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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this was a pretty crap gift?

152 replies

Sugarmagnolia · 08/07/2008 10:50

DS(5) was given a sponge-bob duvet cover (with massive ?REDUCED TO CLEAR" label still attached) for his birthday by a friend from nursery.

Ok first of all, sponge-bob gives me the creeps. He's a sponge. Why does he need to wear pants? What exactly is he hiding?

Second of all, just spent a lot of money totally redecorating DS's room so no way am I then going to use some bizarre looking duvet that doesn't match.

Third of all, isn't a duvet a pretty weird gift anyway, regardless of what's on it unless you know the person's taste or at least have the slightest clue what the child's room looks like?

So I can't help but think, did someone genuinely think I might like this or was she just trying to get rid of something she couldn't stand to have in her own house and/or forgot to buy DS a present and found this at the back of a cupboard???

OP posts:
ingles2 · 08/07/2008 11:03

my ds was given a blue velour pirate cushion by his bf once,... It doesn't go with his buntilicious CK room, but he LOVES it. I honestly think it's the best pressie he's ever received as far as he's concerned.
What does your ds think of the duvet?

watsthestory · 08/07/2008 11:03

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hatrick · 08/07/2008 11:04

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MaryAnnSingleton · 08/07/2008 11:04

I think Spongebob is very funny, don't quite understand it, but funny anyway. YABU btw.

MinkyChunky · 08/07/2008 11:05

Keep it. It will come in dead handy the next time a bout of diarrhoea hits the MagnoliaTowers.

TrinityRhino · 08/07/2008 11:05

my dd1 8 and my dd2 3 wouls have LOVED that

yabu

'just spent alot of money redecorating dss room....'

roffle pa ha haaaa

Original poster
Sugarmagnolia · 08/07/2008 11:07

ok Minky, now I get the feeling you're just taking the piss!

Seriously, not every single thing in DS's room matches - I hate the orange buzz lightyear rug he picked out at a charity event last year but tis there nevertheless. I guess i would just never consider buying a duvet for another person full-stop. And, no, of course I don't think she should have spent a lot of money, just thought it was slightly tacky not to remove the clearance sticker before giving it as a gift.

OP posts:
seeker · 08/07/2008 11:07

My ds has a union jack duvet cover and a Liverpool Football Club one. They are disgusting and don't go with his room but he LOVES them! I gave him the Liverpool one for his birthday, managing to put it on his duvet while he was asleep so he woke up on his birthday morning in a Liverpool bed. He said it was his best day ever. Presents are for the child, not for the parents.

waffletrees · 08/07/2008 11:08

If you don't like it just give it to a charity shop.

She might live in a big house but maybe that was all she could afford.

The gift was for your son not you. Maybe he loves it?

lucykate · 08/07/2008 11:09

"Third of all, isn't a duvet a pretty weird gift anyway, regardless of what's on it unless you know the person's taste or at least have the slightest clue what the child's room looks like? "

there may well be a night in the future, when your ds has d&v and has just thrown up all over the sheets again, when you are grateful of a spare duvet cover and won't care what design it's got on it, as long as its clean

"did someone genuinely think I might like this" - the gift was for your ds, not you!!

ChickenBurger · 08/07/2008 11:10

I hope the mother in question or one of her friends isn't on MN because you will probably really, really hurt her feelings if she reads this.

Oh, and of course YABU.

schneebly · 08/07/2008 11:10

I have bought some kids presents from the pound shop but you can get good stuff like these I got recently for a little boy along with a scooby doo art set (he loves scooby). DS has been invited to so many parties (reception year)that I just can't afford to spend loads of money each time.

Original poster
Sugarmagnolia · 08/07/2008 11:10

Ok, last time, and then I really have to do some work.

A)DS DOES NOT LIKE SPONGE-BOB!!

B)I DID NOT SAY SHE HAD TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY JUST BECAUSE SHE HAS A NICE HOUSE. I JUST MEANT THAT I DON'T THINK SHE BOUGHT IT BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY THING SHE COULD AFFORD, AS SEVERAL POSTERS SUGGESTED.

OP posts:
lulumama · 08/07/2008 11:11

you can never have too much bedding ! even reduced stuff.... also, DS got invited to sooooo many parties when he was in nursery and year 1 & 2 ( seemed to calm down after that ! ) so i would have struggled to find a tasteful and lovely present every week that i could afford for a child i barely knew. my friend bought DS a rocket ship duvet cover and pillow set for a birthday once, got loads of use out of it

lulumama · 08/07/2008 11:12

how would she know DS does not like spongebob?

if it still has the stickers on take it back and see if you can swap it for something else?

Ledodgy · 08/07/2008 11:13

Oh come on you're being a bit precious here. Be grateful she bought your son a gift at all. She just forgot to take the sticker off, probably had more important things to remember. Not that it matters but a spongebob duvet at full price can cost £15 or more and reduced was probably around £7 which is a perfectly adequate amount to spend for a nursery friend's present regardless of how much money she has or doesn't have. The fact that you don't like it isn't her problem lots of five year old boys would and it shows thought. Get over it.

cornsilk · 08/07/2008 11:13

You were lucky to get a present at all surely?

MinkyChunky · 08/07/2008 11:13

Hey Sugar. I amtaking the piss and joking at the same time. I think some people got a bit silly and only wanted to make you laugh.

Seriously though if you have the room keep it for sick days

Ledodgy · 08/07/2008 11:13

Oh and I bet the next time your ds has a vomiting bug you'll be very glad of the spare spongebob duvet cover!

Love2bake · 08/07/2008 11:14

YABU

If the mother paid full price for it, it couls of been upto £20.00, which I would never spend on a school friends b-day.

MaryAnnSingleton · 08/07/2008 11:16

blimey, it's only a present - forget it ! be grateful that you or rather ds were given a present in the first place,put it away for emergencies or to give to charity shop or school fair.

lilyloo · 08/07/2008 11:16

yabu it's a nightmare buying presents full stop.

Original poster
Sugarmagnolia · 08/07/2008 11:19

Yes, I agree £7 is a perfectly adequate amount to spend on a birthday present, that was never the issue.

And Minky - you did make me laugh. thank you, just checking out the JL website now.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 08/07/2008 11:22

Schneebly - you can get stuff like that in your pound shop ? Where is this pound shop?!

egypt · 08/07/2008 11:22

it's an odd choice of present, i actually agree.

you have every right to come on here and take the piss. why not

but of course you were right to write a thank you note.

you would be unreasonable to tell her what you've told us, but you didn't, you were gracious.

therefore:
YANBU