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?

If DS is going to Uni, I wonder if she thought this was a meaningful and significant gift - the word of the lord - to set him up for Uni.

Of course for those who aren’t religious it’s bizarre and utterly shite.

They don't own a CD player, and he's not interested in religion.
His grandmother gave him a religious CD.
Her "gift" basically says that he isn't worthy of her spending any time or effort to think of something he might like or able to use. It would have been less hurtful if she'd just sheepishly admitted she'd forgotten and brought round a box of chocs next time she was passing.

This ☝️🤣

Are you sure there isn't money inside the sleeve ?

You’ve got to tell her your surprise at the gift.

Do you think now he’s over 18 she’s trying to “sign”
him up to her church?

Reasonably wealthy (assets in the millions) so not a money issue. Nothing is too expensive for their own children.

They are just lazy I think or maybe hyper focused on how they spend their money (not immediate family not interested).

It is odd. Surely better to send nothing other than a card? The card, wrapping and postage much have cost more than the knickers 😂.

My DP’s and I think it’s bonkers 🤪. I remember getting a plastic chipped tray from a charity shop (sticker left on) for my 18th…and a message of no more gifts now I’m and adult 😂. Boy was I disappointed!

For my 65th birthday my friend gave me a hand care gift set that I had given her for Christmas, and a Baileys chocolate mug set that was out of date. She appears to be perfectly sane apart from not remembering who has given her which gifts, she probably has a cupboard full. I was a bit insulted but didn't mention it, just to keep the peace, although I would have loved to say ' make sure you put labels on your gifts so you know who you can regift to'😅

It’s the only thing I can think of. “No better gift than the word of our Lord” but seriously, chuck in a pair of socks or a mug that is actually useful to him.

I’m over the shock now and just find it funny.

That would be me as well…. by DC’s 19th birthday. Around 3d birthday I would just sit and cry 🤣

There was a really good suggestion on the thread to regift it to her on Christmas

Imagine what you’d have got had they carried on if they thought that appropriate at the age of 12!

When she asks you say wouldn’t know we don’t have anything to play it on. That’s it simple but honest.

At least it makes Christmas easy

I can see if that was his mother, but he’s a 19 year old young man, what would he be expecting from his granny? Most young men would just laugh, surely?

Some people are just crap at gift giving

When my DD got her A level results a couple of weeks ago, My FIL gave my Daughter a card with a pound coin stuck inside and a note saying “something to put towards your student tuition fees”! I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The joke was in poor taste.

My always generous mum got me loads of different wrapped toiletries one xmas literally at least six or seven parcels plus other stuff She was diagnosed with dementia a year later.

He did laugh. I shouldn’t have said looked gutted. I doubt he even gives a shit, really. More of a bewildered look, if anything. It’s me that was bothered. FIL said she thought DS would like it as he listens to podcasts! Ffs, lol, mystery solved!

How old is she OP?

Hmm, you said she has a tendency towards preaching. Does she feel your son is in danger of falling into wicked ways now he’s branching out into uni life? Is this the equivalent of giving a bible, but for the ‘younger generation.’
Or was he insufficiently grateful for the AirPods? Or if not (it sounds unlikely given he’s been polite about this weird gift) you said the pods were unexpectedly generous - is it possible she decided to balance it out by spending fuck all this year? Like, some sort of life lesson. Last year, pricey tech, this year, what could be more valuable than the word of our Lord and Saviour, sort of thing?

Alternative - she’s been talking about her beliefs and he’s expressed a polite interest? I have a batshit parent so am quite into playing ‘what the fuck was that about’ 😜😂

Just saw the update. I suppose that makes some sort of sense…

Then tell her the truth.

"He laughed and thought it was a bizarre choice because he doesnt own a CD player and isn't interested in God so... 🤷🏻‍♀️ "

My ex’s mother bought me a Colman’s mustard pot and miniature wooden spoon for one of my birthdays complete with a compare the market stuffed meerkat toy. If I hadn’t known already that she hated me then in that moment it was beyond all doubt.

Give it back to her as a gift. Is she unwell?

😂😂😂

A family acquaintance gave my granddaughter a Bible for about 5 Christmases in a row, like it was a Blue Peter annual, changing every year.