Rubbish gift from MIL

[MyBabyAteTheDingo]

Son’s 19th birthday today, mil dropped his gift round. It’s a free Jesus audio CD that she receives from some Christian subscription.

I'm fucking fuming on his behalf. He has no interest in religion. This from a woman who spends over £300 on a small tube of eye wrinkle cream so money’s not the issue here. They get on well so I’m just puzzled at this.

I know it’s the thought that matters but this seems more like an insult.
She’ll be calling later so any suggestions on how to respond to this?

I was once gifted a very obviously used and old travel hairdryer in a box that was so battered and falling apart it had been sellotaped together. I mean wtah……. Seriously I would honestly rather she hadn’t bothered getting me anything at all than passing off her old tat as a gift. (It was nothing to do with money either, she was very well able to afford a decent gift) It went straight to the charity shop!

Definitely regift it back to her

Religious people are weird.

Are you offering to donate a CD player?

I got an oversized polyester jumper from MiL that smelt of body odor one Christmas! This was years before she developed alzheimers.

If the USA Thrift Shops are like our UK charity shop then picking up a CD player won't be a problem, especially as the cost of the present is an issue, they can afford to get buy one from a thrift store at least.

The GS has no interest in religion, @GrandmaJowa. OP has made that abundantly clear.

Then I feel so sorry for him. It happens, but if he does decide to listen to the CD, at least he knows what he is rejecting; he has a choice. From the tone of the post, it seems as if he hasn't been brought up in a Christian home. Good on Grandma, at least she is trying to get his attention. Surely this is between the boy and his Grandmother and doesn't need his Mummy to intervene, especially as he is a grown man, not a child.

That sort of patronising comment, very much looking down from the great height of your own religious certainty, really puts people off, @GrandmaJowa.

As for this Grandma, showing some Christian kindness might have got her GS’s attention more effectively - showing interest in him as a person, in what he might need in his future studies. Showing a bit of generosity of spirit. But no, she used her own grandson’s 18th birthday as a chance to attempt to push her religion. It certainly doesn't show her faith at its best.

I would just mention that you don't have a CD player so she would get more out of it than him as you can't play it.

There’s a reason ‘some ‘ well off people are well off and that’s because they are total tightwads when it comes to others but not themselves

I think I would like to hear Grandma's side of the story. Clearly some serious family issues here. On the subject of 'pushing religion and the criticism from those who expect more of Christians. Don't forget those in church are 'practising' Christians, If they were perfect they wouldn't need to be there. All institutions have imperfections and the church ,at least, tries to put the issues right. Judge not least you yourself are judged and found wanting.

and from the chaz shop straight to their bin no doubt. There's a bit of irony in your process.

Are you not able see how judgemental you’ve been on this very thread? And how you’ve deflected from the GM’s own unchristian behaviour to the church as an institution? (Irrelevant here.)

I don't think it is judgmental to want to hear both sides of the story. I defend my right, while we are still a democracy, to defend the Christian Faith, no matter how irrelevant it seems to you, in this context. The writer was criticizing her M.I.L.for offering her Grandson a connection she thought would help him in college. Anyway this is simply going round in circles.

Well, he’ll need Jesus and all the Saints going out into the wild to uni. So better take it as a sign.

@GrandmaJowa

There's no real evidence that there is a God though, is there?
Or that the bible was written by God?
Or the ten commandments?

So your Christian Faith is make believe.
So, seeing as it's make believe with no actual evidence, MIL gifted something to her grandson which has no use or meaning.

Agree . AND she knows he’s not religious. A bit forward on her part .

Good on grandma? She is a stingy and difficult woman and Christians who force their beliefs on other people are the worst. Plus OP has said her MIL has regular cheek/lip fillers and Botox. Why isn't she happy with the aging face that God gave her?

@GrandmaJowa I'm guessing you're based in the US? There's a huge cultural difference, with the UK being much more secular. Christian religious gifts are unusual here, and tend to be associated with dogmatic eccentricity rather than family values 😊

Get her an AC/DC highway to hell song on CD and matching Tshirt. For birthday or Christmas, whichever comes first.

Or just smile and wave, your son will get over it and has lots to focus on with Uni and will have awsome gifts from you and others. That’s what counts.