To be miffed at "Gift list for mother of the baby" enclosed in *Baby naming ceremony* invitation?

[doubleshotespresso]

So some close friends (who married in church), but now claim to be atheist are holding a naming ceremony for their 8 month old first baby in an hotel.....

The invitation is beautiful with a map, timings "event closes at 11pm"?

The gift list ranges from £30-to £300, all items for the mother, cosmetics, trinkets, jewellery, pampering breaks, personalised hand-bound stationery and photo albums...

Anybody know the drill for these naming ceremonies? Are we supposed to guess a gift for the baby? Or just congratulate the mother for deciding on a name?

I have read this a dozen times and am staggered beyond belief-DP read it and fell into hysterics....

My gut tells me to go along with Jo Malone scented nappies or something.

Somebody please tell me this is not normal?!?!?!

There's a limit of 1000 and were at 927!

So to summarise.

OP is a fantastic friend, amazing stepmum, loving fiancee and beloved by SC's grandparents, her fiancé, her SCs, her friend, her friend's DH have I missed anyone?

OP's friend's sister and Fronck are deranged.

Love this thread. Op you are MNer of the year in my book. You deserve every happiness and I hope your wedding and marriage are the stuff of fairy tales (though without any evil character)

Words can't express my views on that woman. I am sitting here like a goldfish with my mouth opening and closing.
She is totally deluded. Why on earth would you want to go back to her ridiculous original plans when you've just spent all this time unpicking them.
The only good thing about her is that she lives a long way away!

she needs to GROW UP and stop making the world float around her.

unbelievable.

i would not respond. let friend's dh / dmum deal with her. totally inappropriate to email you this drivel.

I think you need to somehow tell the sister to back off. Politely if possible, purely to make the point absolutely clear. I don't think silence is going to stop her.

So if I read this right she is saying...

"Right bitch! This is MY sister, MY DN and MY family. YOU are nothing and will therefore sit the fuck down, shut the fuck up and do as you are told. I will reorganise the event the way I want because I am FAMILY and YOU ARE NOT. I am the expert in these matters and dont give two shiny shites about what my sister wants because she is not in charge here, I AM"

I am gobsmacked at her saying that she can salvage her plans because of her expertise and contacts. Why does she think they were cancelled in the first place?!

I am sure that she thinks that you have taken it onto yourself to do this, not because her sister has asked you to.

YY to linking part 2 if there is one. Pleeeeassse.

The sister is quite unhinged.

Well I thought I would have a peep, better late than never. I tried to flip the thread and start reading it backwards but it quickly became clear I would be best o cancel my night out and read it properly, Classic.

Oh my god is she mental and unhinged. Is she paying for all of this as the babies first aunt and wantingt best for her and all that. Just ignore ignore ignore. Selfish cow!

OMFG!!

Totally inappropriate of her to mention your loss and to appear to be using it as a way of getting her hands back on the arrangements.

This woman is out for herself 100%. Don't forget that.

Do not tell your friend but do give the email to her husband and mother to read.

She is trying to imply that her sister and BIL must be having problems as to not want her staying with them.

I would be very very very insistent that she doesn't come if I was friend.

She's being appallingly passive aggressive. She knows it was you who bawled out Mr Giant Ego, the planner. She blames you. She blames her sister. And to suggest all this planning is too much for you because of recent events is beyond the pale.

Blimey.

She's utterly bonkers, totally self involved, appears to have completely missed the fact that she was the only person who wanted Le Cirque de Fronk and spouts management speak at you as if you were her minion PA.

Oh, and First Aunt? Hahahahahahahahahah

double you're going to need a new Topic thread to deal with loony First Aunt (wtf is that even supposed to mean?!) but I am openmouthed at how insensitive, unimaginative and self-absorbed she is.

Obviously the only possible reason for a couple with a small baby not to want a batshit houseguest for three weeks is a marriage breakup

How dare she treat her sister as an intransigent client?!

The only response I'd want to send is It's not about you because that seems to be her major misconception.

Blimey the sister really is loopy...

Totally agree bogey and miss strawberry. Definitely runt the e mail for friends husband and mother but do not show friend as it might affect her.

Print doh

Bloody hell she is one toxic woman. Totally agree with bogeys other stance of the e mail. Nasty nasty person

I can't understand how she can be risking losing even more face than she's already lost. Don't people in her world scheme and politick? If so, surely a sense of when to give in is essential, or else the world blows up - or someond is kicked out of it. Perhaps she's too junior to have ever had to give way, and doesn't know how, especially not in sucg a way (gracefully, that is), as to make it seem as though she's still in control.

Soooo, she's both junior and rather stupid.

AVOID!!

Bogeyface
I love your translation. Underlying theme : look I was going to make shit loads out of this, back away with your vanilla plans!

I'm STILL laughing at Lancelottie's post.

"It would be best if I could gain some balance on this all soon
Reply:
Dear Friend's Sis,
Sorry to hear that you are unbalanced. Best wishes for your speedy recovery."

Dear friends SIL

With all due respect, you are completely barking mad. The only issues that have arisen have been due to your selfish and heavy handed manipulation of a situation from which you stood to profit greatly had it been allowed to continue.

The event planner you suggested appears to have no concept of working FOR the client, your SIL. The point at which you recommended him, was the point at which you removed yourself from the equation.

Your, and his, grasping and greedy lists may well have made life very unpleasant for your brother, his wife and their child.

Everything you "organised" was so out of character for Friend there were quite a few people considering not going and this was all down to your idiotic manipulation.

I am aware you have no children yourself so you may find it difficult to comprehend the importance of friendships, especially during the first amazing and difficult months with a new baby. Your selfishness and desire to profit from an event that is supposed to celebrate the baby has resulted in a great deal of upset not just for Friend, but for other friends as well who are sickened that they might have been re-assessing whether they wanted to attend the naming day. This would have very much coloured social interactions for a great many years, and not for the better.

I feel I have to add one Very Important Fact for you, once more.

This whole event was not for you. You are Auntie. Not Mum or Dad and certainly not your niece, whose celebration it is supposed to be.

I am showing this to your brother and your mother. I have nothing to hide and you have chosen to attack me for helping and protecting Friend from your and DPP extensive and unnecessary manipulations, which would maximise your own status.

Yours

doubleshotespresso

not SIL though, Clara - she is the sister of the baby's mother, not the father!!!

which makes it all much much weirder

I don't know why I read it as SIL.

Sister does indeed make it worse.