I agree that you should sell it in eBay.

Are you sure your MIL didn't misunderstand your husband?

Strange.

Op, that's just how MILs are. Mine has been told repeatedly not to use my Amazon wish list as a guide to what I actually want as gifts (I use it for things I'm thinking about buying myself, DH, or our kids and it often contains multiple brands of the same type of thing I'm considering). So this year I got the cheapest of eight hand vacs on my list. I think it's obvious that if there are 8 things on a list, the person hasn't decided what they want yet, but apparently not to MIL.

She sounds like my manipulative grandmother. So I'm guessing this was on purpose. I have learned to be very direct with my grandma.

I would probably sell the thing. Before the next holiday, tell her it was unfortunately stolen or that you had to give it to a sick friend who loved it. If she doesn't believe your story, great. She can't outright accuse you of lying, just like you can't outright tell her you know she bought it to piss you off. Passive aggressive people thrive on polite silence and use it to ensure they won't get called out for their mean behavior, so I think it's fun to use that against them and turn the tables.

Just tell her, "you know, my charm bracelet fell off my wrist while I was playingn in the ocean (this is a real thing that can happen and happened to my mother with a beloved gold bracelet). I was disappointed because I loved it. But please don't get me another bracelet, they are too difficult to keep on my wrist and keep track of it. I was actually thinking how much I would love a ______ for Christmas this year!"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I find weird is how people scrutinize gifts. I mean, unless you specifically asked for X but got Y, it is strange, but even in this case a gift is a gift, so you smile and express gratitude. IMO, part of what makes the holidays special, is not the content in the box, but seeing that someone thought of you and wanted you to be happy. Most of posters on DCUM are well off and can buy anything they want themselves, so I honestly don't get the disappointment over gifts.

I don't think MiL wants her to be happy if she continues buying things that she has been told at least twice that OP doesn't like.

Yes MIL has figured out how she can destroy DIL's happiness!

Anonymous wrote:What I find weird is how people scrutinize gifts. I mean, unless you specifically asked for X but got Y, it is strange, but even in this case a gift is a gift, so you smile and express gratitude. IMO, part of what makes the holidays special, is not the content in the box, but seeing that someone thought of you and wanted you to be happy. Most of posters on DCUM are well off and can buy anything they want themselves, so I honestly don't get the disappointment over gifts.

I don't think MiL wants her to be happy if she continues buying things that she has been told at least twice that OP doesn't like.

I don't understand this. Just show gratitude. She spent time and money selecting the gift. Smile and be (not pretend to be) grateful for the act of giving.

And yes, I do have a great relationship with my MIL. I've been married to her son for 28 years. Wonder why that might be?

What I find weird is how people scrutinize gifts. I mean, unless you specifically asked for X but got Y, it is strange, but even in this case a gift is a gift, so you smile and express gratitude. IMO, part of what makes the holidays special, is not the content in the box, but seeing that someone thought of you and wanted you to be happy. Most of posters on DCUM are well off and can buy anything they want themselves, so I honestly don't get the disappointment over gifts.

My MIL does this too. For jewelry I just say thank you and put it away. We see her twice a month and I don't feel the need to wear it in front of her specifically if it's not something I like. I doubt she even thinks of it. For clothes that I know I won't wear I do return them and get something else.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know anyone who has a MIL who gives good gifts. The MIL DIL relationship is one of tolerance. We tolerate each other. If you have a better relationship with your MIL than one where you tolerate each other, count yourself lucky. My MIL's gifts this year were awful, just like they are every year.

Mine does!! Always green and the ultimate useful gift, cash! DH was actually annoyed the first time she sent a check and tokd us to buy whatever the kids want. He wanted her to shop for them.

I don't get why she asked if you'd like it then continue to buy accoutrements for it. There is a such thing as a selfish gift giver.

I am sure to open a petite something or other in an hour when we get to ILs. Never mind that MIL has repeatedly been told that while I might wear a small I have long arms and cannot wear petite anything. I've been with my H for 15 years so it's like I am new.

Anonymous wrote:are you the same poster complaining about your MIL buying your daughter a Christmas dress in her size?

Don't have kids yet. But she's already talking about the baby charm she's going to get me next.

Annoying but I would continue to be gracious. And I would never wear it. I hate when people fake liking gifts to the point they only use them when the gift giver is there.

are you the same poster complaining about your MIL buying your daughter a Christmas dress in her size?