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?

These are really nice presents and also useful. Other mother was extremely rude.

Very strange and rude. Nothing wrong with those presents. Alternatively, you could give just one and put something in it. It might be awkward to give a container (tin or bag) as a gift but with nothing in it. Kids automatically will expect to open the tin to find what’s in it 😄I think the bag is really cute!

She's odd. They're both really nice and much better than gifting tat.

My daughter would have loved these presents, I think they are very thoughtful :)

Lovely gifts. Bag is very cute as well.

I would actually do this next time.

Is the mum in question common and thick as well as rude and ungrateful?

I can't think of a nice way to phrase that maybe she was expecting some pink sparkly plastic tat?

I would have loads of fun choosing their gift next year. Really leave them scratching their heads.

My 5YO would have genuinely loved these, especially the tin. Tbh I died a little inside at the number of pottery painting sets that my dd got for her birthday (as much as she loves arts and crafts) and I would've loved her to get more things like this. They were perfectly appropriate gifts and this mum was really rude. I would just regift something or not bother next year if you're still in touch

@JennyJenny8675309 yes, the possibilities are endless. For her 5th birthday how about a bicycle wheel and a bag of self raising flour? Let’s really test what “out there” means because it isn’t what @Okaaaay so generously gave.

My 4 and 5 yo DCs would be delighted with them - especially the tin for their most prized possessions (currently conkers!)

Both gifts are lovely. So thoughtful,ignore the Mother. She was extremely rude !

I don't like them but I imagine most 4-year-old girls would be very happy. Definitely not 'out there' unless you knew she a particular type of parent.

How bizarre. I think they are absolutely fine for gifts, my 4 year old would love them

She was rude. Dont bother next time

They are both lovely gifts, I especially love the tin. Definitely not 'out there' and definitely one very rude parent.

My kids would have loved a boy version of those at that age.

Yeah, she was rude! I have a 4yo, and she would go absolutely nuts for both of those gifts! they're lovely

Wow SO rude! We've had all sorts of things given at birthday parties and I always bear in mind that people might be skint, having to regift or whatever, and it's a good lesson for your DC to always be polite and say thank you even if you don't like something much.

But yes I would not have put those presents in the weird category at all. The gym bag sounds lovely and even if not needed as a gym bag my DD at 4 would have used it for other things. The tin sounds fab and she would have adored that.

I would have given the tin with another little present inside it but that's because I do that with anytihng that's a container of some kind. But I wouldn't expect it.

It's not you OP!

I am imagining this mum's house is all perfectly neutral, including all her children's toys, and the idea of something multicoloured was a bit too much!

She was very rude. The gifts are lovely. I think it's great that you found things that a child that age would love, that aren't necessarily toys. Very thoughtful and appropriate gift imo.

Perfect gifts for a 4 year old - I was also thinking the mum probably has a neutral theme going on

To be honest, I think my children might have been a bit non plussed by an empty tin aged 4. I don't think any of them had really grasped the concept of storage at that age and would have thought the tin was the wrapping and expected there to be present inside. I would have liked it though, and probably would have filled it with discarded lego within minutes. I don't think there is anything wrong with giving useful gifts to small children even if they don't get wildly excited about them at the time. They tend to get a plethora of cheapish toys at birthday parties so it's not like you are depriving them of something to play with if you give a useful gift, and the storage tin and bag will probably long out live the craft sets etc.
My children are all grown up now but I have some much younger nieces and nephews. I'm probably viewed as boring auntie because I either buy them books or clothes or give money for birthdays and Christmas. Their house is already like a branch of Toys R Us and they don't need any more. But you have inspired me OP - storage tins will be on the list this Christmas!

They're lovely gifts! And ones that would get used. The mum is weird - and rude!

Abominably rude. They are lovely gifts.

I wonder what she was expecting? A Mulberry bag and a Harrods' tin?

What do you spend? 80 pence?

She was rude! Also, those gifts are gorgeous!