Rubbish Christmas Presents

[bluedogs]

This may sound horribly childlish but I got some really shocking presents for Christmas and it has really upset me. My Mother bought me a range of body products I haven't used since going to the big school and a top that has been described as "Pat wearing for a hot date with Frank." My MIL excelled herself by getting really lovely gifts for DP and DS, then asking me if I wanted "cash or cheque". I didn't have the guts to tell her to stick it so asked for a cheque at which point she asked how to spell my name. I've been around for the last 5 years.

Add to this my sisters miserly present and brother simply transferring money into my account and I'm feeling thoroughly unloved. I hope I bought people gifts they wanted and liked. DP and friends bougth me lovely gifts so I don't know what I'm so upset by this. Its not even as if this is any different from any other year. Only difference is arrival of DS. So how do I stop getting so annoyed by this?

Yes, it is a shame. She refused mediation point blank and hired extremely aggressive lawyers and put us through hell for no reason (she left him years before I came along because she met her fabulously wealthy current husband). I never say a bad word about her and sound interested when my stepdaughter chats about her siblings btw.

I got lucky with Christmas presents, generally as long as my DS has a good time it doesn't bother me if people buy me rubbish. I have a friend though who, the year she had ter baby (in november) everyone bought her baby clothes as christmas presents, not a single present for her!

My mum's birthday is on the 25th of December so she always feels a bit left out - we always try and make more of an effort for birthday and on her 50th we had a surprise party a couple of days before!

I guess I could return stuff, put in ebay go and spend the cash etc. Its just that its the lack of thought - as has been mentioned money into a bank account is money into the blackhole of my overdraft. Yup spending money is nice but again always end up paying gas bill or something more "useful" with it.

Its more things like inscriptions that read 2006 or my siblings mass buying off two books from Amazon - both 60% - one for females, one for men - that really annoys me. If its the thought that counts, then there is no thought in it. Cheap, ill considered gifts are not wanted. Equally there is enough stuff for landfill out there without getting more of it for Christmas. I do think that what people buy or don't buy you does say something about how they view you and equally how you view them. Like I said next year Oxfam can have a farm off us - money where its needed.

My mil left all the prices on dh and ds pressies which were all over £10. Funny how she remembered to take the price off mine probably because by the look of it-its a cheap £2.00 bracelet from the market. Next year dh will be leaving the price on her presents and I will helping choose them too.

;)

we dont get many presents as adults, so i highly value every thought.

Glad my BO top has given you a laugh. Now that I've recovered from the shock, I think it's pretty hilarious too. Not sure what the people down the charity shop will make of it though...

My mother also once sent me a birthday card (one of those 'The Year You Were Born In' ones) - with the wrong year on!!!! Is it just me or is it a bit slack to forget the year year your 1st child was born?