Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Christmas present for a cheater

45 replies

Doyathinkhesaurus · 15/12/2025 08:11

My sibling has just found out that their long term partner has been having a lengthy affair. They have not formulated a plan for the future, although the partner has confessed and They shared the news with their children. Christmas will be proceeding as normal.
We were discussing Christmas presents For our various children yesterday And my sibling sent a gift suggestion for their partner.
Am I being unreasonable to think duck that? I do not wish to spend any money on this person because they have caused a mountain of hurt and I am enraged by them. My sibling may still be trying to play for happy families, but I am done.
Should I be seeking a Quiet corner of forgiveness in my soul for this person and buy them a present?

OP posts:
randomchap · 15/12/2025 09:16

Op didn't say it's her sister, could be her brother. They kept the post completely neutral.

Essentially they should do what's been asked, as that will support her sibling the best

Brefugee · 15/12/2025 09:17

just say "fuck no" and leave it at that

Lilaclove1 · 15/12/2025 09:18

randomchap · 15/12/2025 09:16

Op didn't say it's her sister, could be her brother. They kept the post completely neutral.

Essentially they should do what's been asked, as that will support her sibling the best

Edited

Who cares? Sex irrelevant. Sister brother whatever

Lamentingalways · 15/12/2025 09:19

I would do it for my Sister to make her life easier but she’s the person I care about most from my immediate family. I also suspect that she will forgive him and work on their marriage so you may have to brace yourself for that.

Poppingby · 15/12/2025 09:19

randomchap · 15/12/2025 09:16

Op didn't say it's her sister, could be her brother. They kept the post completely neutral.

Essentially they should do what's been asked, as that will support her sibling the best

Edited

Oh yes, you're right! How funny I assumed it was a sister. Still, I would still do whatever made life least problematic for the sibling.

randomchap · 15/12/2025 09:20

Lilaclove1 · 15/12/2025 09:18

Who cares? Sex irrelevant. Sister brother whatever

It might help with gift suggestions.

Lilaclove1 · 15/12/2025 09:22

randomchap · 15/12/2025 09:20

It might help with gift suggestions.

The op is not asking for gift suggestions

EleanorReally · 15/12/2025 09:22

buy him a bucket

Whatsthatsheila · 15/12/2025 09:25

Lilaclove1 · 15/12/2025 08:17

This

but not a chance this OP will follow the advice

It is all about the drama

Gavin And Stacey Pam GIF

It’s the drama Mick! I love it!

Fantomfartflinger · 15/12/2025 09:31

SoldTheMovieRights · 15/12/2025 08:15

If it will be awkward for the children to see no present from you, get him a charity goat.

That is an excellent idea, the money won’t be wasted then.

ExtraOnions · 15/12/2025 09:35

Are they splitting up or staying together ? If it’s the latter, you will have a lot more occasions coming up, so will need to work out how to navigate long term.

SmallTortoise · 15/12/2025 09:37

Do whatever makes the DC's lives better. Their lives are about to be up ended. Something they'd enjoy perhaps.

ChristmasinBrighton · 15/12/2025 09:38

I love the charity toilet idea.

WhereIsMyLight · 15/12/2025 09:41

You’ve said your sibling has told their children but not formulated a plan yet. So the kids are old enough to understand and old enough to be angry.

Your job this Christmas is to be there for your sibling and nieces and nephews. I would get a present, something neutral. You get to be angry but not on Christmas Day. Realistically some of the anger from your sibling and the kids is going to come to the surface on Christmas Day. You can feel yours before and after but on the day, you do what works for your sibling and the kids, which at the moment is just letting them think.

Text your sibling and say you’ll get something neutral, that you or they enjoy. If they decide they don’t want them to have a present to let you know and you’ll keep it/pass it to sibling.

APatternGrammar · 15/12/2025 10:20

Do you have anything you could regift? Otherwise, the cheapest toiletry gift set there is in the supermarket.

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 15/12/2025 11:45

A copy of "Why does he do that?"

Etatauri · 15/12/2025 11:49

SoldTheMovieRights · 15/12/2025 08:15

If it will be awkward for the children to see no present from you, get him a charity goat.

Wow you're kids must be switched on! My kids definitely don't sit there tallying up who got gifts from whom. They're far too busy being absorbed in their own bubble of magic and playing with new toys! Would say that's the same for my 9 nieces and nephews too, they might notice if say their brother got an amazing gift from granny and they got nothing (which thankfully has never happened!) but I don't think they take a blind bit of notice what the adults are doing.

TheTaupeScroller · 15/12/2025 12:05

Poppingby · 15/12/2025 08:16

I would do whatever made my sister's life less more complicated.

Absolutely this

It's not about you, keep your personal righteousness for yourself and support your sister.

No one cares what you think of someone else's relationship, but your sister and her children are dealing with their own private family situation the best they could. Why would you want to make it worst by making a stand and all about yourself?

Bottle of wine, something neutral, how hard can that be.

Areyouaware · 15/12/2025 13:36

This reply has been deleted

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

New posts on this thread. Refresh page