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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be insulted by MIL's present?

56 replies

qwertpoiuy · 09/06/2009 18:29

Right, it was my birthday yesterday - I am now 39. A lot of miles on the clock I know, but I look and feel a lot younger. Sure, last weekend I was at a nightclub dancing till 4am! I'm fitter and slimmer than I was at 20.

Anyway I was pleased to have people telling me yesterday that I look nowhere near 39 - that was enough of a birthday present for me!

Until I arrived home from work today to find a card and a present from my MIL. The present? Olay anti-wrinkle provital tinted moisturiser for mature skin!!!!!! FFS, this stuff is for over-70s!! I'm tempted to ask her did she leave her new moisturiser behind by accident. But I'll just have a rant on MN instead!

OP posts:
loobeylou · 09/06/2009 18:31

obv passing on an unwanted gift someone gave her at xmas, thinking you are more into beauty products than she is and not realising the age thing!

Eve4Walle · 09/06/2009 18:31

YABU. You're never too young to start using that stuff. Forget it and move on. She probably didn't mean anything by it.

Flibbertyjibbet · 09/06/2009 18:31

you got a present from your mil?

I tend to be more offended each year by the lack of a present or card after 10 years.

Honestly some of you are soooooo ungrateful

Tidey · 09/06/2009 18:33

Well... I would be offended too. It's still better than a strange water feature ornament with the on/off switch snapped off, that I got from my MIL once. Maybe she thinks she's being helpful by ensuring that your skin will never look aged, by getting in quickly with super rocket powered moisturiser?

scoutandjem · 09/06/2009 18:34

Hello - I can relate to this...........,I got "what not to wear" and "how clean is your house?" from my MIL.!!!!!!!

Happen to think I know what not to wear and my house is v clean ( as long as you don't count the spiders webs!)

Sure you look fabulous and good for you clubbing till 4am!

Nancy66 · 09/06/2009 18:35

ha ha ha - oh it's funny. The old bat obviously just didn't look at it properly.

nickschick · 09/06/2009 18:36

Ohh that sounds good - have you tried it?

Dont be offended life is far too short - I wasted time with my mil and never appreciated her until I lost her

Flibbertyjibbet · 09/06/2009 18:38

Oh I forgot, I do get amazing xmas pressies from my mil.

One year it was a book on how to de-stress. She kept commenting to dp about how stressed I seemed.
I didn't need the book I just needed her out of the house for me to de-stress

carocaro · 09/06/2009 18:39

No don't be offended, it's about £25 a pot I think, preventiond is better than cure as they say. I'll have it and I'm only 38! (grin)

Original poster
qwertpoiuy · 09/06/2009 18:43

Lol scoutandjem!

Nichshick, it's sitting there by my PC as I type this - I'd love to be able to hand it over to you!

She was always ageist anyway. When my parents died close together (a month apart, both had cancer), she told me not to be crying because at 34 I was lucky to have my parents till I was that old! I reminded the old bat (thanks for that term, Nancy66 - it makes me feel better) her parents were around till she was 60!

OP posts:
GeneHunt · 09/06/2009 18:44

My MIL bought me a bottle of 'perfume' called Tramp. She has also bought me a size 18 nightie with elephants on it. Her presents are like a little window into her mind.

CowWatcher · 09/06/2009 18:49

My father in law was still sending me cheques as birthday presents written out to me but with husband's surname eight years after we were married & after repeated explanations that my name is still my name & will be till the day I die. This year, he has got the name on the cheque right, but has hyphenated our names on the envelope. Ho hum. Progress I suppose!

nickschick · 09/06/2009 18:50

Aww ty qwert ....did you have a good birthday?

I think you just have to kill mils with kindness and not let them know theyve offended you.

CowWatcher · 09/06/2009 18:50

Oh and Happy Birthday qwertpoiuy!

Original poster
qwertpoiuy · 09/06/2009 18:54

Genehunt, actually MIL buys me Christmas presents that are size 18 even though I'm a 12-14!

Carocaro, I've no doubt this product was expensive. But why didn't she buy me a bar of chocolate instead - I would have been MUCH happier!

Anyway, I love ranting on MN!

OP posts:
TsarChasm · 09/06/2009 18:57

I bet she didn't mean anything by it. A bit mad trying to choose makeup or skincare for another woman though. Most people are quite specific about about which products they like. At least it wasn't some old lady cold cream or a lavender soap

My MIL bought me a big black horrible hat one Christmas. A posh one in a box. Why?? I never wear hats or go anywhere to wear one and anyway how do you choose a hat for someone? She is pretty bonkers though

Happy birthday btw!

Original poster
qwertpoiuy · 09/06/2009 18:58

Thanks, CowWatcher!

Oh, Nickshick, I wouldn't dream of offending my dear MIL, she has a heart of gold - if she would just stop calling me old! Actually I had to work late yesterday, DH is taking me out on Friday night.

LOL at FlibbertJibbert!

OP posts:
Original poster
qwertpoiuy · 09/06/2009 18:58

Thanks tsarchasm!

OP posts:
SomeGuy · 09/06/2009 19:04

My sister asked for just such a product for her birthday. She's 29.

A gay man I know is forever harping on about how his lifely complexion is the result of daily moisturising.

JustcallmeDog · 09/06/2009 19:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MaryAnnSingleton · 09/06/2009 19:06

I'm sure it was well intended and was kind of her - you are being a bit mean and ungrateful imo. And it's never to late to moisturise - I'm ancient but have always moisturised my neck from late teens and have no wrinkles or saggy bits on it

insertwittynicknameHERE · 09/06/2009 19:09

Congrats on your birthday.

My MIL gave me a pressy for my birthday last year which I had given her the Xmas before, luckily I buy nice pressies

BitOfFun · 09/06/2009 19:10

A vibrator?! Are you sure?

WinkyWinkola · 09/06/2009 19:10

I'd love anti wrinkle cream. I'd've thought we need all the help we can get.

BitOfFun · 09/06/2009 19:11

Not an electric toothbrush?