Thoughtless Gift?

[kathianne]

Just thought I'd start a thread, what was the most thoughtless gift you ever received?

Our most thoughtless gift was several years ago, a relative gave my kids a pregnant cat! She thought it would be a great experience for the kids to see the kittens being born, raised by the mama cat, etc. While I agree witnessing the miracle of birth of baby animals it truly awsome, it also imposed the heartache of not finding homes for unwanted kittens later.

Fortunately I intercepted this gift, took the mama to the Humane Society and they were able to remove the kittens and spay her. We then kept the mama. She had 9 kittens in her, 9 kittens to find homes for! We still have mama and love her, but I thought it was a thoughtless gift for the kids!

So, any more thoughtless gift stories?

 

[DannysMom]

So, any more thoughtless gift stories?

Not nearly on the same level as yours.... but here's mine.

Last Christmas my brother gave my 4 year old son (and his 2 older cousins) a 2 wheel razor scooter. It went directly into the garage, never even opened the box. My son, besides being only 4, has mild CP which for him mean balance & coodination issues, as well as poor motor planning skills -- things like that are *much* harder for him than they are for most kids. So he's not riding a 2 wheeled scooter anytime soon.

My brother was just being lazy. I'm pretty sure he just went into BJ's & bought 3 of the same thing for all 3 kids (ages 4,6 & 9) & didn't even think about it. But everytime my husband saw it in the garage it made him sad & angry. I finally sold it on craigslist this summer for $20. Some people just don't think.

 

[Debbie7452]

My SIL who did not have kids at the time gave my DD a giant glitter art set when she was 4. Of course, DD was thrilled and wanted to "play glitter" at every opportunity...talk about a giant mess that is hard to clean up! I tried to tell myself that SIL did not know how annoying the gift would be to me...

When SIL became a Mom the first thing I wanted to do was go buy a giant glitter art set and "return the favor"!

I didn't actually do it...but I thought about it!

 

[happymommy]

Souvenir tee shirts a couple years ago from my brother-in-law's family trip to the outer banks. My son's was a big one, fine, said "Kill Devil Hills" (I guess that is a town), one for me (way too big - I wear a size 4 and so why do I need a large size tee?) and my husband.

The one for my daughter was a disney princess one. Okay, I kept looking at it thinking why did they do something different for her? And then I thought it looked familiar - Drum roll please... It was one she had outgrown and I had given it to them for their daughter! They have a girl about 6 months younger but much much smaller. So they give the hand me down BACK?!!!!! As a gift??????? Oh my I just didn't know what to do.

It was old, still fine, just my DD had outgrown it. I am still baffled by this one!

Oh, and we have enough tee shirts by the way! I wish they didn't think they need to get us some junk we don't want when they go away - I don't buy souvenirs anymore.

 

[happymommy]

My SIL who did not have kids at the time gave my DD a giant glitter art set when she was 4. Of course, DD was thrilled and wanted to "play glitter" at every opportunity...talk about a giant mess that is hard to clean up! I tried to tell myself that SIL did not know how annoying the gift would be to me...

When SIL became a Mom the first thing I wanted to do was go buy a giant glitter art set and "return the favor"!

I didn't actually do it...but I thought about it!

Oh my - how about the bead sets with trillions of TINY beads?

Same brother in law's family did that - Gee I wonder where that one went after we played with it once?

 

[scotdog]

My son (6 years old) got an air soft gun from his uncle. Now what good is that? What is he going to shoot, his sister, our windows?? I don't know what he was thinking, who knows what he'll get this Christmas.

 

[natnelliesmom]

For Christmas last year my MIL bought my girls Pottery Barn sleeping bags- a nice gift, you'd think.
She had just watched them receive sleeping bags for their birthdays (Nov. 5 and Dec. 10) from a my BF!!! She watched them open them and both times commented on how cute they were. Apparently she felt inspired to outdo them??
She gave them the large gingham sleeping bags with the stuffed dog's head as a pillow- and had them monogrammed! I can't even return them!!!
She drives me nuts.


