Christmas candy in an Easter basket...

[Wis2InTink]

I'm always looking for a bargain, but 3 lbs. of candy for a young child would have amazed me also. Who wants all that sugar? Give it to Dh. We live out of state from our 2 GS (ages 3 and 6), so I prefer sending cards, $ and stickers. I sent 5 Easter cards each, starting with new, crispy $1; then $2 etc. and finally a $5 bill. They are going to WDW next week, and now have some spending $ from us. The youngest has food allergies and can't have chocolate I'd love to spoil them with Easter candy.

 

[luvsJack]

This thread is too much!! OP posted a silly post about her in-laws giving her ds Christmas candy for Easter probably b/c she thought it was funny and we would appreciate it Now her in-laws are cheap and thoughtless? I don't get it. OP mentioned the candy was in a basket so we don't know what else was in there. Maybe her MIL bought the candy after Christmas on purpose to put in the basket. Everyone has different ideas about gift giving. I love to get gifts that I know someone will love. I put a lot of thought into gifts for my nieces and nephews and am rewarded by their excitement when they open them. My SIL on the other hand, buys gifts b/c she has to, it is another chore for her and she trys to get it over with as fast as possible so sometimes her gifts fall short of the mark. So what? We don't take it personall..it is just how my in-laws are. my DH is the same way. he doesn't care about getting gifts himself so he pretty much stinks in the gift giving department..he's not thoughtless as much as clueless

to the bolded part: That is kind of what I was thinking. Her mil saw the candy on sale and thought it was a great idea. After all the color on the outside doesn't exactly change the taste. And it is usually just us mothers that think Easter baskets have to look a certain way.

 

[JerseyJanice]

This thread reminds me of our fellow tenants back before I was married and lived in an apartment in a three-family house.

For Halloween one year, these woman gave out candy canes from the previous Christmas. I was mortified to be living in the same building and hoping the kids who got them didn't egg my car since it was parked in the driveway.

You know, what, though? As horrible and tacky as I thought it was, when we talked to them that evening, they seemed very proud of themselves for doing it. They knew they didn't have to answer the doorbell and give away anything.

And my car wasn't egged, so it was all good.

 

[Ceila]

I have to wonder...to everyone here who keeps saying that the OP is being ungrateful, entitled, etc.:

Would YOU give a gift of a 4-month old bag of Christmas candy to someone at Easter? I'm guessing most would say "no way!"

(Although I fully expect someone to say "yes" just for the sake of arguing the point. )

 

[connorlevismom]

I have to laught about the "it's the thought that counts" comments. Just because you get a gift, does not mean there was any thought put into it.

My MIL has a stash of things in her basement that she buys when they are on sale and then goes down there and grabs something when she needs a gift.

Case in point. Last X-Mas I got a cheap looking pair of earing from my in-laws. You could argue that I should have been thankful for getting the gift. However, I have been married to my DH for 10 years and with him for 12. You would think in those 12 years that my MIL would have noticed at least once that I DON'T HAVE PIERCED EARS!

So the whole it is the thought that counts crew makes me laugh. There was absolutely NO thought that went into that gift at all.

I could go on and on about her gifts, but you get the point.

 

[luvsJack]

I don't think she is being ungrateful and all of that, I just think its not that big of a deal.

Candy is not going to go stale that quick. And I wouldn't have an issue with someone using it in a gift basket for dd. Would I use it? I would if candy stayed in my house that long. Have any of you ever noticed how soon they start putting candy out for the next holiday?? Heck, sometimes the sale candy and the new candy overlap anyway!

Come to think about it, DD got some valentine candy in her basket. It was sweet hearts candy with Jacob Black from Twilight on the box. I just got them for the box but I guess someone could say I was being "tacky". Oh, and I put some "cheapy cheap" stuff in there from the dollar store. A Pez dispenser and some eggs that you soak in water to hatch. Shame on me

I just think that way too many people place way too much importance on gifts. Some of us go out and spend a lot of time picking out gifts and getting the "just right thing" and wrapping it just right and all that jazz. And some people just grab what they can and wrap it up. My mil has 7 kids. She buys all the men the same thing and all the women the same thing for Christmas. She has one daughter. Guess what? All of us dil's get whatever her daughter picks out for herself. Its just not that big of a deal. And we stress to our kids that ITS JUST NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL!!

