Thoughtless Gift?

[Tricia819]

Unfortunately there has been several over the years

My ILaws gave my oldest son, who was 3 at the time, a very expensive remote control car, for ages 12 and up. They'd already charged it an insisted he play with it, then kept yelling at him because he was bumping it into things and was going to break it! I got so mad I picked it up, handed him an age appropriate toy and lectured them on buying him things for HIS AGE.

DHs sister has always been a doozy of a gift giver. Cheap with a Capital CH!! Never too big a deal. We've always bought them nice gifts because we had a larger family, 3 kids by the time they had 1. She'd usually buy my kids a shirt, or a towel, or a cheap toy, sometimes a book. It was all fine, way less than we spent, but fine. One year I gave her son 3, a really nice Discovery Toy car set, with track, etc. and a couple of books and an outfit. This was similar to what I'd given him for Christmas and Birthdays in the past. During gift unwrapping there was nothing under the tree for my 3 boys, ages 3,5,7, from her. At the end she brings out a gift bag and tells them its for all 3 of them to share..... a baggie of SUGAR COOKIES. It was hurtful. They would have been thrilled with an action figure from Dollar General. They were all troopers and were happy to see their cousin so happy, but it hurt me.

One year she gave DH, her brother, a mug (he doesn't drink coffee or tea) filled with candy and told him not to eat the candy because she'd gotten it at the thrift store and thought the candy was old.

She gave me an EMPTY apple juice jug shaped like an apple one year..I was a teacher. That was it. Also from the Thrift store.


Katy

Wow....I feel really sorry for your kids. I'm not big on my kids getting gifts myself, they have WAY too much stuff as it is, but that is just really hurtful. It's not like you can even do anything about it because it's not your nephews fault.

 

[labdogs42]

My MIL is hit or miss with the gifts. She has actually given us some really good stuff and then some real doozies. She is a retired first grade teacher, so I think she has quite a re-gift pile left form her teaching days. This Christmas she gave me a book about crafting (yes, I enjoy crafts) that looked suspiciously old. She inscribed the front with some message about how she thought I would really enjoy this book because I love to make homemade gifts, etc. Then I paged through the book and a card fell out that said something to the effect of "Dear Mrs X, thank you for being such a great teacher! Love, little Bobby". She re-gifted the book and forgot to take out the original card! Seriously, if you are re-gifting, just tell the person! If she hadn't wrapped the thing up and pretended it was new, it wouldn't have been a bad gift! Just say, "I found this book in my stash and I thought you'd enjoy it." Don't wrap it up and pass it off as new!!

Mine isn't as awesomely bad as some of the other ones, but I still thought it was worth sharing!

 

[PaDisney02]

I am the best gift giver...if i do say so myself. Seriously, I carefully think out every1's gift and every year my family loves their gifts and cant believe how creative and thoughtful I am.

My hubby's family, on the other hand, is the worst at giving gifts. You cant imagine how many k-mart makeup brush sets i have gotten and how many kmart hair comb sets I have gotten from these people. Its almost as if they dont even remember that they got me that same thing the year b4. (they r very selfish people and probly dont even give it a thought).

Last year my sil made such a big deal how that year she wanted to get every1 creative gifts like i do. Even up until the day b4 christmas all we heard was how she cant wait to get every1 creative gifts (it almost kind made me mad cuz she was stealing my thing). Christmas day we go over to exchange and we get some big speech about how she miss managed her money and couldnt afford to get any1 gifts this year!

The shocker was how 20 mins later she was bragging on how she got yet another raise and told every1 how much she makes! Which is way more then any of us.(she was probly lieing) This year we might not even exchange with his family at all. I'm sick of spending time/money on people who dont appreciate it.

 

[piratemamaof3]

I guess my oddest gift I got (not sure about thoughtless) was a plug in pizza cutter. It bounces up and down as it cuts. From the Bro-in-law not sure what he thought but then again he is single and famous for giving me strange stuff.

I read this in a mag. and I laughed so hard when I read it. This girl had a birthday and her boy friend gave her a lb. of bacon w/ a note on it that said "welcome to the bacon of the month club" now how's that for classy?

 

[swald91]

Love this!!

 

[mama2twins]

My uncle is the winner in our family - he's always known for being cheap, but his wedding gift to my brother took the cake.

My brother got married in March but it was small and last minute, so my uncle didn't attend (though he was invited). That June, my mom, grandmother and I went to my cousin's (this uncle's daughter) wedding. While we were there, he gave the gift to pass along to my brother. My mom was nosy and peaked inside -- it was a calendar for that year (remember, it was already June). And not a regular calendar with nice pictures - it was one of those with one picture on the top and you rip off the page for each month. If it wasn't free, they probably didn't pay more that $1.99. Needless to say, since we had traveled to another state, staying overnight in a hotel, plus gave my cousin a nice gift, my mom was so mad!

