A grandmother gift vent

[Anonymous]

GM was in NYC with with bro and his new wife. They were at some ritzy homewares shop and bought the kids a cool Popsicle mold and then my mom saw some cute little ceramic bowls - all different colors - like the kind for soy sauce for sushi dipping. They were $3 each and my mom said, out loud, of I'd love to get these for the grand kids, but I think my daughter (me) won't like them because they might break. New SIL says "oh, I think children need to learn to use real dishes as early as possible." My mother bought a set of 12. She recounted the story to me as I have written it here and went in to say HOW MUCH she had spent on the kids. Added a small dig that she "hoped" I would let the kids (ages 4 and 2) use the bowls.

Well, I let them play with them one day. One chipped because it fell to the floor. I have no use for them. Too small for snacks. Too much effort for a tea party (wide brim). We don't serve sushi at dinner parties (and I have a set of small bowls already from a gift)

Wtf.

I want to return them to my mother. She said I could give them back if I didn't like them. And now I feel like they're taking up space in my kitchen and are useless and I just think the whole thought behind them was stupid.

Just a vent before I find a nice way to return them. (Mom lives in town and watches kids often. She has a much bigger house and will probably come up with 109 good uses for the bowls)

[Anonymous]

I mean this in the nicest possible way, but just let it go. Yes, the story is annoying, but it's not worth the effort, possibility of irritating your mom, your mom recounting to SIL how you wouldn't keep them, and so on. Just keep them and don't give this another thought.

[Anonymous]

Goodwill...

[Anonymous]

Hopefully, yours kids will break the dishes when your mother is watching them. Problem solved!

[Anonymous]

I am sorry, but your story made me laugh. I can see my mom doing the exact same thing. I fully expect it to drive me nuts too!

[Anonymous]

You're wrong to be upset. Your mom was trying to do something nice for you/your kids, while ALSO at the same time, get along with her daughter in law.

Be gracious. Tell your mom your kids aren't quite ready yet, but could the bowls be kept at her house and could she help the kids learn to be careful with them?

[Anonymous]

Were they meant to be used for meals or for playtime? If they take up too much room in the kitchen and are not practical, I would just throw them in the playroom and let the kids play with them. Maybe they'll find some creative uses. You can always "rotate them out" at some point and give to Goodwill if it really bothers you that much.

Or, let your kids break them all and then return to your mom and tell her she was right - you were afraid they would break them. (kidding!)

[Anonymous]

You've got your excuse right there: "Oh, Mom, they already broke one!"

You sound like you have the right attitude, venting here but being nicer to your mom.

SIL doesn't have kids, does she?

[Anonymous]

I don't think SIL has kids and that you should wrap them up and give them to her at her shower in a couple years. Just kidding.

I get your vent and I don't think you are horrible - - you said "a nice way to give them back." I think you will either find a nice way or just put them away while venting herew and that's fine.

This is something both my mom and MIL would do.

[Anonymous]

Op here - SIL has no kids. I kind if love the idea of giving them right back to her someday
I really just needed to get the (mild) annoyance out of my system!

[Anonymous]

I love the advice on what dishes kids should use from the non-kid having SIL. Classic!

[Anonymous]

eh, i'd avoid confrontation and give them to goodwill and never say another word about it. after all, she was trying to do something nice.

of course, if you think she sincerely meant that should give them back, you could cheerfully take her up on it without complaining about the gift. ("such a nice thought mom! but the kids already broke one. if you really have a use for it, i'll take you up on your suggestions to take these back.")

[Anonymous]

I say don't give it another thought but simply hand them to your kids as your mom and sil wanted you to. And then give it two weeks. Kids will take care of them

[Anonymous]

I love those bowls! Use them all the time with my little kids. We put ketchup in them - great for kids who want their own things and don't like foods touching! Also great for hummus, guacamole, any dips, blueberries, strawberries, etc. Twelve is too much, but I'd find 4-6 really handy!

Anyway, what do your kids think? Do they like them? Why not let them decide?

I get that moms can be annoying, but I had to read your post twice to get what your problem was!!

Well, try not to hurt your mother's feelings. The thought comes from a nice place.

[Anonymous]

Throw them away and if she asks about them, say they all got broken. Maybe then she'll see the stupidity of her gift.