and that would have been that.

NoMoreFalafelsForYou · 08/03/2024 23:52

Voone · 07/03/2024 23:40

Yes I had stuff like this with my mother.

I let a lot of it go because she wouldn't have listened anyway but she ended up just wasting her money in a lot of cases then.

There was one time though that she said she'd ordered my son a pool table. I told her we had no room for it, she said it could go in his room, I said it would take up his entire floor space so no. She ordered it anyway. When I saw it at her house I told her it wasn't coming to my house but if she wanted to set it up at hers in her much bigger house then to go ahead. She then returned it for a refund 😂

Another time they got him a gaming PC, which I had specifically told them not to because he was too young and didn't need one. He hadn't even asked for one! I was so annoyed when they presented it to him without my knowledge!

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Love that, how you stuck up for yourself - funny how she suddenly didn't want it in her house (even if it was much bigger) but was totally expecting you to put it in a bedroom at yours that would have took up the entire floor space 🙄😁

Vonesk · 09/03/2024 01:51

To be honest..
Does MIL live with you ???????
Would it be possible to ' store' the tricycle in the attic????? Out of reach of prying eyes?????
Is there a chance that you would be cross examined about it if it wasnt on full display in the house??????
The child can only ride it on the day if you give it to them.
I should descreetly deal with it, how far is the local tip????????

Ukrainebaby23 · 09/03/2024 13:34

I can't wear wool. So my BF buys me a top mase of wool.

I smile say thank you and how lovely it is, colour, pattern etc.

Put it in the cupboard til after next Christmas and then gift it. I come from the, Its the thought that counts, upbringing and you don't expect others to acknowledge or understand your foibles.
Open the boz turn the trike upside down and let kiddo play with the wheels til u are ready to use it.and say thank you to MIL

Pottedpalm · 09/03/2024 16:40

Vonesk · 09/03/2024 01:51

You would really throw into landfill? Pretty disgusting!

DinnaeFashYersel · 09/03/2024 16:46

newyearnewknees · 06/03/2024 07:54

I hope that you will be embarrassed about this in the future.

Yep

Rumbunctious · 09/03/2024 16:46

Pottedpalm · 09/03/2024 16:40

You would really throw into landfill? Pretty disgusting!

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Our local tip has a section for too good to throw items. Things like bikes are normally handed in there to be serviced then passed on to a Recyc-a-bike place that gives the bikes to adults and children who couldn’t normally afford one.

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