Strange presents
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Anonymous
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The no gifts thread prompted me to think about the really odd gifts that MIL comes up with every year. The worst was a find religion package that included a bible, a donation made in our name to a nearby church that she had researched on our behalf, a homemade invitation from Jesus inviting us to the church, and a bunch of oriental trading religious plastic toys and crafts. We are agnostic. This was not appreciated. When DD was born, the gift package was to me and included a scale. a used copy of the Scarsdale diet that she probably got a garage sale and a tape measure to help me get my figure back. This was not appreciated.
One year she tried canning but didn't hit the mark. The cans of jelly and preserves that we received had black stuff floating at the top. DH thinks it was a mistake, I'm still on the fence as to whether she was planning to take us out of the picture with poison jam. Other years the gifts have been less inappropriate but still weird. I always wondered who on earth bought things from the in flight magazine section from Toscana something with strange dragon and medieval decor. Well, we received a large stone gargoyle statue for our living room, some black candles and Harry Potter books because MIL heard this was what kids like now. The invitation to our house was for MIL to read Harry Potter to DD by candlelight next to the gargoyle for spooky nights. DD was 2 at the time and this would have given her nightmares for weeks. The latest gift package included a dryer vent cleaner kit, fire extinguisher and s'more making things like marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers. The graham cracker box was expired and the marshmallow bag had already been opened and closed with a rubber band. It also included an invitation to our house for more making and fire safety night. I guess we will be hosting them to clean the dryer vent together and then enjoy stale s'mores. I don't really have a question because really what do you say when you get one of these lovely packages, let alone get them twice a year. DH,DD and I all have birthdays in October so we get a creative package to the whole family every October and Christmas. |
Anonymous
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I think these are super hilarious. You should just share about them to friends for their amusement. Can I be your friend?
I am intrigued that she invites herself to your house. Normally that's ... not the way things are done. |
Anonymous
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We say thank you and try really hard not to let our WTF expressions show on our faces. Stuff gets donated or tossed.
Take pictures. After they pass away, the weird quirks that are unique to them are memories that bring comfort and amusement. |
Anonymous
| OMG these are awesome and hilarious. I would start taking bets with my husband as to what random thing we'll be given next |
Anonymous
+1 Please report back about her future gifts. |
Anonymous
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I think she’s read about creative gifts and is trying to be super creative and “thoughtful.” She’s trying to show that she’s really thinking about a gift and not just buying something off the shelf and wrapping it.
Just say thank you and let them go. Does she insist on her “invitations” or does she tend to forget about them? |
Anonymous
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Lol I love the homemade invitation from Jesus.
How do you not laugh about these... so much mis-channeled creativity. The themes and total and complete inappropriateness cracks me up. I can't wait for Christmas! Please bookmark this thread so you can update us then. |
Anonymous
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Duh- Don’t you get what she’s doing? She’s trying to give you EXPERIENCES not THINGS, like reading Harry Potter by candlelight.
She should just tell you what she wants to do, and show up with the props, but instead she’s giving you the props first. |
Anonymous
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These are thoughtful gifts, yet the execution is just so inappropriate! You should ask her where she gets her ideas and you should point out how each of them went wrong. |
Anonymous
Oh, this will go over well. When have you ever sat someone down and gone over where each of their gifts have gone wrong. |
Anonymous
| She's ill |
Anonymous
I'd love the fire extinguisher and dryer vent cleaner. Need a new fire extinguisher and we don't have a dryer vent cleaner.  Thank her and toss.
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Anonymous
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Oh, Lord. Sounds like my mother in law. She gives wonderful and costly gifts to her daughter, SIL, and kids.
For her son, me, and our daughter: Shiny, flashy, silver leggings. Not sure who they were for. A used puzzle from about 50 years ago. Covered in dust, faded. Not sure if all of the pieces were there. "Fancy" gumballs from TJ Maxx - the "candy coating" had flaked off, since they were about 20 years old. A KNIFE set for our daughter's 2nd birthday. Stacks of coupons for shit we do not use. Soccer goalie pants. None of us are soccer goalies. But she found them in a thrift store and thought that we could find someone in our neighborhood to give them to. I guess, go door-to-door with them?? I think she thinks she is precious and adorable. No idea....... |
Anonymous
| Maybe she shops in the "as seen on tv" section |
Anonymous
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When my daughter was a teen, my aunt gave her a purity pendant.
(we are all Jewish) |