The child is 1? Does her gift fit with a toddler theme?

Save it. The decor changes a lot as they age.

Anonymous wrote:Just had DS's first birthday party and MIL gave themed decor gifts (wall clock, book ends and lamp) for DS nursery. His completed nursery with a totally different theme.
I am so very grateful for her generosity and thoughtfulness and I get along with her pretty well but I will not be displaying these items in his nursery. He also doesn't need the items she purchased.

Of course I will thank her appropriately for everything in a note, but do I:

- mention to her that thanks, but it doesn't go with what we have and we'll not be using it?

- put it away and not mention anything at all?

I really don't want to hurt her feelings. I also don't want her to waste her money by purchasing things that we won't use.
I did also mention to her about a year ago that we were striving to become minimalists and didn't really need anything, but maybe she misunderstood?

MIL's child should be dealing with this, not you. Deflect to your partner.

Just thank her and get rid of the items. Don't ask for a receipt or tell her you aren't using them. It could hurt her feelings.

Anonymous wrote:Is DH writings some thank you notes too? I hope?

But regardless, just write a generic than you note. "Thanks for thinking of us. We are excited for you to meet the baby." Etc.

Then do what you want with the gift. Pick one piece of it to keep, possibly, if it is something you think your kid might like later.

Sorry--the baby is one. But you get the jist.

How weird to give nursery decor to a one year old!

Is DH writings some thank you notes too? I hope?

But regardless, just write a generic than you note. "Thanks for thinking of us. We are excited for you to meet the baby." Etc.

Then do what you want with the gift. Pick one piece of it to keep, possibly, if it is something you think your kid might like later.

I think gifts of any kind that are expected to be displayed in someone else's home are tacky (art, etc.). It's basically telling someone else how to decorate their home. (Exceptions of course to things bought off a registry). If there is 0 chance you will use it in the future, either try to return, sell on Craigslist/a moms board, or donate. You know your MIL though-- for me, having something I hate in the house that will annoy me every time I see it would be worse for our relationship than not using it and dealing with MIL questions (luckily DH is pretty good at deflecting- oh, there wasn't room in the nursery, sorry!)
Also-- DC is one; he's not going to know whether or not something is from grandma or care what is in the nursery. Nurseries are basically for the parents, IMHO, and you are allowed to make it whatever makes you happiest. When he is old enough to love something from MIL that you don't really like (a loud light up truck for example), I think that's the perfect time to suck it up and give in. But not for something DC doesn't care about.

Agree with suggestion to find another spot like a playroom.

That's your MIL's way of saying she doesn't like the room theme. Throw the stuff out.

I think you are going to look ungrateful and hurt her feelings.

It sounds like she will be expecting to see them displayed since they are for his bedroom.

If she's not around a lot, you can regift/sell on Craiglist or a Facebook group/return.

But why can't your kid have something from his grandma? So what it it doesn't go perfectly with the decor? It's a room, not a magazine shoot.

A child doesn't have a theme nursery forever. Do you like the items she bought? Might your child like them (now or within the next few years)?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
She probably completely forgot about the minimalist comment, and bought something impulsively.

The best you can do it is try to return the items. Is there a receipt?

OP here. No receipt. Do you think it is OK to ask for one? I know she does a lot of shopping on-line...

It depends on your relationship with her and whether you are completely sure these items can't find themselves a place somewhere - it doesn't have to be the nursery - is there a "play area" you can decorate? If you hate the items, you'd better ask her for the receipts, to avoid having her buy more of it!
Or get your DH to tell her.

Don't mention it to her. Return /exchange/regift the items as you can. If she ever asks, say 'Oh. I'm sorry - I thought I told you we're minimalists, plus DS's nursery was already finished. We exchanged that beautiful clock and lamp for books for him."

Anonymous wrote:
She probably completely forgot about the minimalist comment, and bought something impulsively.

The best you can do it is try to return the items. Is there a receipt?

OP here. No receipt. Do you think it is OK to ask for one? I know she does a lot of shopping on-line...

She probably completely forgot about the minimalist comment, and bought something impulsively.

The best you can do it is try to return the items. Is there a receipt?

Just had DS's first birthday party and MIL gave themed decor gifts (wall clock, book ends and lamp) for DS nursery. His completed nursery with a totally different theme.
I am so very grateful for her generosity and thoughtfulness and I get along with her pretty well but I will not be displaying these items in his nursery. He also doesn't need the items she purchased.

Of course I will thank her appropriately for everything in a note, but do I:

- mention to her that thanks, but it doesn't go with what we have and we'll not be using it?

- put it away and not mention anything at all?

I really don't want to hurt her feelings. I also don't want her to waste her money by purchasing things that we won't use.
I did also mention to her about a year ago that we were striving to become minimalists and didn't really need anything, but maybe she misunderstood?