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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DSC birthday present

79 replies

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 16:07

It was DT birthday recently, PIL bought them a nice gift each.

DSC is here, he has also been given the same present when his birthday isn’t for months.

DT receive nothing from her on DSC birthday.

AIBU to be a bit miffed about this?

OP posts:
Citroenc1 · 28/06/2025 17:39

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 17:36

I don’t understand how time equates to presents?

@Strugglingsoul19
no set budget…we tend to get things they ask for. For example, DSC got a bike this year and DT got scooters (£30 off Amazon) then they all had a few other bits too from DH and I. DSC also had an games console from his mum.

presumably DSC is a few years older? How old are the kids? that would put things into a lot more context. Are we talking 9 and 8 or 9 and 3? Can your DT ride a bike? Do they have a bike? do they play games?

and yes, I do understand why some people feel the need to overcompensate the lack of family time with gifts.

Strugglingsoul19 · 28/06/2025 17:39

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 17:36

I don’t understand how time equates to presents?

@Strugglingsoul19
no set budget…we tend to get things they ask for. For example, DSC got a bike this year and DT got scooters (£30 off Amazon) then they all had a few other bits too from DH and I. DSC also had an games console from his mum.

It doesn’t however if you wanted to you could fight for 50 / 50

you are upset because they are not all treated the same financially buy grandparents

but they are not all treated the same time wise by their dad.

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 17:40

something like a magazine, I buy DSC when here but not when he’s not. He gets magazines at his mums, no point buying the same one twice

OP posts:
Citroenc1 · 28/06/2025 17:41

they dad does not treat them the same either? He just spends every other weekend with DSC but sees DT daily? Fair? Hope you get the point

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 17:42

@Citroenc1
theyre 9 and 7

@Strugglingsoul19
but gifts don’t make up for it and don’t really have anything to do with grandparents.

time was court ordered due to distance between homes. DP could see DSC more but it too lazy IMO. A thread for another day.

OP posts:
AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 17:44

Strugglingsoul19 · 28/06/2025 17:37

What his mum buys him is irrelevant in these situations.

Well then what the OP buys her twins shouldn't be relevant either then!

@MILisProfessorUmbridge

you need to get your DH sorted out before you can tackle his parents!

'We' didn't get the twins Birthday Presents unless 'we' get DSC's birthday presents

the twins already see they have to share their stuff but 'golden child' doesn't.

yes the twins get to live with their Dad 34/7 & DSC doesn't. Buy the fact Dad spoils DSC more hasn't gone unnoticed. It is just causing a wedge between the kids & it's not changing how little DSC sees his Dad. Does he stay for half the holidays. Do they see each other in the week? (If not, why not. Can that be changed??)

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 17:46

@AppleWhichWatch
yes, here most of the holidays due to DM work schedule

OP posts:
AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 17:46

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 17:42

@Citroenc1
theyre 9 and 7

@Strugglingsoul19
but gifts don’t make up for it and don’t really have anything to do with grandparents.

time was court ordered due to distance between homes. DP could see DSC more but it too lazy IMO. A thread for another day.

Cross posted.

hes too lazy 🙄🙄then get him told. He cannot make up for being a lazy Dad to DSC, by buying him more & making the twins share, but not DSC. Seriously give him both barrels on being a lazy Dad to DSC!!

AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 17:48

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 17:46

@AppleWhichWatch
yes, here most of the holidays due to DM work schedule

Well. that's something I suppose?! It does all the 'extra work/parenting' fall on your or does he actually step up??

Strugglingsoul19 · 28/06/2025 17:48

AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 17:44

Well then what the OP buys her twins shouldn't be relevant either then!

@MILisProfessorUmbridge

you need to get your DH sorted out before you can tackle his parents!

'We' didn't get the twins Birthday Presents unless 'we' get DSC's birthday presents

the twins already see they have to share their stuff but 'golden child' doesn't.

yes the twins get to live with their Dad 34/7 & DSC doesn't. Buy the fact Dad spoils DSC more hasn't gone unnoticed. It is just causing a wedge between the kids & it's not changing how little DSC sees his Dad. Does he stay for half the holidays. Do they see each other in the week? (If not, why not. Can that be changed??)

Yes what her DP buys including if they share finances does matter

DSC mum is nothing to do with her children

he is their dad and she married him knowing that.

NotWorthTheHeadache · 28/06/2025 17:56

9 and 7? Thats a very small age gap. So are DT yours from a previous relationship?

AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 17:56

Strugglingsoul19 · 28/06/2025 17:48

Yes what her DP buys including if they share finances does matter

DSC mum is nothing to do with her children

he is their dad and she married him knowing that.

