Mum rude about gifts for four year old…

[Okaaaay]

I’ll caveat by saying I don’t like buying kids tatt and have been known to put funky socks in a party bag (along with sweets and other stuff). So maybe I’m getting this very wrong…

My DC was invited to a four year old girl’s party at a soft play. I gifted a Rachel Elin tin (bright, pink girly colours with my treasures or something written on it) and a kids rainbow Joules drawstring gym bag. My other DC would have loved this sort of thing when they were 4.

The recipient's Mum came up to me at nursery this aft and said ‘thanks for the gifts for xxx, they were a bit ‘out there’ (with hand gesture) for her but we’ll make use’. I was so stunned I just nodded and smiled.

So clearly, she was rude, but were my gifts super weird?

They do regular ‘bargain’ days on their website too. Far cheaper than JL.

The woman was bloody rude. Lovely presents, OP.

These are amazing gifts

whatsa double hand roll to stars… like a kum-by-ah gesture in the air?

But if the child did gym, they would most likely already have a bag for kit that had been bought specifically for the purpose and to match their favourite colour/film/character etc.

However poorly matched the gifts were, the mother was incredibly rude to mention it.
That said, they are odd choices. DD1 wouldn't have had much/any use from either as we had all the bags we needed, and she had/has a vocal dislike of overtly 'girly' stuff. A different treasure box matched to her interests would have been used but not enthused over. DD2 isn't much of a collector of things, so wouldn't have used the box, but would have liked the design. She would have been very disappointed to open the box and discover the box is the gift and it wasn't hiding something else inside. She wouldn't have been willing to swap her sparkly My Little Pony gym bag for the one you linked.
I like left-field gifts generally, but you really do need to take the time to match them to the child's interests more than you would a toy. At least with a toy, if it isn't quite right, DC will recognise it as a gift. An empty box is just a bit confusing. DD2 (7yo) got a set this year for her birthday with matching fluffy pen, notepad, socks, and eye mask, which stood out from the norm and was a roaring success. DD1 got a towel with a favourite franchise on, which is hugely practical and fits two of her interests (swimming and the franchise) - it was very happily received and has had an awful lot of use.
I love the socks for a party bag filler idea though. I shall be pinching that!

Whilst the mum was a bit rude, she was maybe puzzled by an empty
tin and a gym bag, some wee bits in the tin would have been nicer than a gym bag, odd combination to gift.

What do you mean by "poorly matched" @SkankingWombat ? It was't a set, it was just two items 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh, come on @StarlightLime don't your bags match your tins?

No, I have no class or style at all

Poorly matched to the occasion/child.

What @SkankingWombat and @HerMammy have said is what I was meaning. I think those are things that you might get for your own kids if you know they really like empty tins or need a gym bag but are an odd choice if you don't know the child will be enthused.

My dc have received that tin as gifts, they love it, fill it with tat and keys (every single bloody key in the house, but thats another thread).

I don’t think the gifts are ‘out there’ at all.

did she want plastic tat?

The whole point of the tin is that it's empty 😂 You make it sound like a used baked bean can! It's a tin for the child's own special stuff.

What a weird rude reaction. They're lovely gifts!

My DD4 would of loved that tin to store her clips, bobbles etc.

Other parent was rude. I can't actually imagine complaining like she did. Would of been better to just regift them.

Hmm, could she mean out there because of the rainbows so she's associated them with LGBT, thats the only thing i could think of..?

I absolutely love them!!!

You are the best kind of gift giver, where there’s actually some thought and effort made, and not another F*CKING CRAFT SET.

Both of these items would have been a HUGE hit with both of my girls at 4.

Just to put a different point of view - I think they're a bit "out there" too - the rainbows and unicorns seem a bit of a girly cliche.

But I know some women and girls like that kind of thing, so I don't think I'd have mentioned it - they're both nice functional gifts that you'd obviously put some thought into, and I really appreciate the while "not tat" thing. So i agree this this was rude.

My biggest gripe about kids birthdays is getting loads of plastic presents that don't work together or with toys child already has. I think your gifts had a true value and use.
Even if they hadn't you say thank you, really appreciate your gift and making the time to come to my child party. She's an ungrateful c u next Tuesday!

My 'about to be four' DGD would have loved both. What a strange woman. I wonder what she'll get for your child when it's her turn. Keep us posted!

People are so weird! The mother especially, that’s hilarious. (Maybe she is mortified or maybe she is a CF but I can imagine perfectly the hand gesture). But also everyone saying “empty tin”! It’s a tin to put your treasures in!

I’m going to get one for DD5, thank you Op.

I like the gym bag and spares are always useful. Or is it just my DS who destroys them?

The only thing I can think of for her saying they’re ‘out there’ is that she prefers neutral things for her DC. Does she usually dress her DD is more neutral colours/play with wooden toys etc.

I totally agree @BaronessBomburst, we love a bag in this house..

Gorgeous gifts.
My girl and I as her mum would have been delighted with them.
The mum must have a screw loose.

This thread has made me laugh. OP, I wonder if you are right, she is home now saying to herself 'Why did I say that'!!!!!

I think she possibly meant very generous not knowing you are savvy with sales.
If I was you, I would take it that way.

Off to see if my tins match my bags....