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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this gift odd? (Light-hearted)

28 replies

Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 07:45

I recently had a birthday. My colleagues were lovely and I received many gifts. One of my younger co-workers (he's in his 20s so around 10 years my junior) gave me a very cute medium-sized cuddly toy. I thought it was sweet. However, some of my friends have commented that it's an odd gift for a colleague of the opposite sex. My DH wasn't bothered and found it amusing. It is now being cuddled by my DS at night.

I am just wondering if it is a strange gift? For context, my colleague is a lovely guy and we're friendly i.e we have a laugh but there's absolutely nothing untoward.

OP posts:
Blarn · 12/07/2025 07:51

Colleagues buying birthday gifts is a bit unusual unless you are good friends as well. Perhaps he had no idea what to buy you and settled with something completely dull and safe?

Wishiwasperfect · 12/07/2025 07:54

Perhaps I'm being naive but I don't see what the problem is.

Katemax82 · 12/07/2025 07:55

Cuddly toys are fine. My 19 year old son collects them (loony tunes and garfield, he took sylvester and pepe le Peu plushies with him to hospital when he had an anaphylaxis shock recently) he would definitely buy a woman he barely knows a cuddly toy

Idontjetwashthefucker · 12/07/2025 07:56

I'd have raised an eyebrow at being gifted a cuddly toy as an adult, it's a shit gift, but it sounds like you want it to mean something reading your thread.

Springtimehere · 12/07/2025 07:56

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 07:57

Blarn · 12/07/2025 07:51

Colleagues buying birthday gifts is a bit unusual unless you are good friends as well. Perhaps he had no idea what to buy you and settled with something completely dull and safe?

I agree birthday gifts for colleagues are unusual! I didn't do that in my old workplace (apart from with very close friends) but then when I started receiving gifts in the place that I work now, I realised it probably is part of the work culture.

To be fair, the cuddly toy is very cute and made me smile.

OP posts:
Steelworks · 12/07/2025 07:57

It sounds like a ‘not sure what to get, possibly last minute, and grab the nearest ‘suitable’ item ‘ from the garage etc. present to me.

Coffeeishot · 12/07/2025 07:57

He maybe panicked and thought girls like "jellycats" and went with it, your friends really are reaching.

Original poster
Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 07:59

Coffeeishot · 12/07/2025 07:57

He maybe panicked and thought girls like "jellycats" and went with it, your friends really are reaching.

I love that! Yes, I actually do like jellycats.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 08:00

Katemax82 · 12/07/2025 07:55

Cuddly toys are fine. My 19 year old son collects them (loony tunes and garfield, he took sylvester and pepe le Peu plushies with him to hospital when he had an anaphylaxis shock recently) he would definitely buy a woman he barely knows a cuddly toy

I would actually have liked a Garfield or Looney Toons! Not something I'd keep for myself but I'd put it by the window sill.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 08:05

Idontjetwashthefucker · 12/07/2025 07:56

I'd have raised an eyebrow at being gifted a cuddly toy as an adult, it's a shit gift, but it sounds like you want it to mean something reading your thread.

I don't think it means anything at all. He's never been weird and is just a very nice guy. I give him advice like a big sister. I just wondered if it was actually odd.

I can see my sons giving these types of gifts when they're older.

OP posts:
Coffeeishot · 12/07/2025 08:06

Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 07:59

I love that! Yes, I actually do like jellycats.

Show quote history

See girls do really love jellycats 😀

Original poster
Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 08:10

Coffeeishot · 12/07/2025 08:06

See girls do really love jellycats 😀

Show quote history

They are unbelievably priced though so I can't collect them.

OP posts:
JMSA · 12/07/2025 08:19

I’m not one for cuddly toys and never have been, not even as a child.
A Jellycat Amuseable on the other hand …

Anyway, OP, unless it’s in a feminine colour, I’d assume it was a regift.

Original poster
Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 08:26

It is quite girly and themed with the card he got. But I agree with you, I'm not into cuddly toys until I saw the Jellycats range (there's just something about them!)

OP posts:
PerfectlyNormalOwlFreeMorning · 12/07/2025 08:26

didn't do that in my old workplace (apart from with very close friends) but then when I started receiving gifts in the place that I work now, I realised it probably is part of the work culture

It is awful work culture for the lowest paid (and still pretty crap for everyone) the cost of getting a gift for colleagues, is bad enough but then the thought process/time and then having the receiver second guessing what you have gifted.

If you are management you should have put a stop to it before your birthday - if you didn't know about it you should still look to putting a stop to it .

Original poster
Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 08:29

PerfectlyNormalOwlFreeMorning · 12/07/2025 08:26

didn't do that in my old workplace (apart from with very close friends) but then when I started receiving gifts in the place that I work now, I realised it probably is part of the work culture

It is awful work culture for the lowest paid (and still pretty crap for everyone) the cost of getting a gift for colleagues, is bad enough but then the thought process/time and then having the receiver second guessing what you have gifted.

If you are management you should have put a stop to it before your birthday - if you didn't know about it you should still look to putting a stop to it .

I'm not in management. I'm one of the low-paid workers too.

In other old workplaces, we might club together for one gift though.

OP posts:
PerfectlyNormalOwlFreeMorning · 12/07/2025 09:30

That's difficult then, because you can't say anything especially being new and having had your birthday.

I am really against it as I worked in a place like that, it sounds lovely but the reality was I was handing over money for birthdays, weddings, babies, anniversaries etc when I had no disposable income at all. It was the main reason why I left.

Laura95167 · 12/07/2025 22:10

I have a cuddly toy collection. Couple of coworkers know and may consider it as a gift for me and I wouldnt see an issue.

Bet your coworker is chuffed when you tell him DS has pinched it for bedtime

Gymbunny2025 · 12/07/2025 22:13

Maybe he just regifted? I would HATE to work somewhere where I had to buy everyone birthday presents. I don’t even like doing the collections. It’s just such a waste of money imho

Jacobs4 · 12/07/2025 22:16

Age 30, my nephew came home from work with a soft toy of a cat, for his birthday! Along with some funny socks and beers. I think it’s just a nice gift. ⭐️

Kingsleadhat · 12/07/2025 22:22

My adult son once bought me a plush Eric Cart an and I love it. Id have been a bit puzzled by a teddy bear type toy, though. I should think the colleague that bought it just has some stereotypical ideas about what women like

Original poster
Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 23:20

Laura95167 · 12/07/2025 22:10

I have a cuddly toy collection. Couple of coworkers know and may consider it as a gift for me and I wouldnt see an issue.

Bet your coworker is chuffed when you tell him DS has pinched it for bedtime

To be fair, it is quite a stereotypical present for women/girls. I received similar from my brother for Christmas when he was much younger (it was a very cute though), until he realised that I prefer more practical things/something edible lol

OP posts:
Original poster
Mummypie21 · 12/07/2025 23:36

Gymbunny2025 · 12/07/2025 22:13

Maybe he just regifted? I would HATE to work somewhere where I had to buy everyone birthday presents. I don’t even like doing the collections. It’s just such a waste of money imho

It was a specific theme that he was going for so the cuddly toy was just one part of the present 😅

It is a nice thing to do at work but I also agree that it's a bit tedious when you have quite a few co-workers too buy for!

OP posts:
Laura95167 · 12/07/2025 23:36

Practical gifts or edible treats work too

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