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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to talk to my son and tell him the gift was meant just for him?

898 replies

BySassyUmberPeer · 03/11/2024 18:03

My son and DIL have a lovely 2 year old little boy and a 6 month old little girl. I see them about once a week and my DIL is super sweet and absolutely adores my son and is a great mum to both my GC. I sometimes come around and spend time with my DIL and GC over tea. My son has been working hard lately and I wanted to give him a cheque just for him to say I am proud of him as my son and to go towards something special for just himself. Could be anything that he wanted but maybe couldn’t justify spending on himself, ya know? Maybe something for his car or what have you.

The cheque was for $600. Well I received a text later that evening from my DIL that said the following, “thank you so much Allison for the lovely cheque it was completely unnecessary however it is very much appreciated!! Dan and I have been exhausted lately and are looking forward to doing something special for ourselves. I have a spa day scheduled for 2 Saturdays from now I’m looking forward to and Dan is using it towards a guys night.” I feel deep down that my DIL couldn’t just let my son have this for himself she had to have some too because, “well if you get some cash for just yourself I should as well.”

I’m annoyed that a gift that was meant as a special gesture for just my son to recognize his hard work as a father is not all going just forwards him. Women are always taught to treat themselves and it’s ok to do something for themselves. Why is it not ok for men to have a little something for themselves once in a while?

AIBU if I talk to my son about how I meant the gift to be just for him?

OP posts:
TickingAlongNicely · 03/11/2024 18:04

Maybe you son wants to spend it on a Spa day for his partner?

JollyPinkFox · 03/11/2024 18:05

Probably the ‘anything he wanted’ was to share it with his wife who he loves and has kids with and wants to share financially with her…what’s your real problem with her?

Screamingabdabz · 03/11/2024 18:06

I know what you mean but things don’t work like that when your children are married. Any money becomes joint money. At least she thanked you!

fatphalange · 03/11/2024 18:07

You're being bonkers.

FfsBrian · 03/11/2024 18:07

That was a lovely gesture OP

Did you tell him it was just for him?

arethereanyleftatall · 03/11/2024 18:07

Yabu.

BySassyUmberPeer · 03/11/2024 18:07

I don’t have a problem with her AT ALL. This was just a gift I wanted to give to just my son. Doing something individually for the son I raised and loved from a baby doesn’t mean that I don’t love my DIL.

Whenever I buy for my son I always include my DIL. But I think a mom should be allowed to do something just for her child once in a while.

OP posts:
Pancakeflipper · 03/11/2024 18:07

I think I'd let them both have treats.
To say 'it's only for DS" could create long term issues.

In future perhaps get your DS an actual present/event that is for him.

Dr13Hadley · 03/11/2024 18:07

It was his gift to do with as he wished surely? I'd be proud of my son for sharing it!

babasaclover · 03/11/2024 18:07

You oh are being completely unreasonable. It was a gift and he is planning a lads night which he wants to do and he probably suggested to his partner she do something nice too.

QueSyrahSyrah · 03/11/2024 18:07

If my parents gave me a cheque to spend on 'anything I wanted' then the thing I would want is to do something nice either for or with my Husband and Son. If they insisted I spent it all on something just for me I'd hand them it back.

It's lovely of you to want to treat him but you're being completely unreasonable to dictate what he does with it.

SilverChampagne · 03/11/2024 18:08

He has a wife and children, op.
You can’t tell him not to spend his “fun” money on them!
Why does he need a special gift from his Mum because he was working hard, anyway?
I’ll bet his wife was working equally hard running round after two young children.

BESTAUNTB · 03/11/2024 18:08

I’d treat my partner too, I think.

Pickandmixmood · 03/11/2024 18:08

Be proud that you have raised a caring husband who shares his good fortune with his wife.

AnonAnonEmouse · 03/11/2024 18:09

Well if your son has been working hard lately I expect your DIL has too - looking after 2 very young children singlehandedly whilst he works hard? I think it sounds like they have a wonderful relationship where they value each other's contribution to their family life therefore you should be proud of yourself for raising a good husband.

MonteStory · 03/11/2024 18:09

There’s no harm in a casual “I really want you to treat yourself with the money, was it enough?” or something but you can’t really say “don’t share this”

Either he wanted to share it in which case he’ll think you’re being horrible or he didn’t want to but ‘had’ to in which case he’ll probably go on the defensive. It can’t end well really.

thepariscrimefiles · 03/11/2024 18:09

Your son obviously wanted to share it with his wife. He probably won't be happy if you tell him that you expect him to withdraw the offer of the spa day and to spend it all on himself. It will probably also ruin your relationship with your DIL as well.

Normally, once you give someone money, it's up to them how they spend it, unless you tell them that it's for a specific purpose, e.g. house deposit before you give it to them.

Wendysfriend · 03/11/2024 18:09

I wouldn't say anything, it sounds like they both can benefit from the cheque and sometimes people don't feel right not telling their partners when they receive money. Let them enjoy it and be thankful that you raised a caring man.

Lookingforwardto2025 · 03/11/2024 18:09

If you want to do something just for your son then you will need to buy it specifically. Most marriages especially with children finances will be shared and a cheque of that size will be family money. You could buy your son an experience in something he enjoys if you want to treat him.

Pandasnacks · 03/11/2024 18:09

You can't dictate the use of the gift, do you really want to be that MIL? 'You have have this money but only if you don't share it with her'. It's up to him what he does with it, and it'd cause a fall out to respond that way after she's text you saying thanks

samedifferent · 03/11/2024 18:10

It is a very generous gift OP, take comfort in the fact that you raised your son to share rather than hoard good fortune.
It is ultimately his gift to use as he wishes.

Hercisback1 · 03/11/2024 18:10

She must have been working hard too with two children under 3.

I'd stay quiet and be happy my son was such a lovely guy he shared it. She's clearly nice too as she thanked you.

Biffbaff · 03/11/2024 18:10

There have been so many MILs on here lately complaining about having to "share" their time, money, gifts with their DiLs. What gives?

Parkerpenny · 03/11/2024 18:10

Your DIL sounds lovely and so does your son.

rwalker · 03/11/2024 18:11

JollyPinkFox · 03/11/2024 18:05

Probably the ‘anything he wanted’ was to share it with his wife who he loves and has kids with and wants to share financially with her…what’s your real problem with her?

I get where your coming from but that is extremely devicive to just give it to your son

doing thing like that could very easy alienate your DIL and damage your relationship with her I’m sure she’ll of had take take extra things on to enable your son to work extra bit shit not to recognise that

say nothing