Edited

Nope. If DSC mum's gifts are irrelevant (& I agree they are) then irrespective of how finances are arranged the OP can buy her kids presents as well.

The mums are both equal to their own children.

AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 17:58

NotWorthTheHeadache · 28/06/2025 17:56

9 and 7? Thats a very small age gap. So are DT yours from a previous relationship?

Are you suggesting they're her BIL's children??

pretty hard for the paternal grandparents to be paternal grandparents otherwise.

NotWorthTheHeadache · 28/06/2025 18:02

AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 17:58

Are you suggesting they're her BIL's children??

pretty hard for the paternal grandparents to be paternal grandparents otherwise.

Apologies, i didn’t actually see they were paternal grandparents. It just seems too small an age gap to be a second family.

CopperWhite · 28/06/2025 18:06

DC have started to ask why is it they have to share everything but DSC doesn’t.

Then explain to them that their grandparents feel sad for their older sibling that they don’t get to live with both parents like they do and buys extra presents because they don’t want their half sibling to feel sad or left out. Point out that they get to live with each other and see if they can develop some empathy for the difficult position their sibling is in.

You’re right that the presents don’t make up for the different family experiences your partners children will have as they grow up, but they do send a message that a child is considered, valued and loved. Your step child needs to receive this message much more than your children do because of their different circumstances.

CopperWhite · 28/06/2025 18:09

AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 17:56

Nope. If DSC mum's gifts are irrelevant (& I agree they are) then irrespective of how finances are arranged the OP can buy her kids presents as well.

The mums are both equal to their own children.

One of the mums made a choice to have a step child and to make said step child a half sibling. One of the mums didn’t, and had no control over the position their child was put in.

That means that one of the mothers has a responsibility to consider her step child, but the other mother who doesn’t have a step child doesn’t have the same obligation.

Strugglingsoul19 · 28/06/2025 18:12

AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 17:56

Nope. If DSC mum's gifts are irrelevant (& I agree they are) then irrespective of how finances are arranged the OP can buy her kids presents as well.

The mums are both equal to their own children.

Their home should be his home the minute they decided to have his siblings they became a family.
i will forever be so confused by the stance on step children.

AppleWhichWatch · 28/06/2025 18:25

NotWorthTheHeadache · 28/06/2025 18:02

Apologies, i didn’t actually see they were paternal grandparents. It just seems too small an age gap to be a second family.

😂😂 fair enough

yes, small age gap, personally wouldn't have touched him with a barge pole with such a young child, probably somewhat explains his guilt present buying & perhaps his laziness. Is why he was single (assuming he was...)

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 18:27

2.5 year age gap.

OP posts:
Citroenc1 · 28/06/2025 18:30

that's a tiny gap with kids close in age, no wonder the PIL are trying to guilt present.

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 18:32

@Citroenc1
it won’t change it though

OP posts:
Strugglingsoul19 · 28/06/2025 18:36

You won’t tell us the gift I think that would be important to be fair

the age gap is tiny and his an only child going to a house with his twin brothers close in age.

if it was something like a switch or something like that I can see why they did it.

Strugglingsoul19 · 28/06/2025 18:37

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 18:32

@Citroenc1
it won’t change it though

They are not trying to change
I think you are a bit dismissive of the issues your DSS may be facing.

LittleOwl153 · 28/06/2025 18:46

MILisProfessorUmbridge · 28/06/2025 17:33

@Moonnstars
this is my point, they are all their grandchildren so why treat them differently.

Same with DP, he keeps telling DSC “look what you all got” about DC presents….DC have started to ask why is it they have to share everything but DSC doesn’t.

They literally opened a present and DP said to DSC “look what we got”. No, look what DC got.

This is would absolutely not be putting g up with.

Please dont tell us DT are girls?

I'd be having serious grounds for divorce if you were married as he clearly thinks of the twins as less than the older child despite them all being his children!! Dad giving out uneven treatment is much worse than GPS doing it.

Citroenc1 · 28/06/2025 18:52

I'd be having serious grounds for divorce if you were married as he clearly thinks of the twins as less than the older child despite them all being his children!! Dad giving out uneven treatment is much worse than GPS doing it.

is he? he is seeing the DT daily and how other child only fortnightly.

In any case, it looks like 2 adults rushed to bring more children into the world when DH's DC1 was still very small. I think OP need to cut DSC a bit more slack and take a bit more ownership of her and DH's role which led to a situation where DCS isn't able to see their dad regularly.