And again, not all grandparents even buy their grandkids baskets for Easter. Why make such a deal out of what kind of candy was in the thing? Especially when the kid isn't even going to eat it!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I sure hope you didn't toss everything in the trash in front of him. Definitely a very bad message. I know from many of your posts you don't have a good relationship w/ your IL's. I don't really understand the circumstances, but can't see the point of spoiling your DS's relationship with them unless the situation is harmful.

It's a pretty good bet no one is 100-percent right in a relationship. Odds are about 100-percent nothing will ever have resolution if one or both sides continue to insist they are the only one in the right all of the time, never leaving room to allow for the possibility the other person(s) might just make a good point now and then.

Ohhh, I see your point... No, I didn't throw that stuff away in front of front of my son, or say anything directly too him... And you are right that when it comes to relationship issues, well, it takes two...

I didn't come on here starting a thread railing my MIL...
I didn't even come on here and vent.
Given this thread, I came on here to state my own personal Easter experience, and to defend the OP from these unwarranted attacks, because, I am one of many parents who know how it is to deal with inappropriate gifts from thoughtless/clueless/cheap (or whatever other descriptive word applies) inlaws.....

My son has seen his grandma on a regular basis.... at LEAST once a week, since he was an infant... so, don't go throwing around more unwarranted accusations of 'evil DIL out to get MIL'....

If she doesn't know him any better than that.....

If you knew my son, and our situation, you would see that what I described is almost as off-base as Jeafl's Christmas Gifts From Inlaws examples.... It just is what it is...

Noticing the obvious, and a little 'venting' on a chatboard, does NOT make a person an evil adversarial DIL.

But, everybody carry on with the DIL attacks...
This is the DIS....

 

[Wishing on a star]

double post ?????

 

[dogluva]

Do you REALLY think a 3 POUND bag of Christmas M&M's cost less than 1 Reese's Egg or a small bag of Palmer candies with some $.50 plastic eggs. Even if the bag was 1.50, you can get an Easter toy at Walmart for $1. A $1 bubble wand.

It is the THOUGHT that counts and her in-laws put ZERO thought into the gift. Even if it was a HANDMADE card that didn't cost anything.

I feel like I'm reading a different thread. I'm in the twilight zone.

So would no gift be better? I am curious because this is what my kids got from my husband's family.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I have to laught about the "it's the thought that counts" comments. Just because you get a gift, does not mean there was any thought put into it.

My MIL has a stash of things in her basement that she buys when they are on sale and then goes down there and grabs something when she needs a gift.

Case in point. Last X-Mas I got a cheap looking pair of earing from my in-laws. You could argue that I should have been thankful for getting the gift. However, I have been married to my DH for 10 years and with him for 12. You would think in those 12 years that my MIL would have noticed at least once that I DON'T HAVE PIERCED EARS!

So the whole it is the thought that counts crew makes me laugh. There was absolutely NO thought that went into that gift at all.

I could go on and on about her gifts, but you get the point.

my MIL does the same thing - she does "senior bus trips" that quite often stop at outlets . She loads up on stuff and then goes to her closet for her tash of "presents". Gifts should be given with some thought and consideration for the recipient.

as to the OP's situation - it is fine to save money and I would buy the Xmas candy for myself. However, IMHO, it is tacky to give it as an Easter gift!

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

Every year for my DD's birthday at the end of February, my MIL stalks up on Valentine's day clearance things for her. It wouldn't bother me if I genuinely liked the woman or knew she was making the effort. It was more of an after thought of "yay, cheap crap! Must load up!" The best was this year she got my dd's a pack of tiny Valentine's day bubble wands that were on sale for $.50. (I know because she leaves the tags on, always.) Then, she got mad at my 3 year old for shaking hers up and it no longer worked. And not just a scolding, but very angry. Enough to make her cry.

Now, on the other hand if she was a genuinely good person, and good to my children, I'd be fine with any clearance, Christmas candy in their Easter basket. Candy is candy. Tacky? Sure, but oh well.

 

[cheermom1]

While I don;t think the op is being ungrateful I think she may need to give her mil a little slack, she may be doing what she thinks she can. Heck my gma (dad's mom) always gave us a pair of mens socks for everything no matter which gender you are you got the 1 pair of mens socks!!!