This one is even better. My oldest DD is allergic to peanuts. Two Christmases ago we went over to their house on Christmas morning. DD had peanut brittle in her stocking!!!!! It could kill her. When I asked her what was up with that- thinking maybe it had been a mistake- she said- oh, maybe she'll outgrow the allergy. What the heck was that all about?
I can't stand the woman.
Merry Christmas- let's celebrate by calling 911! I couldn't get out of that house fast enough that year.
-Sarah

 

[lorisnuts]

I have bad outdoor allergies. what did I get...

cow shaped soap and body wash that smelled like fresh cut grass!!!

OH MY it was nasty!!!!

 

[scottishduffy]

This comes from my mother. It seems to have finally stopped but I think only because after 3 years she ran out of supplies.

My mom lost a HUGE amount of weight a few years ago. She was positively thrilled when she became smaller than me. I am a size 8, Mom is now a 2-4. Mom was previously ~120 pounds overweight so this is a big deal for her. OK, I am happy for you. However, for 3 years she kept giving ME her fat clothes as gifts. Birthdays, christmas, any occassion to get rid of her old clothes (but they are so nice!! Honey, I just don't fit in them anymore but they would look *lovely* on YOU). Whenever I tried to return things I could see purchase dates from at least a year back, sometimes much more. Many times she tried to pass the clothes off as brand new.

Oh, I hated her for that. Glad you lost weight, no need to make ME feel like crap. I never did it to you.

 

[Hannahsmom]

The first Christmas my DH's family decided to do couples gifts we bought his DS and BIL a very nice answering machine/cordless phone combo that they had told us they would really like. And when she opened the gift she promptly exclaimed that it was the wrong one . What did they get us? A lovely carrying case for my husbands Xbox. That was the year we started joking about the annual "Christmas Shaft" that I seem to get every year. Last year I got a box of Godiva Chocolates with the TJMaxx $4.99 clearance price tag still on it. I don't hold out much hope from them anymore.

 

[SaraMc]

My MIL the second christmas that I was married to my husband knew that I liked candles. At the time I was selling partylite ( so I really didnt need anyone buying me candles) proceeded to give me this ugly wax teddy bear candle, the kinds that are painted, but they kinda miss where they meant to paint it. She left the price tag on as well.. 1.99

My husband actually told her to stop buying us anything, just give the money to charity.

 

[adoptionmomma4]

My MIL is the queen of thoughtless gifts. I think she just she buys the first thing she sees.

She is constantly taking my nephew (DSIL's son) on fun trips “to keep him occupied”. She never invites my kids. She just brings them tee shirts and snow globes from all of their vacations??? Why would my kids want souvenirs to remind them of their cousin’s fun vacation? UGHHHH! That woman makes me crazy!

 

[Missin'Disney]

My SIL is pretty good at giving DH and I the "thoughtless" combo gift. Something neither one of us needs, albeit usually something my DH would appreciate way more than me. One year it was this plug-in wine chiller device that you could put a bottle in to keep it cold (if your refrigerator wasn't working for the day or something ?? ) Anyway, the funnier part about this gift is that my DH *ONLY* drinks red wine, and everyone knows that. Nobody chills red wine. Thoughtless gift.
Another year she gave "us" an automatic wine opener, the kind you don't have to screw in, even though we have about 15 of those kinds and they get the job done fine. I think she just goes into Brookstone and grabs the first thing she sees. The funny part is they are completely loaded, we are NOT, and I never give her and her hubby combo gifts.

 

[happymommy]

For Christmas last year my MIL bought my girls Pottery Barn sleeping bags- a nice gift, you'd think.
She had just watched them receive sleeping bags for their birthdays (Nov. 5 and Dec. 10) from a my BF!!! She watched them open them and both times commented on how cute they were. Apparently she felt inspired to outdo them??
She gave them the large gingham sleeping bags with the stuffed dog's head as a pillow- and had them monogrammed! I can't even return them!!!
She drives me nuts.


This one is even better. My oldest DD is allergic to peanuts. Two Christmases ago we went over to their house on Christmas morning. DD had peanut brittle in her stocking!!!!! It could kill her. When I asked her what was up with that- thinking maybe it had been a mistake- she said- oh, maybe she'll outgrow the allergy. What the heck was that all about?
I can't stand the woman.
Merry Christmas- let's celebrate by calling 911! I couldn't get out of that house fast enough that year.
-Sarah

Oh my gosh!

