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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think MIL should know not to use 'curly' writing?

63 replies

kickassangel · 13/10/2009 22:50

This isn't a 'biggie', but along the lines of stupid things that dh's & dc's do ...

Dd's school write a letter to a grandparent, asking them what life was like when THEY were young. Grandparent then writes a reply. We chose MIL as the grandparent to be 'honoured' with this task. She has written a lovely reply BUT, she has chosen a font which is so curly, like real handwriting, that I am struggling to make out all the words. dd is 6, and is meant to read the letter out in class. I am going to have to change the font, aren't I, and tactfully ask MIL to use a boring font next time.

Surely, MIL should have thought of this, she does when she writes postcards, or AIBU to expect her to make the letter legible?

OP posts:
llaregguBOO · 13/10/2009 22:51

YABVU.

Hulababy · 13/10/2009 22:52

Has she emailed it you? If so, the fnt is easy to change - yes?

Maybe she chose an old fashioned font to match the content.

TBH if it is easier to just change I wouldn't even both mentioning it her; I'd just say thank you for the effort of writing the letter.

TheHeadlessWombat · 13/10/2009 22:52

YABVU.

Original poster
kickassangel · 13/10/2009 22:58

it's an attachment, so no prob, but i just kind of wonder WHY she chose that font. She knows it's for dd to read to her class.

i know, it kind of looks like old fashioned writing, but still, it's a bit of a 'd'oh' moment for her.

i do have to mention it, as this is ongoing throughout the year, and if there were no postal strike, she would be mailing it on paper, direct to dd's school, to be opened & read by dd.

i have, of course, thanked her for the letter. it's just one of those silly oversights that makes you wonder what planet she's on.

OP posts:
PlonkerCandleInAPumpkin · 13/10/2009 23:01

I'm glad you realise it's not a 'biggie'

Pyrocanthus · 13/10/2009 23:01

I guess she was trying to make it look like a nice, old-fashioned letter, but I know those curly fonts are a bugger to read. Just change the font unless you think they're going to be corresponding regularly.

Littlefish · 13/10/2009 23:02

Just tell her that your computer can't print out that font so please could she send the next one in ariel.

Or.

Just don't tell her, and print it out in ariel.

I doubt it will have occurred to her that your ds wouldn't be able to read it.

pooexplosions · 13/10/2009 23:06

YABU, don't say anything, she did a nice thing and you want to go and spoil it with something really petty.
Sorry, but I think thats really off. And way over the top.

AitchTwoToTangOh · 13/10/2009 23:09

i think that's really amazingly ungrateful of you tbh. clearly she wanted to make it look old-fashioned, in keeping with the project. why can't you just cut and paste into a new document and then change the font for dd?

FimbleHobbs · 13/10/2009 23:10

If it wasn't for the fact this is an ongoing project I would never mention the font.

But just for your DD's sake I'd thank her for taking the time to write the letter and how lovely it is, and say you've printed it one off as a lovely addition to DD's memory box and another for DD to practice reading to the class '(though I hope you don't mind we changed the font on this version to make it easier for her to read)'...

Original poster
kickassangel · 13/10/2009 23:10

i was just quite taken aback. normally, she painstakingly writes things out in printed letters, so that dd can read it (by hand on post cards etc).

I think she's just got carried away with the idea a little & forgot who will actually read this. As I said, the next letter will probably go straight to dd's school without me seeing it, so I do need to 'fix' this. she'll be OK about it.

It must just be the 'honour' of being the chosen grandparent that made her forget herself!

OP posts:
PlonkerCandleInAPumpkin · 13/10/2009 23:16

" ...of being the chosen grandparent that made her forget herself"

Made her forget herself?? Is that not a little dramatic with regards to a typed letter?

Can't you just explain (if you feel you really must) that maybe dd's class might not be able to read it properly and could she do a simpler font next time?

Am I missing a bigger issue here?

AitchTwoToTangOh · 13/10/2009 23:19

just ask her to do two attachments, one with the pretty font and one with a clear one.

llaregguBOO · 13/10/2009 23:21

I think you're being bit of a loon about this.

Original poster
kickassangel · 13/10/2009 23:21

no, i'm just using a turn of phrase which is light hearted. as i said, this isn't a biggie, i was just a bit cos the writing is so curly that even as en educated adult, i am struggling to actually be able to see what is written on the page, even with bright lighting & contact lenses in.

yep, i will, politely, explain. prob just before the next letter is done.

as i said, usually she's great about this, so it's more that it's a bit of a surprise. i HAVE already emailed my thanks to her.

oh, and the thing about being the 'chosen' grandparent, the childrne have to pick ONE grandparent to be their correspondent for the year. dd had a choice of 4, so i think MIL is genuinely pleased to have been 'chosen' for this.

OP posts:
pooexplosions · 13/10/2009 23:25

It doesn't sound light hearted, just really rude. I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but you can see from responses that you came off badly?
You should feel v lucky that your child has a choice of 4 GP's, and one so kind as to do this and plenty more. Thats a lot more than many children have.

bibbitybobbityCAT · 13/10/2009 23:25

Yes, well, it was obviously a slight d'oh moment from your mil there. We all have them. I have loads every day.

Bit odd you went to the trouble of posting on MN about it. Perhaps this thread is your d'oh moment of the day?

SqueezyCheesyPumpkin · 13/10/2009 23:26

How can you be "quite taken aback" over the use of a font?

YABU. Very.

And also, I'd not even mention it to her as it sounds rude and picky. She is probably delighted to do something like this and probably doesn't need her parade rained on over something so trivial.

TheHeadlessWombat · 13/10/2009 23:27

I wouldn't mention it either. There's no need. It'll only take you a moment to change the font.

Original poster
kickassangel · 13/10/2009 23:36

ok, i was just surprised cos NORMALLY she is VERY good about making things easy for dd. yet, over this she suddenly chose a very different font. quite unlike her & i just wondered 'really? you went to the trouble of doing that?'

but i DO have to mention it, otherwise, dd will get the next letter sent directly to school, will stand at the front of the class to open it & read it to her friends, then NOT be able to read a word. which would upset her & MIL too.

i'm thinking that just before the next letter has to be done, I'll say, 'oh, the teacher asked if they can be done in a simple font so that ALL the children can read them easily' and just leave it at that.

if it wasn't that this will keep happening, without me being able to intervene next time, i wouldn't even mention it. i am usually far too polite for that.

OP posts:
piscesmoon · 13/10/2009 23:57

I'm not sure how she could be expected to realise-she obviously got carried away by the spirit of the thing and in making it old fahioned-very sweet really.

Hulababy · 14/10/2009 12:53

But the teacher will be able to help read it out surely?

Disenchanted3 · 14/10/2009 12:55

You sound like a nutter.

pagwatch · 14/10/2009 12:59

Really?
You have a MIL. She is prepared to do this for you. She does it and tries to make it look pretty.
But you are unhappy with the font?
Really?

[sigh]

Jamieandhismagictorch · 14/10/2009 13:01

Are you coming round to the conclusion that YABU yet ?