gift idea for MIL we don't get on with?

[choolie]

Does anybody have any suggestions for a christmas gift idea for my mil? (She had a big falling out with us on Mother's Day this year, 3 wks after DS was born, as wasn't happy DH didn't buy her loads of presents or take her out for lunch on the day).

Things are strained now, although everybody is pretending it's all normal, but DH feels let down by her and really disappointed / confused by it all.

Sorry for all this detail on a Christmas thread, but basically I haven't got a clue what we can get her this year for Christmas that will look like a normal gift, but doesn't look like we're trying to make up for anything, but that she'll be happy enough with and not have another go at DH. She generally gets us £20 gift voucher each. We usually spend £40-ish combined on her and her hubby.

Any suggestions most welcome. TIA.

One way ticket to somewhere far away? try Easyjet

Or you could buy her a gift certificate for counselling or anger management classes?

theatre tickets/gift vouchers for same

I could have started this thread!
I'm getting my MIL a calendar of baby photos from photobox and a watch.

The best thing about not speaking is that they won't be able to moan about the presents!

A magazine subscription? You can get them in box sets from smiths, and you have the advantage that every month she will be reminded how unreasonable she's been

matching jumpers

and box of biscuits

several yards of knicker elastic?

Something decent but neutral... does she like champagne? I would regard a bottle of Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque as a good idea. It's a beautiful bottle, lovely champagne, so could be regarded as a beautiful gift (I would love it) but I would regard a bottle of wine as a gift really without emotion, you could give it to anybody and mean nothing by it.

You sound thoroughly nice people. What a funny woman she must be.

loler, if I wasn't speaking to someone I wouldn't buy them anything!

Choolie, how about a nice frame photo of your ds in a nice photoframe?

no, really the thing is to rise above the falling out and just get her something you are sure she will like, but not extravagant.

theatre vouchers? restaurant vouchers? perfume?

A beautifully wrapped bottle of bitter lemon?

Sun catcher?

Pretty little hanging crystal type thing, hung in a sunny window casts rainbows all around the room.

We have several, and this one which is the best one, but doesnt look as pretty as this one when hanging in the window.

How about this?

We get MIL a current photo or 2 of ds in nice frame (ASDA) and his framed handprint - Personal without spending a fortune!

ooh, thanks so much, lots of ideas. I just don't want to get something crap as she prob knows it's me who chooses the pressies every year.

SIL sent her a pair of ear-rings for mother's day, and they got damaged in the post...she blamed SIL for not being careful enough in wrapping them!

Dont `cha just love em! Kind sweet MILs!

I had a major falling out with mine too. She went bloody bananas at me because we accidentally forgot to post her sister a birthday card! Dp is useless and left it on the kitchen side.

Honestly, how can people be so rude about cards and gifts? In my book, you dont expect gifts etc, and you are lucky when and if you do get something.

Get something perfectly pleasant but don't put too much thought into it, champagne, a really nice set of toiletries etc. And I know we don't give to receive but don't spend more on her than she does on you, you have a new baby this year!!!!

Actually, what about this:

www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/ProductDetails.aspx?catalog=Unwrapped&product=OU2653

A lovely framed photo of her grandchild?

when your baby grows up how will you want them to treat their mother?

Get her a digital photo frame - I've seen them somewhere at 40 pounds recently. Or buy something nice to eat/drink. presents should ideally show that you're cared enough about the recipient to think about what they like - new book by a favourite author, plant for the garden, cd, game she can play with the new grandchild. What does she actually like apart from complaining?

I've just spent the evening on the Truprint website making calendars of her darling Grandsons.
The Mothers day thing... On my first mothers day I had wept and wailed all morning because dp completely forgot and it was just me getting up first as usual to see to our 4 month old son.
Then his dad rings up in the afternoon to say that mil is upset cos dp hasn't sent her any flowers.
'He can't even remember there is a mother in his own house so i'm not up for discussions about any other mothers feeling left out'
he just ignored me and went on about how she was crying everytime an interflora van went past.
Pah.
Mils
Actually, this year I have pushed the boat out with the calendar. Usually we recycle one of my birthday presents for her xmas gift....

half a pound of bitter cud to chew on

actually i talk a good game but i don't do that either....i usually send nice framed piccies of dd (to remind her of who is most important now) and a book/mag subscription/smellies(as a consolation prize)

part of the problem is that altho' they have a fair amount of money, they don't appreciate nice things, so would happily drink a £1.99 btl of plonk from aldi and not enjoy a more expensive btl - same with bubbly, DH has bought her nice champagne in the past and she's opened it warm (this has happened twice).

they go away in their caravan, so we've done the books on places to see etc. she doesn't really have any other hobbies, doesn't read much, that's why it's so hard.

thanks for all the useful suggestions though, think I should be able to come up with something now [phew smiley].

ha ha, you have all just cheered me up with the funny suggestions, I've just re-read the alternative options! thanks, that's made me feel better . off for the night shift now.

www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/content/unwrapped/mygift/howwespendyourmoney.aspx?ICO=UnwrappedHome&ICL=Unwrap pedPromo2&ICC=HowItWorks_content-unwrapped-mygift-howwespendyourmoney

send her an oxfam goat or a nice cactus with a little note saying "sit on this"

This book might help break the ice. It's very funny, not schmaltzy and has some truly horrible relatives that make you appreciate your own.