'Orrrible clothes presents and diplomacy

[WinkyWinkola]

A bit trite really but what do you do or say when your child receives really nasty, cheap clothes from a close relative?

PIL have just been to visit and brought a truly vile yellow tracksuit for DS. I know it cost ?1.99 - not that it matters but it totally looks like it too! I totally lied and said, "Oooh. Thanks very much. How nice."

This happens a lot with them. I've tried asking for specific stuff but it doesn't work! Maybe next time, I should say something like, "Thanks but it's not really my taste." I'm never going to put him in it even when they visit or we go there and questions will be asked. Or am I being mean? I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, you see but some of the stuff they bring is truly awful.

What do you do?

take it to a charity shop that is nowhere near their house (i.e. one they are not likely to visit). Let the benefit of it go to someone else. TO the person say thank-you very much and leave it at that. Its not your taste but if they have bought it as a genuine present I would not want to hurt their feelings and would be grateful for the thought behind it.

We've had some stuff from SIL that isn't our taste AT ALL (as well as some very nice stuff) - if it has tags on I exchange it otherwise it goes to charity. I wouldn't dream of saying anything in case I hurt her feelings, though and luckily we live far enough away that she's none the wiser.

oh yes - make sure the charity shop is far far far away - my mum saw something she gave dd in our local charity shop - I was with her at the time and I was v v ashamed. Obvious as wasn't a UK brand

I agree with caboose. However I have had success with my MIL by going through catalogues with her in a conversational way and saying "Ooh I love that, do you? I love X Y colours and these A B C styles on ds" etc etc

She has come up trumps since then actually

Of course it is - the thought that counts, that is.

But I was just wondering if there was a better way to handle it as they are very money conscious (but minted) and perhaps they would prefer DS to wear the stuff they buy rather than wasting their money.

To the charity shop it is!

ah but winky, they are not wasting their money. its a donation to the charity shop

charity shop near us is full of tat from the in laws.

best thing to do is try and get them out on a shopping trip with you. like ask your MIL if she'd like to come with you while you're choosing things. then you can point out and show her things you like, things you don't like etc. do it in a general way as you're browsing.

A variant of this is my mum; last year she was staying with us near my birthday and asked me what I wanted. I made the usual noises of "Oh don't worry about me, there's nothing I need", but she and dad persisted so i said "well if you're going to John Lewis (her FAVOURITE shop) just get me X body lotion by Clarins, or anything by Clarins. I love the smell of all their products whereas there are other brands there I DON'T like." I thought that was pretty clear, but she bought a load of completely different (not so nice smelling ) stuff instead from another counter.

Just say thank you, or look at catalogues with her and hope for the best !

put the shite stuff in a dressing up box...kids will have tonnes of fun with it.. or put them in it when Pil come over...everyones happy...oh except bubs who will be forced to wear the monstrosity...lol

it depends really on how vile it is.
after a recent pressie from mil (which was a bit grown up- not at all cute)i have learnt to smile, nod and say thank you, we'll put ds in it at some stage & as if by magic it will go in the charity shop bag for someone who really wants it. that way you're covering every angle!

My parents brought the most horrendous piece of clothing back from benidorm last year for DS1.It was a leather look waistcoat with pandas sewn on the front. Luckily it's way too big for him!

Sorry Frazzle but that sounds awful!

FIL keeps giving DH blimmin' AWFUL Val Doonican style jumpers for Xmas. DH is 29 for *^%!'s sake! We're sure he's trying to palm off his unwanted jumpers on DH, despite him being 4 inches taller and about 5 stone heavier than his dad.
Either that or he gets them from charidee shops (don't get me started on FIL and his fiscal policy)

my step mother loves charity shops and boot sales. one year for christmas she got me a bra from a charity shop size 28A. i am a 36C. she is bloody bonkers.

DizzyBint - oh barf!!!

I have a friend who passes on clothes that her dd has grown out of, and most of them are vile - real whore-clothes . BUT she always says I am welcome to take them to the charity shop if I don't like them. Out of a bin-bag full I maybe keep four or five things!