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?

This is a bonkers gift and hopefully he will find the humour in it. Honestly though, I wouldn’t make him speak to her to say thank you. He has politely messaged and has done his job.

However, this is presumably your dh’s mum, and I would have him deal with it. No way I’d be letting my mum get away with crap like this, nor would Dh be stepping in to deal with it on my behalf. This is your dh’s problem to manage.

Ahhh. Years and years ago on here, someone received elastic from their mil as a Christmas gift. No dementia.

I wouldn't be inclined to thank her for such utter shite.

@MyBabyAteTheDingo what has your DH said about this unusual "gift" ?
I was coming on this thread to tell about the shite present my DD got from my mil for her 21st, but your son's CD cannot be beaten in terms of awfulness.

Yes, totally agree. It’s just she will be the one to bring it up later. And although I will just say thank you but he’s unable to play it, I kind of want to know her thinking behind it.

He just laughed and said wtf.

I wouldn’t, unless you’re okay with being given a Jesus CD for every occasion. 🤣

I would get your husband to say that although son appreciates the thought, he was a little too shy to say that he doesn't have a CD player (neither do we) and it's not his style, perhaps she can return it get him something to go to university or an Amazon voucher etc

This is so random I would definitely ,but kindly mention. It

Say is this what she meant to give him ?
Is she extremely reglous ?

Id call her and say we don't have a cd player we just wanted to check this is the correct gift

@Katflapkit what you said

Think of it as the gift of a good anecdote in years to come?

When people say it’s the thought that matters, I think ‘Hell yeah, it really is’.

I'd go with this actually. I don't think I could let that one go. Sorry your son got a crap present from his grandma, it always makes me feel sad when the dcs get shit unthoughtful gifts as we always go out of our way to put lots of thought in to gifts for others.

I would assume she had developed dementia tbh.

Well said

I would tell her straight. ‘Well we were left scratching our heads a bit Maureen to be honest. We haven’t had a CD Player in the house for 15 years, so he can’t play it. What with Jack starting Uni next month he’s in need of so many things. He’ll be moving house so needs everything from new towels to ink cartridges to new pants. Maybe stick with JD Sports vouchers in future. I’ll give you the CD back when I see you as it aligns with your values more than Jack’s. I hope it didn’t set you back a lot.

Hopefully after that she might chuck him £50 towards uni. What a thoughtless woman. This would enrage me.

OMG that’s utterly shocking! I remember reading a thread on MN or on another similar website and their GIL always gave insane gifts and one was a diary … oh no, not just any diary, but one from years gone by … oh no not just one from years gone by, not that had been written in too!! 🤣 you can’t make it up!!
perhaps you need to put her in a home, she’s clearly de-lu-lu 😋

OR

Just say thank you and move on.

Given her past gifts were appropriate and quite expensive, I would honestly suspect cognitive decline here.

Hilarious? Really?

I'd assume, with no similar history, that she's starting to become confused.

Suggest you dig out a heavy metal cd and gift it to her for Xmas - citing inspiration from her “cultural exchange” of media from which we can all learn and grow.

Duplicate (no idea why).

Ouch. My MIL put more thought into DDs BFs bday gift- and they've met like 3 times.

I got a pair of cheap nylon lacy knickers with stocking straps from my Uncle and Aunt one birthday.

I was 12 😬