This same uncle also wrote in his yearly holiday letter that he was given a picnic basket as a retirement gift and then gave it to someone as a wedding gift a month later. Now I understand some people regift and it's not always a bad thing -- but to brag about it in your holiday letter??

 

[mrstomrice]

When we used to exchange polyannas as adults, no one wanted to have our SIL get their name! We set a limit of $100. SIL got me and here is what I got...she was so impressed with herself! She gave a years worth of gifts...1 for each month. I got a few gifts, such as a holiday dvd that my mom gave her the year before, a regifted candle, lotion, a computer game from a cereal box promotion, a dollar store snowman, and a lot of IOU's. Her DH (my brother) has a business that gets free sporting event tickets. I got an IOU to a Phillies and Flyers game, which I never got! I also got an IOU for a weekend in OCNJ, which I also never heard of again....we stopped exchanging soon after this!

 

[cerilene]

My SIL would take her sons to get their pictures taken 12 or so times a year. Everytime she would bring the pictures out to my MIL and FIL's house and the family would take the picture and size of their choice. We usually picked two wallet sizes, because I don't really display pictures at my house.
For my birthday one year, I got a 5x7 of my nephews in a cheap frame where the glass was too small for the frame. Keep in mind that everyone in the family has already gotten their copy of this same picture!! We get home that night and I am holding this frame by the stand and the glass falls out and shatters all in our garage.
Now we call them on their birthdays, never hear from them on ours and we do not exchange gifts.

My MIL was notorious for getting me clothes that are her or SIL's taste and size. I'm a small and they wear large and extra large.

 

[hoosiergirl7]

My family is the best at gift giving. They never forget us for anything including Valentine's Day, Easter and Halloween. My mom even sends DS things because she wants to. Therefore we are very generous back.

DH's family, more so his parents on the other hand, not so much. DH's sister & BIL are very generous. Similar to my parents and family. His brother & SIL do the best they can and we are happy with what we receive from them.

Anyhow, I can count on MIL & FIL getting us a gift for Christmas every year that we return. Last year it was a hot cocoa maker and we don't even drink the stuff. OK, well maybe once a year but not enough to warrant having a machine for it. Last year for DS's 4th birthday - mind you his birthday is in DECEMBER got him one of those inflatable wheels that is like a hamster wheel the kids roll around in on the yard. I know it's not super cold where we live in the winter, but geez, he still couldn't use it until it warmed up. The wheel sits in our garage deflated. I should put it in the trash. I can't remember a good birthday gift they've gotten DS since he's been born. And what bothers me most is they get pretty nice gifts for my nieces.

Oh and getting birthday gifts from the in-laws forget it!! DH turned 40 this year. You would think that your own son turning 40 would be a big deal. When I turned 30 my mom and dad bought me a VERY expensive necklace with a diamond and emerald (birthstone) pendant. He got a cheap card. That's it. Being the nice people we are and because my mom says that we can't stoop to their level, get them $25 gift cards for their birthday. MIL's birthday was about 10 days ago. Talked to her yesterday and not even a Thank You or letting us know she received it in the mail. So not happy but what are you going to do???

Guess that's why we are taking my parents (not my in-laws) on their first WDW trip ever and picking up the tab!!

 

[Kaler131]

My MIL gave me a Clinique "gift with purchase" for my bday two years ago. She must have bought herself something and then gave me the freebie". Then another year for Christmas, she wrapped up some old (and worn) paperback books and gave them to me as a gift. They were not even books that I would read! I was really embarrased both times, especially since I put a lot of thought and time into the gifts that we get her. It's not as if she has no money either....they go on two cruises a year!

 

[tlbwriter]

Oh my gosh!
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.

And that's what you call karma!

 

[mousefanmichelle]

My oldest ds was 2 months old his first christmas and things were tight for us. Well my in-laws thought that for my ds first Christmas they would get him an orange baby bottle, an orange knit adult sized winter hat and a compass. I cried. We could have used some diapers. They were giving him gifts for when he could go hunting. I should have been greatful but I really really wasn't. I mean hunting was 11 years AWAY!

I think my sil wins for stupiest ideas if that is a category - my sil is my
in-laws only daughter. She is divorced and doesn't have any kids - she makes pretty good money enough that she can have a housekeeper (remember she is single with NO kids - how much mess can she make??). She sends an email about a month &1/2 ago asking the rest of her family if we would like to contribute to the Christmas gift she bought for her parents. She got them $150 ea. tickets to see Wicked before X-mas this year. She can only afford to pay for $100 of the gift (leaving a balance of $200) so do we want to give her some money towards the event? She didn't want to ask her parents to have to give her too much money back on the tickets that she bought them for X-mas. Nerve huh? Oh yea she also bought herself a ticket too. My FIL can't walk 1/3 of a block but yet she is going to get him to go down some steep stairs in a theater to see this show. She's an idiot. I am not contributing and I never responded to her email. Today she emailed us saying that her parents anniversary is in 1 week - do we want to go to their house for a family dinner? What is she thinking? Her parents are having some medical problems and she wants us to go to their house so they can cook and clean for their anniversary dinner. She's an idiot!!!!