My son has food allergies, and for some reason (seems to be somewhat universal from other parents I have met at the allergist's office) extended family is the worst!

But to GIVE her peanut brittle?

Reminds me of when I sat there and watched my SIL spoon a mouthful of mashed potatoes into my son's mouth (he was about 18 months old at the time). Okay - he's allergic to milk. She's like, it was just a little bit. Benedryl please - his mouth is all hiving up where it touched - then later total mess on our hands - projectile vomiting all over other SIL's rug. Had to give him a bath, more benedryl. Luckily we didn't need the epipen!

I think the peanut brittle is the worst I've read so far!

And what is it with in-laws? Why not just give a nice card and get along for the day? Or ask what you want?????

Oh - I have another one. SIL asked what my son wanted one year for Christmas. He was into Lego's. She got him the other brand knock-off (they're cheap). The darn things won't stick together - Gee I wonder where they went after a week or so / Same place McDonald's toys end up...

 

[Miss LD]

Our worst gift?
My in-laws went to Australia (where SIL lives with her BF) and they travelled all over the country with them spending thousands.
The gift for us???
A picture of the 4 of them in scuba gear. Apparently it was quite an expensive picture - so they suggested we buy a nice frame!
DH was so annoyed that he threw the picture out!!!

 

[holly7347]

My SIL who did not have kids at the time gave my DD a giant glitter art set when she was 4. Of course, DD was thrilled and wanted to "play glitter" at every opportunity...talk about a giant mess that is hard to clean up! I tried to tell myself that SIL did not know how annoying the gift would be to me...

When SIL became a Mom the first thing I wanted to do was go buy a giant glitter art set and "return the favor"!

I didn't actually do it...but I thought about it!

OH those types of gifts are the best to give and not receive DH has a kidless cousin (now pregnant so maybe I can return the favor someday ) who gave both my DD's one doll. It was one wrapped present with both their names on it and she said it was for them to share. Right because we all know 4 and 2 year old sisters are great at sharing.

And last year for Christmas another of DH's cousins gave my oldest DD, nearly 5 at the time, a big inflatable mermaid dora thing with balls. She had 3 kids of her own so I would have thought she would have known better. This thing was way to big for our house which she has been in several times. It was super hard to inflate and the balls wound up everywhere. I left it up for three months then gave it away on freecycle.

Actually DH's cousins do this to us alot. They either buy toys that aren't appropriate for their age or they buy stuff that either makes lots of noise or had many small pieces. Althought MIL isn't much better. When my oldest was about 18 months old she gave her a stuffed Shreck doll that was as big as her. At least DD loved it but she hauled the thing everywhere with her and we had to take it in the car when we went out and she would cry when I told her he couldn't go into the store or restaurant with us he had to stay in the car

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

We draw names (although wont be doing it anymore), one year when DH was unemployed and we were in a really bad financial situation, we gave our person a $15 giftcard to Target. They like Target and they knew we were in a tough spot. We tried!

We got a call a few weeks later saying how horrible we were to spend so little. Apparently the silent rule is that the gift must be at least $20. Hmmm

Well, okay, we have lived up to that rule ever since....

This past Christmas, the aunt who drew my name gave me the "free with purchase" doorbuster gift from Bealls.. How do I know? I now have 2! The one I got free with purchase and the one she gave me... A tiny ugly christmas tree ornament. It's hideous and FREE! Soooo, I wonder where that rule went? Regardless, I said thank you (it's supposed to be the thought that counts) and made a big deal about how nice it was.


We aren't drawing names this year - dh and I will buy for parents, grandparents, and kids - but aunts, uncles, etc.. are NOT going to happen this year LOL

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

My mother is the queen of thoughtless gifts... She got free tickets from my uncles work for Hershey Park... she was going to use them, but then DH's birthday came, and she gave them to us instead. We never found time to go.

I guess we should consider ourselves lucky since she did not buy her DGS anything for his 1st birthday.

 

[tweedlemom]

A friend just had her child's first birthday party. What did she put in the favor bags for the children? CANDLES! Nice...

 

[princess&her4princes]

The pj's I got my Mom a few years ago for a Christmas present came back to me last year!!! They were still new in the package and all but jeez, if she didn't like them, I could have just returned them since they were way too big for me!!!!