MIL Vent

KMPeiffer2

My MIL never likes my gift suggestions. Maybe never is an exaggeration but even thru email I can tell she isn't always pleased. This year she keeps emailing dh what she has gotten or what she might get. She had asked for some ideas a couple weeks ago . I responded that I needed to think and would get back to her before the weekend. She said not to worry she had plenty of time. One or Two days later she is emailing dh suggesting something big and frankly we don't need anymore big toys until we get a finished basement. I promptly got my list together and let dh handle the big toy issue. G wants a wheel barrow so I suggested that to her (a big toy for outdoors or if in the house at least it cam hold other toys). I suggested that a plastic one would be better as I feared the metal would be rammed into the car, the house or his sister. I provided a couple of links of what he has wanted and that were plastic. She emails dh that I had sent her some links but she wanted to get him the John Deere one. I agree that it is cute and he loves John Deere. However it is metal. I email dh what I had originally emailed her about it being a tool of destruction. He said he would handle it. She also got him a transformer because if he is like his daddy he will love him. She bought him one earlier this fall and he rarely plays with it. Despite what she seems to think I really do try to pass along ideas that I feel he will like and that he will be excited to get after unwrapping. We have looked thru all the toy ads so I do have an idea of what he wants... Thanks for reading!

skh_emj_2009

I can definitely relate to MIL vents...   

Hope she takes the "hints" eventually!   

nickschick!

Been there, last Christmas. Most things from MIL to DS were returned. I hope there's not a repeat this year.... I am guessing after this year I won't be able to get away with that either, as Wes will see the toys and remember them. : / 

December29_Brid

Oh holidays, they really bring out the best in our IL's, don't they? I feel for you, I really do! I won a fight this year and I got to do her shopping. She is mad about what I got, but it is what they needed. I hope you get a few things on your list!

KMPeiffer2

Great now it has escalated. She sent a terse response to dh about ordering the one I sent her. I actually sent links to two different ones to be price sensitive and some different ideas so she had options. Dh is mad at me because I want to suggest things. Ok I give different list suggestions to different family members to avoid duplicates (no one gives gift receipts) and like I said to suggest things they will actually play with. I put a lot of thought into it and somehow that is a bad idea.

sept508

I have the same issue and E is only 6 months! MIL just wants to get E whatever she wants without thinking about what we need, don't have room for, or already have. I know, a gift is a gift, but when it's a terrible gift - and a constant battle of "I got E her first xx!" - it's frustrating.

Mrs.Reem

Oh good gracious I could have written this. My MIL asked for a list and then proceeds to try and buy things are aren't on it. Why ask for a list you nut? She prefers the gigantic toy route as opposed to thoughtful gifts. Whatever. She even bought Ana a toy for her birthday that we already have two of... because she didn't select something off the list that she ASKED for.  whew. preaching to the choir. I know.  It's very frustrating and I know what you're going through.