Just remember people are who they are and most will not change just the way you look at them and their behavior.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Every year for my DD's birthday at the end of February, my MIL stalks up on Valentine's day clearance things for her. It wouldn't bother me if I genuinely liked the woman or knew she was making the effort. It was more of an after thought of "yay, cheap crap! Must load up!" The best was this year she got my dd's a pack of tiny Valentine's day bubble wands that were on sale for $.50. (I know because she leaves the tags on, always.) Then, she got mad at my 3 year old for shaking hers up and it no longer worked. And not just a scolding, but very angry. Enough to make her cry.

Now, on the other hand if she was a genuinely good person, and good to my children, I'd be fine with any clearance, Christmas candy in their Easter basket. Candy is candy. Tacky? Sure, but oh well.

that is a good point - if the person is otherwise sweet, nice and caring - I could/would probably over look it. It really is about the thought behind the gift and their consideration for the recipient.

 

[EllenFrasier]

You could freeze them until next year and use them in Christmas cookies! Which of course you will give to your in-laws, lol!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

OMG, I make fun of my inlaws frugality, and suddenly I'm shallow and petty and my son has entitlement issues.

Seriously, that's funny stuff. You gotta love the DIS!

I guess you didn't get the memo about being shallow on the DIS, Wendy. You have to be a perfect snowflake or beware the lashings.

Oh and I'm , 'cause I can totally relate! I thought it was pretty funny.

 

[hucifer]

You could freeze them until next year and use them in Christmas cookies! Which of course you will give to your in-laws, lol!

I like this idea. As well as giving them Peeps for Christmas.

I guess you didn't get the memo about being shallow on the DIS, Wendy. You have to be a perfect snowflake or beware the lashings.

Oh and I'm , 'cause I can totally relate! I thought it was pretty funny.

But wait, it gets better. He also got a plastic lighted dreidel in his Easter basket. Nope, not kidding. And nope, we're not Jewish.


This is the thread that just won't die. Die, dammit, die!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Exactly.

Yes, you are ungrateful. Shame on you. Hahahaha I swear I'm going to start a database of the holier than thou's. Then whenever they complain I'm going to post that they need to be grateful for whatever stale Christmas candy is thrust upon them.

I'm sure the other holier than thou's will do it for me though.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well I am glad to hear that the OP was kind about receiving the gift. I still fail to see the humor, however, in someone who may not have the money to give "great" gifts.

My in-laws don't make nearly as much as my parents do, so there is obviously a large gap between what my kids get from their grandparents. I would never begrudge (or find humor in) the fact that my DD gets bags of chips for Christmas that were given out, for free, in a holiday parade 2 weeks before Christmas from my in-laws, while receiving loads of Disney Store merchandise from my parents.

So, again, I fail to see what was humorous here.

Did she say they were poor?

 

[Maleficent13]

I haven't been to the DIS in weeks, but I was drawn here tonight and now I know why!

So I posed this scenario to DH and asked what he would do/think:

"I would throw them away, or feed them to the guys at work, and I would think that whichever mother had given them to us was just weird. Why?"

So I told him such opinions were rude and ungrateful.

His response:

"Are you kidding me? Whatever. I'm going to pee."

So there you have it.

Good to be back on the DIS...I have some trip reports to catch up on.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I guess you didn't get the memo about being shallow on the DIS, Wendy. You have to be a perfect snowflake or beware the lashings.

Oh and I'm , 'cause I can totally relate! I thought it was pretty funny.

Lashings are the evil incarnate--or did you miss the thread on paddling?


I don't have in-law issues...I have step-mom issues.

My kids LOVE to keep the packaging on their gifts. They always play with it.

So one day when my son was in the "he won't notice stage" (per my step-mom), she vocalized and gave away my kids boxes to my son. I was kind of livid. I mean--she gave them a gift but then regifted the packaging on the spot. Yeah, I was not happy with that.

And yes--I did let them know (at a later time) b/c at that age, my son realized he didn't get anything and he wanted to play with the girl's toys--NOT their boxes. So much for her publicly announced "he won't notice" speech. So I had to put my foot down that either everyone gets something or noone gets anything. (birthdays are different--I'm talking token gifts that they like to give.) It isn't right to dis a child like that and while I appreciate that she didn't realize that would have occurred, it could have been easily avoided by not assuming that or not giving gifts at all.