MIL calls today and asks me to shop

[pirateofthecarolinas]

for my kids' Christmas.

I have a bad cold and I do not feel like it. Didn't she have entire year to do this?

I told my hubby and he told his parents that they could take them shopping tomorrow.

 

[Micca]

How old is she? Is she someone who has no clue what it's like to shop the day before Christmas eve, much less for the kinds of things kids like(i.e., they're all soldout)??? That's inconsiderate to say the least. If there's a senility factor or other health issue, you appreciate that she still has it together enough to want your kids to have a nice Christmas. Otherwise OTOH, if she didn't specify a dollar amount, how 'bout a pool?

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

How old is she? Is she someone who has no clue what it's like to shop the day before Christmas eve, much less for the kinds of things kids like(i.e., they're all soldout)??? That's inconsiderate to say the least. If there's a senility factor or other health issue, you appreciate that she still has it together enough to want your kids to have a nice Christmas. Otherwise OTOH, if she didn't specify a dollar amount, how 'bout a pool?

She's 73 and very active. They LOOVVVE to procrastinate. I'm anxious to see what each child spends their $200.00 on.

I would do it so they won't end up buying $600.00 worth of video games but I feel so bad.

 

[maps]

My MIL just called this AM and asked me to do the same thing!

 

[diznygirl]

Cash in a card - kids love it!!!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My MIL just called this AM and asked me to do the same thing!

Are you going to do it?

 

[a1tinkfans]

for my kids' Christmas.

I have a bad cold and I do not feel like it. Didn't she have entire year to do this?

I told my hubby and he told his parents that they could take them shopping tomorrow.

Well how about the MIL calling to say that she was buying your HS male teen a "huggie" one of those blanket things?????? WTH????
She mentioned it to the dh who said mom, PLS, he will not use it and you are wasting your $$ (she asked for his opinion) , STILL she insists, so I say....
it will make a nice donation.................whatever................

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Well how about the MIL calling to say that she was buying your HS male teen a "huggie" one of those blanket things?????? WTH????
She mentioned it to the dh who said mom, PLS, he will not use it and you are wasting your $$ (she asked for his opinion) , STILL she insists, so I say....
it will make a nice donation.................whatever................

Yes, every HS male wants a "snugglie" for Christmas, just not the kind his grandmother has in mind!

 

[Micca]

Yes, every HS male wants a "snugglie" for Christmas, just not the kind his grandmother has in mind!

I know that's right. Here's the logic: Does your male HS student want to be cold all winter? (well of course not). Ergo: the snuggie is perfect!!!!

There's a disconnect in there that people just don't understand.

 

[minkydog]

I told my hubby and he told his parents that they could take them shopping tomorrow.

Wait...why are you rolling your eyes? It's a great idea! My grandparents used to take us all out to the Woolworths 5&10, gave us each $25 and turned us loose to shop. Back then I could buy a pair of jeans, a top, shoes and some makeup for $25! When we got all our stuff together, Granny would buy some pretty paper, sometimes even foil. You know, the good stuff. And stick-on bows! I mean, we were really living.

We'd bring our bags and boxes home and wrap everything up for ourselves. The only rule was No Matter What, You Can't Open Til Christmas Day. It would almost kill us to have to wait, knowing what we had under the tree. And you know the great thing about it? Everything fit, everything was the right color, right brand, EXACTLY what we wanted. Win-Win. Plus, Granny didn't have to wrap anything,we did it for her.

I never thought badly of my grandparents for doing this. It was a lot of fun because Grandaddy would take us to the little cafe and get us some pie and a coke, then start forking out money. THey so enjoyed watching us shop and it was a big deal in our family.

 

[nikkistevej]

My MIL does this every year- she acts like she doesn't know what to get my DD7, although she manages to shop for her 2 daughters' boys and one of their baby girl(3 months)- the boys are 9 and 3. It amazes me- she says well if your out and see something- get it and I'll pay you. I think it a son/daughter thing. We have stopped trying to understand years ago though. LOL

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Cash in a card - kids love it!!!

Amen.

 

[Duchie]

My grandmother and my dad both gave me money and asked me to shop for the kids for them. They both live out of town and anything they'd get they would have had to have shipped. Plus, my grandmother is pretty much home bound with no easy way to get out and shop. So I didn't mind them doing it. Now this was back at Thanksgiving, mind you, so it wasn't last minute. I still decided to stick the cash in wallets for them. I'm going to tell them they need to put half in their savings accounts and the other half is theirs to blow. The kids will be thrilled!

 

[MizTink]

today my dad asked me to go shopping for him (gifts for my mom). he never goes anywhere and has way more free time than me! plus he doesn't have a specific item picked out. he just gave me a credit card and said to get her something. she's hard to buy for too......

 

[golfgal]

My MIL does this every year- she acts like she doesn't know what to get my DD7, although she manages to shop for her 2 daughters' boys and one of their baby girl(3 months)- the boys are 9 and 3. It amazes me- she says well if your out and see something- get it and I'll pay you. I think it a son/daughter thing. We have stopped trying to understand years ago though. LOL

My mom did this too-except it more often than not went like this--all the cousins would be opening presents from Grandma and there was nothing to be found under the tree for our family because "we didn't need anything". Nice. If she did actually "buy" them something it was a last minute phone call for me to pick something up for them that I paid for .

 

[Ohiodislover]

My mother has done this forever. She usually does take care of it early though. Last minute "can you go get something" would drive me insane. I'm too busy procrastinating w/ my own shopping to worry w/ hers.

Now that my girls are older the love the cash, or visa gift cards.

 

[dopeysgirl01]

Every year my mil buys such junk for my kids! The kids never play with it. This year I emailed her wish lists off Etoys and told her exactly what to get and made her promise that she was going to get that because if not I would. She ordered it right away!

 

[golfgal]

Every year my mil buys such junk for my kids! The kids never play with it. This year I emailed her wish lists off Etoys and told her exactly what to get and made her promise that she was going to get that because if not I would. She ordered it right away!

Wow, that is kind of rude don't you think??

 

[dismom2]

Cash in a card - kids love it!!!

We're actually doing this. Someone gives us a check to buy something for the kids (it's a fairly small amount), but I've been just giving them the cash the last couple years. It's kind of nice---especially when everything is half price after Christmas anyway.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Wait...why are you rolling your eyes? It's a great idea! My grandparents used to take us all out to the Woolworths 5&10, gave us each $25 and turned us loose to shop. Back then I could buy a pair of jeans, a top, shoes and some makeup for $25! When we got all our stuff together, Granny would buy some pretty paper, sometimes even foil. You know, the good stuff. And stick-on bows! I mean, we were really living.

We'd bring our bags and boxes home and wrap everything up for ourselves. The only rule was No Matter What, You Can't Open Til Christmas Day. It would almost kill us to have to wait, knowing what we had under the tree. And you know the great thing about it? Everything fit, everything was the right color, right brand, EXACTLY what we wanted. Win-Win. Plus, Granny didn't have to wrap anything,we did it for her.

I never thought badly of my grandparents for doing this. It was a lot of fun because Grandaddy would take us to the little cafe and get us some pie and a coke, then start forking out money. THey so enjoyed watching us shop and it was a big deal in our family.

I think the problem with doing this on the 23rd is the risk that the kids would pick out stuff that has already been bought and is under the tree for them!