AIBU to be frustrated by repeated wolf-themed gifts?

[Herecomes]

I am an animal lover, I am especially a dog person meaning I like wolves too if we’re talking wildlife. My mum has taken this to mean I’m obsessed with wolves - I’m really not.

Every year at Christmas she buys me something wolf related … it started off as huge framed pictures (often featuring native Americans too 😂) and in the end I had so many massive pictures piled up the spare room that I made a point of telling her I am no longer buying wall pictures as I don’t like a lot of stuff on the walls and I’ve ran out of space. She got the hint and stopped buying me pictures … instead she started buying me huge blankets, fleece bed covers etc, again featuring wolves howling at the moon, native Americans, wolf eyes staring out of dark trees etc 🤦‍♀️

I ended up with a big pile of fleece blankets that were just sat there collecting dust. In the end I asked her if she wanted any blankets as I’m getting rid of loads as I have far too many and don’t use them. She got the hint.

Now … as my birthday this year was approaching she asked me what size clothing I was. I told her. I joked to DH that I’ll probably end up with a wolf fleece jacket for my birthday … I was wrong … I got 3 wolf fleece jackets for my birthday.

I don’t get it!!! I’m in my 30s, she sees me every week … surely she can see that I don’t wear stuff like this?? It was funny at first but now its getting frustrating. She gets upset and offended easily so I’ve tried to treat lightly but come on …

What would you do?? Or do I just carry on accepting this stuff and lying that I like it to keep the peace?

You must join the wolf fleece appreciation group on Facebook, you'll be their hero

I feel your pain OP. All we’ve been receiving from MIL ever since we got a dachshund is sausage dog memorabilia as in her mind we’re absolutely obsessed.. We’re not.. however owners of sausage dog blankets, cups, placemats, pictures, calendars, lamp, salt and pepper shakers- think of any item you have in yours house- we’ve got it with a dog on it… My personal favourite is my husband’s Xmas gift one year- a sausage dog hat - lights up and sings “ dachshunds through the snow…” 😂😂😂

Unfortunately I can’t help you with advice as for my last birthday when asked what I wanted I was clear- nothing with dachshunds on and the reply was “ oh that’s not going to be possible”. Good luck and keep donating them..

could have been worse..

Oh op I do sympathise but I’m actually crying with laughter 😆

could have been worse....mascot costume...

Op might end up with an actual wolf.

Many years ago (about 28 of them) my gran bought my son a wolf fleece jacket. She was so proud of having picked it because it was ‘so original’. My son, who was 4 at the time, put it on and our cat immediately started hissing and yowling with her ears flattened, and eventually attacked it 🤭 It was a perfect excuse to relegate it to the back of the cupboard!

Every time the wolf fleece appreciation group comes up on my Facebook I can’t help laughing.

I agree with the previous posters who have suggested hinting you have gone off wolves and suggest something you would like, and prepare to receive a load of tiger or leopard themed gifts going forward.

I sympathise with you. I thought it was bad enough that my mil gave me a huge box of fererro rocher every year. At least they can be donated or regifted!

Mum and I stayed in rental accommodation while she had work done on her house. It was called Rabbit Cottage and there was a rabbit theme. The trouble was that EVERYTHING had a rabbit on it. Not only had the owner "styled" the place in terms of rabbits, but every guest had added to the collection over time. So: rabbit placemats, mugs, tea towels, splashbacks, plates, bedding, towels... you get the picture 😬 it was like being trapped in some horrible never-ending acid trip!!!

I have a few diverse gifts that I really dislike, but they're from a kind person whose taste isn't the same as mine.
However, your issue is different and that is the price you pay for not being more direct a while back.

Donate the older gifts to charity shops and tell your family what you'd like this year. Be specific! Hopefully that'll stop the themed wolf 🐺 collection.

My parents always buy my family t-shirts with the place they visited on holiday emblazoned on the front and back. They ask why we never wear them and I’ve stated repeatedly that I personally find it cringe and it’s not something any of us would wear. This turned into fridge magnets and shot glasses, we don’t drink. We have an integrated kitchen so nothing to put the magnets on anyway, not that we would as again, not to our taste. We now tell them not to bother and just enjoy their holiday but get awful knock off tatt of Nike and Marc Jacobs.

If your mum loves you and wants to buy you things, that's great but just tell her you liked wildlife and nature things as a child and young adult but have grown out of alot of it now. Instead look at some high end, plain, neutral interior design styles and capsule wardrobes, show her that you prefer this instead. The good thing about neutrals is that they match whatever design style you like and this can be transferred to clothing items as well. These wolf design native American clothing and native Indian paraphernalia, are incredibly popular amongst people that live in rural areas, with log cabins as tourist accommodation when on vacation but can be misconstrued by city parents as a fashion trend choice. In addition, some of the people that live close to these reservations style their homes out of respect for the heritage and as a personal style choice because they either have ties there or can relate in some way to the heritage or grew up alongside it. Looking though e-brochures or magazines would bring you closer together as parent and child and also give you an idea of what each others actual tastes are. Even if some of the items are out of your budget, usually budget friendly similar items are linked or suggested. The alternative solution is to turn your bedroom into a high end she-wolf snug and adorn the walls with a series of novels and books on romantic Alpha males and wolves in general as a species all of which might make up for interesting reading. Who knows you might even become an expert on it. This is actually easier than you think and you've already saved a fortune in 'wolf' themed items.

Thanks for the thread @Herecomes I’m going to buy my friend ‘who likes elephants’ something not elephant-related this year. Good luck with the wolf thing 😬

Omg this was my nan buying me dolphin themed everything for YEARS

Lol well maybe you should discuss THAT too! However if it were me I'd prob have DH mention it to her, that your home is not a wolf sanctuary/shrine. Next thing you know it'll be one of those resin on its back guzzling wine bottle holders...if hasnt been gifted already! 😳😏

Tell her you're really into Chanel now instead. Make the boys go awooooo

Sounds like the pack are calling you, OP!
Aaaaaiiiiiiiooowwww! 🌝 🐺 😁

I know how you feel but could you embrace it and take a fleece round to your mum's then suggest you both go out together in your wolf fleeces? If nothing else it would be a bit of a laugh 😀

Ah mums are great aren’t they. Back in the 90’s I had a t-shirt which was a piss take of the brand Kappa, which was seen as a brand that only chavs would wear. My t-shirt had the Kappa logo but the word ‘Slappa’ (I know, I know, but was actually kind of accurate at that time of my life). Anyhoo, my mum then bought me Kappa items every Christmas or birthday for years, as she ‘knew I liked it’. I had mountains of unworn Kappa clothing and trainers that I wouldn’t be seen dead in, and it’s not even like eBay or Vinted existed back then.

Oh OP I can’t stop laughing, this is so funny perhaps you don’t tell her and see how many different wolf themed gifts you can amass.

I voted YABU but only because I don’t understand why you have not told your mum that you don’t like wolves and you would like her to stop with the lupine gifts!

Are you quite alright?

It's highly unlikely that OP wants to try and like a she-wolf snug and become aroused by Alpha male wolves. You're a fruit loop!

You've got to fight fire with fire.

Buy her sexy pigs ceramics for every occasion from now on!

This is so funny

There's a whole FB group devoted to spotting wolf fleece jackets!

I have a similar issue with dragons - I do quite like dragons as it happens but enough is definitely enough.

Tell her to pack it in (has that one been done, cba reading 200 posts to check). Howl she know you don’t werewolf if you don’t let her know!