MIL leaves price labels on

[LPickers]

My MIL often buys clothes for my two toddlers, but always leaves the price labels on. They are often nice clothes from shops I wouldn't shop in as they are a bit expensive - Jojo Maman Bebe or M&S, etc. Sometimes she gets them in the sale and leaves the sale labels on.

She also leaves Xmas and Birthday price labels on presents to the kids.

I have noticed that she is a bit 'put out' if I buy the kids clothes myself. When she saw that I was collecting the next age group of clothing in advance for the kids, she seemed a bit irritated.

Well, I mentioned this 'leaving labels on' business to my husband and he didn't know she was doing it. He said she's never done it before (in the past when he was growing up). I pointed it out and he was quite surprised.

My MIL can be quite manipulative and I just feel that this is her way of sending me some kind of message. She has set ideas about ways to bring up children and can be quite interfering - commenting on how we manage the kids' behaviour and how I arrange my household, etc.

My gut feeling is that there is some kind of message in this behaviour, but god know what?! Any ideas?! I find it a bit strange.

I'm a bit confused. What is the issue with leaving the price label on? My mum wouldn't think to remove it and I wouldn't think to consider it an issue.

Confused here too...

My nan buys my children clothes all the time and leaves the label on in case I don't like them or they are the wrong size

I wish my MIL would leave the bloody labels on. She removes them before giving clothes, so it's tough shit if they're not suitable.

I concur with the others - this is what you do when you buy clothes for other people, especially if it's kids because the size they need can change rapidly.

My MIL buys DD loads of clothes - nice but not particularly expensive - and never thinks to take the prices off. But does include gift receipts with everything. I don't interpret it as a coded message.

Most people who give our dc clothes leave the labels on so we can exchange them if they don't fit.

It's probably so you can take them back or exchange them if they're the wrong size. I would love this!

Isn't so you can return them..?? My mum leaves labels on everything so I can take them back if needed

I wish my MIL would leave the labels on so I can exchange things that don't fit!

I really can't see the issue here OP!

Makes taking them back to put the money put on a gift card for yourself easier

My MIL does this too, in her case it's to make sure we know how much she's spent. Also she doesn't like it when my family buys them anything.

I think OP means the price on them, not just the labels. My mum always leaves prices on things- it's no biggie. Leaving prices on presents is a bit strange- I've done it before by accident but it's not habitual, as it seems to be here.
I'm sensing that there is a bit of a backstory though.

Hi, thanks for your comments. Im surprised how many people think this is normal! I meant the prices are left on. She never leaves a receipt or says anything about exchanging, so I dont think that's the reason?

Do you think she leaves the price on to show you how much she spent and inferring that is what you should be spending beg cause what you buy isn't good enough ?? (completely speculating here based on your other info otherwise I don't see what the issue is)

LPickers, does she leave them on so you can return them?

You don't need a receipt if the label is still on, you get a gift voucher instead.

I think you're assuming your MIL is nastily showing you how much she's spending, but I think she's giving you the option of taking the clothes back.

Maybe change how you're seeing this and put to one side your feeling about her being a judgemental and interfering busy body and you'll see how much easier it is to get along with her- the vouchers can be used to buy something you deem more suitable.

I wish my mil left the labels on, if she ever thought to buy something for the dcs- her taste is just awful!

When I buy clothes as gifts, I leave the label on, but tear off the bit with the price tag. I thought everyone did this.

I don't see the problem. Why do people always pick at what mil do

I leave the prices on when I buy clothes for friends children and my mil, my mum and my friends all leave prices & tags on when they give stuff for ds.

When DM was alive she would occasionally come over with bits and pieces she had picked up for the kids. It wouldn't occur to her to take the price tag off - not because she was making a point, but because they weren't buying them as a "gift", more of a little something she'd seen and thought I'd like for them. In fact, my MIL bought some things for our newest arrival and has left the prices on those too (I just got them out to check!). I think you may be overthinking this OP.

If she is older could she have difficulty (stiff hands?) getting price tags off. Or she just thinks its your place as mum to do that. Or she wants you to know they are good quality and new so will last for the kids.

We always have prices left on toys, clothes etc from the ILs, I always take them.off when giving gifts, tbh I've never thought about it before.

What's the back story here?

It's so you can exchange them!

Those who have said - 'Why do people pick at what MILs do' etc, obviously have not experienced very difficult MILs. Count yourselves lucky!

Obviously there is a back story or I wouldn't be wondering about this behaviour. I experience a lot of passive aggressive behaviour from her. I don't want to put details on here in case I'm recognised, but she says nasty comments to me when my husband (who thinks she's perfect) is not in ear-shot, so its always her word against mine.

I have the feeling there is some kind of jealousy or control issue going on between me and her.

Perhaps I have mis-read this behaviour on this occasion, as most people above tend to think it is nothing. In my family we consider it rude to give people gifts and leave the price on; it makes the receiver feel awkward. So, there is probably just a difference here in family norms.

Thanks for the comments it will help me ignore it.

LPickers, if you're looking from back up from your DH, why don't you phone him when she's talking with you so he can hear?
Or record her?

I know the feeling of having a PA sniper having a go, and it is wearing.

Bring the clothes back for a voucher if you don't want your kids wearing what she buys them against your wishes

Time for a sit down with your DH about boundaries perhaps?