Some people just don't have a clue!

 

[princesspiglet]

My MIL is the queen of thoughtless gifts, but my first thoughtless gift came courtesy of my high-school boyfriend,

Every year for the first 3 years he got me great gifts. Our 4th Christmas together he got me a basketball and a hooded sweatshirt with the Steelers logo on it. Sure, these would be nice gifts for someone, but I never touched a basketball in my entire life, was in drama club and did not do sports. I also left the room and went somewhere else anytime football came on. So, to get me sports stuff?? I ended up giving them to him. We broke up shortly thereafter.

When DD was born we had a small christmas that year and asked that she not receive alot of items, she was only 5 weeks old on Christmas Day. MIL bought her a Barbie 4-wheeler, you know, the kind a 5 year old would drive!! It sat in our garage for 4 freaking years before DD would even step foot in it. She is notorious for giving bad gifts though. Last Christmas she gave me two engraved wine glasses and 2 huge coffee mugs. Neither DH or I drink wine or coffee! Sometimes I don't know what she is thinking.

 

[wickywinn]

A tarnished "set" of candlesticks in it's original box. Quotations needed for the mere fact there was only one in the box. The empty spot where the other stick should have been was stuffed with toilet paper and old newspaper.

Or maybe the resin bright yellow and pink easter egg on a plastic stand. For CHRISTMAS. I recognized it from Dollar Tree.

Then again we could also go for the cheap box of tea candles or the big bag of Twizzlers, opened mind you, dh got from his sister one Christmas. She was 27 at the time. Teased him that she was hungry when she wrapped it in the bag with no tissue.

I'm beginning to wonder if there's some unspoken agreement in his family that we're supposed to bring gag gifts because, so far, on his dad's side every year has been like this. Then again, his step-mother has been ratted out that she regifts from a shelf she keeps in her Christmas closet to the step-family. Namely us. Hence why Christmas with her kids and grandkids is held at a separate time.

 

[Dawson's Mom]

My worst gift- After 13 1/2 years as a nanny, (I worked the day I delivered) I got an E bond (6 months later) nice gift right? The rates are so low right now, I have to hold it till I'm 91 to get the face value (I'm only 38 now) Thanks, but could I not just have cash?

 

[SanFranciscan]

My worst gift was a diary I got from my grandmother. I do see the charm of a young person recording his or her youth through his or her own eyes written in a youngster's handwriting. I also know that parents can be counted on to think that their child must agree with them about any and every given subject so I felt uneasy being honest with myself in my own diary, especially since the whole point of a parent cleaning a child's room instead of insisting that the child do it is to snoop.

 

[Marniescrapbooks]

I love this thread. I was really cracking up at some of the gifts because I've received the same things.

My MIL who I truly love can give some crazy stuff. I have received purchase with purchase gifts from her. The best one was for my DD who is her only grandchild - for Christmas one year my DD received a large box of Goldfish crackers and a pair of cowboy boots that were too small.

 

[jax677]

the christmas before we were married my inlaws gave me a gift they thought would be perfect for my future husband, ahem, really personal nightie.

My inlaws gave me a red, white and blue tube top for christmas one year. They said they thought I would like it come summer. I tried to return it and the store said the most they could give me was 38 cents.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Oh god, we have so many..... one year for Christmas my mother gave my DH a professional deli meat slicer - the kind the people at the food store use when you buy a pound of turkey!! Now tell me what the hell we were going to do with that?!?!?!
Same mother CONSTANTLY buys my girls the LOUDEST FREEKING TOYS in the toystore!!! I can't stand it!!!
Theres so many more things that were totally inapropriate that they have purchased for both myself, DH and my girls, but I don't think the dis has enough room!!!

 

[santa's surpriz]

My ex-MIL was classical at useless gifts! She would always make remarks, "well I did not think you would like it bc you are so picky.." I would get so ticked b I knew what she was getting at that I would respond by asking her if she would put it in her house. She would tell me, "oh no it looks too cheap!" Well then, "then it's probably too cheap for my house!!!" Mind you have very nice collectables that have been handed down over the years and a professionally decorated home. And she is overboard "cowboy country."

She always left the tags on...so you can see what a smart shopper she was! I saw as bragging about how cheap she was! She shopped all year long, not a problem there, but take off the price tags, geez! I was so embarrassed...we had a White Elephant gift exchange at a meeting at work. Most the WEE I participated in, you re-gift stuff, oh no every one went and bought gifts! Nice gifts. I had wrapped up this awful toucan candle holder set, the ex-MIL bought, and the rest of the toucan collection she got me that year. The girl next to me ended up with it...I listened to the remarks she made to a fellow co-worker. I was so embarassed and never fessed up that I brought in that gift!! (BTW, I did take off the tags!)