Thank you cards for DCs/inappropriate presents

[drspouse]

We got a rather poor selection of presents from my DB and though I don't much mind for myself, we appear to have got (I am reading through tissue paper) an age inappropriate book (subject matter tedious rather than X rated, but maybe for a young teenager, not just 1-2 years too old) for my DS Christmas present (we suggested books it is true). He's nearly 4.

The suggestion from friends is that we ask them to switch to children only presents in future which I think is great advice as it saves thinking up something for DB who already told me he didn't like a book I got him.

I will not be telling DB that I don't like the book he got me, but I'm considering saying something mild about the book he got for DS being something we'll save for a few decades years ahead.*

Or just wait till he's older and can write his own passive aggressive notes?*

[GeoffreysGoat]

I bought a4 card, a pack of stickers and some envelopes. Cut each bit in half then folded it. Wrote "Thank you " on the front and "love from" on the inside then let my 3yo loose with the felt tips and stickers. Hand on hand to write his initial inside.

means I don't have to be polite about some of the utter shite certain people bought

[SitsOnFence]

Thank you OP for your message. I can confirm that it is a very weird choice of subject matter. I don't want to give it away, but I would say that, everything taken into account, it is roughly equivalent in interest to something like this

I can only assumed he either mislabelled it when wrapping (and Uncle Mervyn is currently enjoying The Very Hungry Caterpillar), or it was originally purchased for someone else. Bizarre!

[drspouse]

Geoffreysgoat that is inspired. He'd love that. Previously I have mainly been doing handprints plus a note from me, but he's definitely old enough to contribute like that.

[drspouse]

Sits glad you agree. I was thinking he'd dashed in to a museum having decided that actual shops were bourgeois, and thought "books, OK here's the first one I can see, look there are a couple of pictures on page 20" rather than "Ok they have toys and models and things, good for small children." But I do need to check that nobody else in the family is missing a specialist item relating to their collection.

[GeoffreysGoat]

Yep, I think this is the only year when he actually enjoys writing them 😂 I get to look like Smug Pinterest Mummy, he occupies himself for a rainy afternoon, it pisses off my gran who detests homemade stuff and nobody cares complain because, after all, isn't it so so sweet that he has such good manners

[SitsOnFence]

It's certainly a very odd choice!

Don't dissuade him from buying future gifts though, as you'll get years of comic mileage from him. An ex boyfriend had a batty grandparent whose bizarre gifts were the most eagerly anticipated of the whole day.

[drspouse]

Good point! If he bought presents for other family members I could compete with them but I think we'll have to stick to Personal Best records.

[drspouse]

Bwaha! Present opened and inside is an inscription from the author (sounds like it is someone local to my DB) to my DN (aged 9).

Clearly she has decided the book was too boring (the subject matter is probably late primary/early secondary while the reading age is probably late primary; a bit younger than I originally thought but her age group, not my DS's age group). So DB has given it to us.

Leaving aside that I would not regift it owing to its total unsuitability as a gift, I of course cannot regift it with an inscription!

So Sitsonfence Bingo! you win the prize!

[Cressandra]

Any chance he got a job lot? My grandparents have bought signed books for their grandchildren and they are given to all of them, not just the ones in the right age range. I think the theory is that a signed book is a keeper and can be grown into or just kept to admire, or something.

TBF from his previous gifts you're probably right, but surely it's fair enough to mention to DB that the inscription is to his niece, and is he sure that was what he intended because you wouldn't want DN to miss out on a gift...

[HortonWho]

Ok, now you do need a passive aggressive note. So sorry, you must have mixed up gifts as you gave my 4yr old the personally autographed to your 9 year old's gift.