Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Christmas and birthdays with no acknowledgment

32 replies

Purpleismyfsvouritecolour · 19/09/2025 13:23

What would you do?

Every year for birthdays and Xmas, I put aside money each month to afford Christmas and birthday presents for my teenage/adult step children, nieces and nephews. Every year, my husband and I don’t even get a thank you. For our birthdays, we get a text if we are lucky from my step kids. We all have a great relationship, but as I organise it all, I’m sick of getting all stressed out to afford these occasions. I know I don’t give to receive, but surely a telephone call or acknowledgment on the gifts/money would be nice. What would you do? I feel like putting my foot down, but then I go soft just before and give in and then give them all money and gifts, only for the cycle to be repeated. Thank you 🙏

OP posts:
ComfortFoodCafe · 19/09/2025 14:37

Purpleismyfsvouritecolour · 19/09/2025 14:04

Thank you all. What about Adult Step children?

No wouldnt bother either. No thank you - no gift/money especially from an adult, its not difficult to text a thank you!

nomas · 19/09/2025 14:38

Honestly, just stop it all. It’s enormously freeing.

Cherrysoup · 19/09/2025 15:59

Stop, step kids aren’t your issue, your Dh is!

LizzieSiddal · 19/09/2025 16:26

Agree with others, your H is the children’s Dad and he should be sorting his dcs cards and presents. I bet the kids know he isn’t doing anything for them at the moment and that will piss them off! (It would me anyway!).

BusyMum47 · 19/09/2025 17:00

ShanghaiDiva · 19/09/2025 13:30

I would stop giving gifts to the adults and stop teenagers at 18. The cycle isn’t going to change unless you change it.

Exactly this! ⬆️ We buy till age 18yrs in our family & then it's just cards & well wishes!

I would immediately stop buying twice yearly gifts for rude, ungrateful arseholes who don't ever thank you or so much as even acknowledge your effort/generosity, let alone reciprocate.

BusyMum47 · 19/09/2025 17:02

Purpleismyfsvouritecolour · 19/09/2025 14:04

Thank you all. What about Adult Step children?

Them too. They're adults now. It's beyond bloody rude of them not to thank you.

InMyShowgirlEra · 19/09/2025 17:03

I won't send gifts to anyone who hasn't got the courtesy to say thank you.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page