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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Gift for stroppy Aunt

14 replies

catmumof1 · 14/12/2018 11:17

I need help finding a gift for my 'D'A who to be honest is nightmare.

Turned into a bit of a rant... TL;DR
50 y/o
Single
Doesn't drink or eat anything 'unhealthy' but not into Gym etc
Likes Giraffes/Cats
£10/15
No smellies or tat

I'm trying to buy less tat this year so I would rather not go down the Boots 3 for 2 smellies route.

She's almost definitely going to complain/strop over whatever I get her, previous Christmases she's laid down on the floor in the living room and ignored everyone after gift giving or gone to sit in the car until my DU drove them home if not at my DGPs house and if we are at DGPs she'll go upstairs and not come back down. IMO she's never been given anything bad, last year I got her a naise mug with a giraffe (she likes/collects giraffes) and previously a set of Ted Baker boxed socks. Not exciting gifts but not crap imo. Bear in mind she's never bought anything for me my DM, DF or DS.

I don't want to spend more than £10-15 and it needs to be something that I can keep/give to someone else if she doesn't actually turn up or if she completely rejects it.

I haven't really seen her at all this year and there are a lot of hard feelings from my side of the family in terms of her actions this year in particular. My DGM has been really ill this year, broken hip and COPD looking to be in the final stages. My 'D'A refused to visit my DGM in hospital unless someone drove her, refused to take any annual leave to visit her in hospital or look after her at home (she saves her AL and doesn't go on holiday so plenty to use). She's manipulative to my DGM, calls her every day to moan about her life (and blame my DF for being single, not able to ride a bike/swim/drive Hmm) and encourages her not to eat because they would get 'bloated'.

I ordered her a mini Benefit makeup set but lookfantastic just cancelled my order because they oversold on Black Friday. So now I'm back on the hunt!

I'd rather not buy anything but I would like to avoid a mega go to car strop and minimise to a sit on the floor and ignore everyone strop for the sake of my DGM.

DM goes through phases of going NC after particularly bad episodes like being cruel about/to my sister with high functioning ASD but ends up speaking to her again after apologies through my DGM and because she has noone else.

Non-xmas examples of shit behavior:
Insisted on being a bridesmaid at DP's wedding, wore a cardigan over the dress for the ceremony and made DGPs and DU leave after the ceremony.. Yes that's correct my DFs parents did not attend the wedding reception!
Actively disinterested in me and DS when we were little including limiting contact between me and DS and DGPs and trying to get my DF to prioritise her over me and DS after my DGF died because she was blood and he didn't have to have DC!
There are more but these are the ones that piss me off the most.

OP posts:
Hadalifeonce · 14/12/2018 11:20

How about a book? 'How to win friends and influence people'
Or The management style of Vladimir Putin?

Frosty66611 · 14/12/2018 11:23

Some new oven gloves and tea towels with cats on them?

Pyjamas/cosy slippers

Hot water bottle cover with cats on it

2019 cat calendar

Gift card for a cat cafe if you have one near you (most cities seem to have them now)

Makeup bag with cats on it

Wallet/purse with cats on it

Haha trying to think of things that can have cat prints on them

catmumof1 · 14/12/2018 11:24

I really wish I could go passive aggressive (or full aggressive tbh) but I don't think it would go down well! And anything funny would be taken the wrong way.
I could do a cook book or something I guess.

Why doesn't everyone drink/eat chocolate, it's literally the best gift to give and receive!

OP posts:
OnoAnotherNC · 14/12/2018 11:24

Seriously, I have no idea why you're seeing this woman let alone spending money on her.

catmumof1 · 14/12/2018 11:25

@Frosty66611
All good ideas, thank you!

OP posts:
BarbaraofSevillle · 14/12/2018 11:26

Honestly, why would you buy her anything? She doesn't buy for you and she doesn't seem to appreciate what you have bought her.

She could genuinely not want presents and not buying her anything could be the best present for her. So she doesn't have to pretend to like something she doesn't and then find somewhere to keep it.

Or if you still want to, for DMs sake, just get her a plant? Loads of Christmas gift hyacynths etc in the shops now.

ThanosSavedMe · 14/12/2018 11:30

Sorry, really don’t understand why you’re buying this woman anything. She’s going to not like/complain about whatever you get so seriously save the money and effort.

catmumof1 · 14/12/2018 11:31

Oooh as a serial plant killer I hadn't considered a plant, I'm doing the obligatory garden centre xmas trip with DP tomorrow so I'll take a look.

Or maybe I'll make a donation on her behalf to the cat protection or something.

She definitely wants stuff, she's stropped when not given anything because we were told she wasn't coming.

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 14/12/2018 11:32

I think you're stuck this year but I'd announce as she is leaving that next year you're cutting down on adult presents and follow this up mid-year so she can strop early. For this year I'd get something from the cats protection league www.catsprotectionshop.co.uk , or a donation in her name.

SimplyPut · 14/12/2018 11:33

She sounds utterly vile but I understand why you are doing this.

Katie Loxton Candle (often comes nicely gift wrapped)
Hat
Slippers
Flowers

SnappedandFartedagain · 14/12/2018 11:37

Maybe something from Steven Brown Art? Tons of giraffe stuff. All too nice for her, but still.

www.stevenbrownart.co.uk/collections/coasters/products/francie-josie-mczoo-coasters-4-pack

catmumof1 · 14/12/2018 11:41

@disfordarkchocolate
I need that black and rose gold cat scarf for me!

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 14/12/2018 12:33

catmumof2
Get the scarf and flaunt it all Christmas day.

wednesday32 · 14/12/2018 12:42

As it is so close to xmas I would go ahead and order something like a giraffe print scarf (£11 on etsy), then in the new year send a happy new years card and in it explain ' we will not be purchasing for adults for future Christmases.' there is no need to buy for someone who doesn't appreciate it/is rude and doesn't reciprocate. Unforgivably you cannot solve the worlds problems b pleasing 1 person. If she strops on the floor then leave her to it. That really is not your problem.

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