To feel a bit peed off about dh's birthday pressie to me?

[Amandella]

OK, it was my birthday yesterday and I've been going on "forever" about wanting a water feature in our garden. We went for dinner at friends a week or so ago and they have recently installed this beautiful small, modern slate water feature which is perfect for their garden. Something similar in ours would be great as we live in very similar (modern) properties. Anyway, we decided we'd go and look at water features and decide what to get and where to put it. We never go around to it. Well, you guessed it, dh (kindly I admit) decided to take it upon himself to purchase one for my birthday and I HATE IT.... it's something my granny would have had in her garden, it's totally gross (not cheap) but just not in keeping. Coupled with this, it's a free standing one - and I wanted something to go on the wall so the kids wouldn't wreck it. Also, it has all sorts of things dripping into other things and all the "things" come off the stand so perfect for dd 4 and her friends to wreck. It's gross. Well, the terrible thing is a) he loves it and b) kids love it and c) he carried it all the way home last night on the tube and train and then pretended he wasn't tired so he could construct the damn thing whilst I was in bed and then wrapped it beautifully and was SO proud that I haven't the heart to tell him. I'm just gutted but I guess I have to live with it as I don't have the heart to tell him I hate it (I'm actually embarrassed to show it to my neighbour in case she roars with laughter in front of him)... I feel so ungrateful but he has chucked the box and the wrapping so even if I could subtly tell him I don't like it I don't think he could return it. Also, I told him the kids might destroy it and he said "oh don't worry they'll soon lose interest... it's lovely though isn't it...just what you always wanted" AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH.........
AIBU??

mmmm... very intellectual.

Wasn't to you, Amandella, sorry - I can't get used to not having a quote function.

Have you considered giving your DCs airguns? Terracotta goes off like a hand grenade if you hit it right...

Count yourself lucky, Amandella. My Dad was gave my Mum a spade for her birthday,

Good job my mum doesn't MN, as she has that exact same water feature!
It compliments her garden quite nicely, but it is a proper old English country garden. So would look out of place in a more modern setting!

Anyway, don't think anyone else has said it so I will...
You know what they say, be careful what you wish for, you might get it

YANBU Amendella, having had equally crap presents from my DH. But you would be VVVV unreasonable to let on how you truly feel. So to trot out another trite saying... it's the thought that counts.
Oh, and happy birthday!

thanks so much Turtle - love that!

brux - love the idea of the airguns!

Amandella - me and your DD must have the same taste re flower fairy jobbo

Love that "Happy Birthday" Gnome by the way!

It is fine not to like a present, and YANBU. Sadly, there isn't much that you can do but appreciate the thought that your DH put into it and be careful when you tell him what you want next year.

Turkey, that is truly hideous. I am watching this thread with trepidation as we have just had our garden revamped and I have a sneaking feeling one of my friends has bought me a gnome for my birthday. I was worried enough about that - please God not one of those awful fairy-pixie-elf things!!

It is hideous and I would be pretty appalled if my DH bought it and thought it was something I might actually like. Nevertheless water features is the hierarchy of things to fuss about in life, come way before partners and husbands.

On that basis you must learn to love it and must never even hint to your DH that you don't like it!

To get yourself to the point where you can do so, you must view the gift he gave you, not as the tangible water feature but as the intangible love, care, excitement, etc. Despite his poor taste, this is a guy who clearly loves and worships you - and as threads on MN often demonstrate that is rarer than one might think!

When we moved into our house we had 2 eagles on the wall edges arround the patio in the back garden. After a rowdy garden party full of Belarussian kids (Chernobyl holiday thing) one of the eagles crash landed!

Soon afterwards my MIL replace them with much larger, very evil looking eagles! What could we do?? DH duly cemented them in place, thinking the wall would collapse under them. I didn't rate them at first, but theyhave grown on me, and become part of the scenery.....

I don't blame you for hating it, but I think you should keep it an be grateful that he would put that much effort into a gift for you. My husband never has (and never will).