Would you be upset if someone "stole" your present idea?

[va32h]

Here's the story:

I made a list of what gifts I needed to buy for my kids. My MIL saw the list, and copied the items that were for my oldest dd. I found MIL's list, and specifically told her "you cannot get these two gifts". The first one, a telescope, is coming from Santa, and the 2nd, a CD player and CDs, was coming from dh and me. And since I am very picky about what music dd is allowed to listen to, I really did not want anyone else giving this gift.

Well I get an email from MIL saying her gifts are on the way, and she hopes I won't be mad, but she found a telescope for such a good price that she just had to get it, sorry!

Okay - I am really ticked off, but I recognize that since I already don't get along with MIL, I am very biased here. Would you be upset or annoyed?

Dh says it's no big deal, we can have Santa bring the CD player and we'll just give her something else.

 

[jennyl772003]

I would be VERY annoyed! You told her you were getting that, then she got it anyway?

I would be more then annoyed! I would be seriously P'd off!

 

[mrsv98]

I wouldn't give it to DD. You told MIL specifically that "Santa" was getting that gift, and in my mind, that is even a bigger slap than one that you were going to give her. You can tell MIL that you are going to return it and she can send another or you can sell/return it and use the money to buy DD something from DD. When it comes to my DD, I brook no interference and excuses like it was a good deal don't fly.

sometimes families can be difficult!

 

[NMAmy]

Frankly, I think I'd take her name off the gift and put Santa's name on it. I'd email her back and say that it was very kind of her to buy Santa's gift this year.

That was just very rude of her--and yeah, I'd be p.o.'d.

 

[Aidensmom]

I'd be mad, and I would make my husband send it back and tell her Santa was bringing that gift, if she does not get along with you, the message will be clearer coming from him. If my husband allowed his mother to disrespect me like that, he would be in some big trouble.

 

[eeyore kelly]

If yours was already bought, then yes I would be annoyed.

My kiddos are at a stage that is very hard to buy for, so when they tell me they like something, I keep a mental note of it, to give as suggestions to other people like aunts and grandparents.

 

[Disney Doll]

Frankly, I think I'd take her name off the gift and put Santa's name on it. I'd email her back and say that it was very kind of her to buy Santa's gift this year.

This is a very good idea. And I'd add "And I am sure you wouldn't want to hinder Junior's enjoyment of Christmas or belief in Santa, so I know oyu'll be able to keep it a secret that you bought Santa's gift". And I'd follow it up with an angelic smile.

 

[can'twait]

Frankly, I think I'd take her name off the gift and put Santa's name on it. I'd email her back and say that it was very kind of her to buy Santa's gift this year.

That was just very rude of her--and yeah, I'd be p.o.'d.

Love it! I would do exactly the same! I assume you can return yours, if you bought it already?

 

[Free4Life11]

I would think of it as one less gift I'd have to buy. And if you already bought it, I suppose you could return it and keep the money. Maybe use the money towards a night out on the town.

 

[LaLa]

I would be very ticked off. The Santa gift is just not to be messed with!!!

 

[mickeyboat]

Yes, I would be furious. That really stinks. I am not sure what I would do about it, but you can bet I would not be happy.

To avoid this, I always try to give the grandparents some great ideas on what they can get my kids. Sometimes I let them take the glory and get something my kids wany really bad. This year Emily wanted a squirt gun and Hannah wanted a dollhouse. Grandma and Grandpa are getting those.

Denae

 

[Beth76]

Yes, definitely rude. Even more so since you said your relationship is not great. She probably did it on purpose. Unless your MIL is an astronomer she has no business picking out a telescope anyway. Those are big purchases that you probably want to research and get certain features. I like the idea of switching MIL's name for Santas, but you don't really know what kind of telescope she got. You may just have to send it back to her.

 

[ntburns22]

I would be really upset. You don't mess with Santa.

 

[Royalbear]

I guess age has mellowed me. When my dd (now 16) was a baby, I can picture being really annoyed, especially if it was my mother in law who did it. But now, if someone gets my boys (now 5) a gift that I aleady got, I look to it as a chance to get them something else on their endless list. I am just happy that someone loves my kids enough to want to get them something.

It's Christmas, and being angry or vindictive isn't what the season is about.

 

[disykat]

I guess age has mellowed me. When my dd (now 16) was a baby, I can picture being really annoyed, especially if it was my mother in law who did it. But now, if someone gets my boys (now 5) a gift that I aleady got, I look to it as a chance to get them something else on their endless list. I am just happy that someone loves my kids enough to want to get them something.

It's Christmas, and being angry or vindictive isn't what the season is about.

LOL - tell that to her MIL! Coincidence - no problem! Specifically going out and buying what you told her you are already getting - I'd be irritated to. THAT is vindictive! Being irritated because she did it is not.

 

[vald1977]

Yes, I would be angry since you specifically asked her not to get that gift.

I would conveniently hide grandma's gifts until after Christmas and let your dd open her telescope from Santa first. Then when she opens Grandma's she can let her know she already got one . At least that way you will get to enjoy her opening it and being surprised.

 

[can'twait]

I would be really upset. You don't mess with Santa.

LOL! If you are worried about the telescope not being the right one, you can always buy the right one and let DD open both, yours first, of course. She will certainly be more happy with yours and will have to tell MIL she got one already, taking the wind out of MIL's sails.

 

[charabby]

IMO, it's not about the gift itself. It's that she blatantly disregarded what you told her. I'm pretty non-confrontational so I'd probably do what your dh suggested and switch things around, but I'd feel pretty crappy about having to do it. Next year, I'd edit the kids' lists before she sees them.

 

[Kteacher]

We must have the same MIL I remember one year when our oldest was about 8 , all he wanted was a pair of roller blades. I made the mistake of telling MIL what I had bought for him, and she buys a carrying case for the rollerblades. it would have been fine, except she decides to bring her gift over on Christmas Eve, and insists DS opens it-totally ruining the surprise of opening his present on Christmas morning . Boy do I feel for you. I like the idea of putting " from santa " on the telescope.

 

[becjlek]

I agree with some of the other posters. Yes, I'd be upset and I would put from Santa on it. Then have DH tell your MIL that he prefer to get Santa's presents himself from now on.