What would you think if your MIL gave you socks for Christmas? Just 1 pair of plain socks wrapped up - nothing else.

[ChristmasCruella]

So - you get handed a Christmas gift.

You say thank you.

You unwrap Christmas gift.

Inside is 1 pair of socks.

What do you do?

Do you say "Oh wow, thanks - that's really nice of you"?

Or do you take it as an insult?

(My MIL has always had a 'thing' about me for some reason. No idea why. Never liked me before she even met me. 15 years later, no change)

I would have just said 'thank you', not 'wow' or 'thats really nice of you'

She did get you a gift so thank her but there is not need to pretend if was an amazing gift

"How lovely, thank you so much!"

As the saying goes, love your enemies; it drives the bastards mad.

Did they have the label on or did they look like they had been separated from a bigger set because that would be really sad.

I suppose whether or not it is insulting would depend on what she bought everybody else. If they all got small pressies, even if yours is a bit smaller I wouldn't take too much offence. If they all got huge presents then maybe.

However, even if you do feel insulted, smile and say thanks and look like you don't care. If she is being malicious it will take the wind out of her sails. If she isn't, you won't upset her unnecessarily.

It was presumably intended as an insult so absolutely the best response is "great, thanks" - leaving her gritting her teeth (and in fairness probably planning an even worse present for you next year - one black sock perhaps?!)

My mil got me a packet of christmas cards. I thanked her profusely, she was chuntering under her breath all day.

I wouldn't take it as an insult, although depends on the MIL to be honest

Just say "gosh, how did you know I needed new socks, mine old ones had just worn through...etc". Don't give her the satisfaction of showing disappointment.

I once got a book on how to go and live abroad.

Everytime we get her a present she says "you shouldn't have spent your money on me" - I said to DH I won't then but he objects.

Our Christmas gift to her was an iPod.

We spent lots of time putting her favourite music on there along with some lovely family photos and video clips.

Every year it is the same. It will have come as no surprise to her that we put some effort into her present.

Every year, I say to dh - 'don't bother, buy her socks', but he is just too embarrassed to actually do that even though he agrees that we should.

It's not as if she even makes an effort for the kids instead. They got 1 cheap book each. Neither of which are remotely suitable for their ages.

Don't know whether to be or .

I would be thrilled, but she can not give them as my lovely MIL died last year. And we miss her and her daft gifts that make no sense.

i'd say thank you graciously. then i would refrain from seeing her until next xmas. I would make dh know that it is his responsability to remember her birthday and special days and his responsability to take the kids round - as i quit.

and if he can't be bothered - as my dh probably wouldnt, then erm...tough.

I would thank God it wasn't another microwave omelette maker frankly.

I got socks for MIL too BUT they were fluffy pink cosy ones and 2 pairs

My 2 girls appear to be wearing them as I type

My MIL gave my husband a card (To My Son), and my kid a card ( To My Grandson). No card for me though! And she put a mass card in my husband's card even though he has told her many times he is an atheist.

Mad old bat.

Well after reading that you bought an ipod and spent ages putting her favourite music on it, etc. You know what I would do for next year.....buy her a pair of socks and nothing else!

my MIL's gift for me was a tub of cotton buds in a kind of doilie style jacket..wtf? where would anyone find such an object?
she buys very lovely thoughtful gifts for dh and ds so I can only infer...that she begrudges spending even a ha'penny on me!

My MIL sent one of my children £20 and the other £5
She sent DH pants and a vase [this is the man who brought flowers maybe twice in his life!!!!

DHs MIL (my mum) got DH a sat nav

Oh and DHs mum has much more money then my mum so that was not the reasons behind the gifts.

Should say DH and I are seperated, and my new DPs mother brought DH a better gift then his own mother did

OMG do we have the EXACT same MIL???

thats exactly the same as i got!!!!

luckly i opened them at home so didnt have to pretend but did have a rant to DH about it!!

Get her one sock next year ..... an iPod sock. Wonder if she'd get the irony ?!

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