Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way your in-laws did this to annoy you. Thoughtless? Sure. Malicious? No way.

I’d put the device on time out. 30 minutes a day.

Don't be so sure. My MIL buys things we don't allow and tells the kids "your mom is going to kill me". She is normal in every other way, I'm not sure why she does this.

+1

OP, I'm with those who say let the young whos down in whoville make some noise noise noise noise. The novelty will probably wear off quickly, and in the meantime maybe make a rule that they have to give you a 5 min warning so you can put on earplugs or headphones. Mom nap time is an acceptable veto though.

FWIW I got one for my dd for her bday and we all had so much fun with it that dh and I got them too! They are so dumb, but they are also super fun - have you tried one yet?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Feel a bit guilty (not really). Years ago, I gave nieces, nephews, and extended family kids voice changers, lightsabers and plush snowballs. SNOWBALL fight. We had so much fun!

It was so boring at MIL's every freakin xmas eve. There was no mayhem. Kids had to sit on floor, and take turns opening one gift from pile. They had to show everyone, get up to hug and thank the gift giver. Until I changed things forever!! Mwaahhaaa

We’ve done that at family get togethers. Everyone had a blast, from Great Grandma to toddlers.

Ha yes! It only takes a plush snowball. My in laws like to think they're New England proper, until great grandma gets slammed with a plush snowball. God rest her soul, but she was up out of her chair in a flash pelting even the littlest ones, and threatening no dessert, while the kids started shouting back through their voice changers, we want dessert!

I had to keep close watch, and yell at them not to wave the light sabers at nana.

This made me smile!

OP, live a little! Life with kids is better when you allow yourself to go off-script from time to time. Your kids will eventually lose interest in the toy, but if you make it a forbidden thing or worse take it from them now your just going to foster resentment in them, you'd be hurting them not your MIL whom you seem to have issues with. Until they get tired of it I suggest headphones or even better walk on the wild side and play with the toy yourself.

The novelty will wear off in a few days. Try to let it go until then. Making it the forbidden fruit will probably prolong their interest.

Anonymous wrote:Lord have mercy. Why did you have kids? Didn't you realize that kids can be noisy sometimes. Obviously your in-laws chose a great gift that your kids love. Why would you throw it out? The novelty will wear off.

Eh, don’t we all have some particular kids’ toy that grates on us beyond all reason? I’m pretty sure I have an above average tolerance for kid noise, but there are a few electronic toys that really get under my skin (I’m looking at you Fisher Price talking puppy). Not sure that means I shouldn’t have had kids.

Anonymous wrote:Op wants to throw them out because 1. They are from MIL and 2. How dare MIL buy something not specified by OP and gasp! The DCs love the not controlled by OP gift.

That was always my experience with NoVa relatives. Mom highly controlling and the kids always loved it when I went off list.

My kids got that one year. Just hide it and bring it out whenever you are willing to hear it. They loved it. We brought it out for playdates a lot for silliness. I also sometimes with noisy toys brought it to the in-laws who gave it and said "They love it so much they want to play with it EVERY time they visit you."

Damn I have not stopped playing with the voice changers we got years ago. You got everything on the lists plus these? Love your inlaws!

Op wants to throw them out because 1. They are from MIL and 2. How dare MIL buy something not specified by OP and gasp! The DCs love the not controlled by OP gift.