Does your MIL do this?

brightning

Every year, MIL asks us what she should get DD for Christmas/bday. So we tell her a few things, easy to find and within her budget. And she has almost never buys that item.

I honestly don't care what she gets DD and I appreciate that she gets her anything at all. But the fact that she specifically asks makes me assume she's going to buy that item, or at least something similar.

Drives me bonky.

amazingkel

Good question.  I can;t remember the past two Christmases if she asked me...I am pretty sure they asked what we wanted to get him and then sent us money if it was something too big to ship. Which was nice.  Then of course, she sends lots of little presents.  My MIL tends to spoil us, so as much as she can irritate me, I really have no room to complain.  DS is her only grandson, and my husband is the only one of her kids that is married.  I also think it will be MANY years before either his brother or sister tie the knot.

But, what DOES irritate the BEJESUS out of me is actually what she does for my hubby.  She KNOWS there is only ONE kind of work pant he will wear, and yet she ALWAYS buys him work clothes she KNOWS he won't wear.  They are ALWAYS the wrong size, and I spend the first week after Christmas returning items and picking out what he WILL wear.  It drives him nuts too lol. We make a return pile automatically before we open her gifts, and then we do this for my grandmother too bc she SWEARS my DH does not wear a size XXL but a Large. HAHA. We always get a kick out of that, bc u really cant fault an 75 y/o woman, But, my MIL has no excuse.  The best part is she has good taste, so I never have to return what she buys me and I always love it.  But, like i said, she IRRITATES me! LOL!

April37

Yes!  And it drives me crazy.  My mom was the worst this past Easter.  I said I really wanted DD to get a bug barn for Easter.  My mom said that my dad was going to make her one.  I kept talking about bug barns and anytime I mentioned it, my mom kept saying "don't buy her one, your dad is making one for her".  We had this conversation on more than one occasion.  So, Easter comes.  Do you think DD got a bug barn?  Nope!  I was not happy.  I went out an bought her one after Easter and when my dad finally made it, I said "you can keep it at your house, DD already has one".

This Christmas, DD keeps asking for a cash register so I really want her to have one.  I think I might just buy it myself.  It's not such a big deal if you give them generic ideas like books or something but if it's something you'd really think DC would like, then it can be frustrating.

kellnbri

OMG!!  MIL does this for everything!!  She buys the kids such crap too instead of the things that I asked her to get because she asked.  Lately it has been...MIL you can get the kids XYZ.  OK, well you buy them and I will give you the money.  WHAT!!  This is a woman who LOVES to shop...I just dont get it. 

snickerdoodle27

Last year she bought him Tickle Me Elmo and he hated it. We told her to take it back, she said no, she'll hold onto it. She tried showing it to him recently and he still hated it. DH was like, we told you to take it back. Oh well, she's the one who insisted on keeping it and is out like $40 or whatever it cost.

Ciarrai

All the time.  Though she's been much better about it recently and started actually buying what we tell her.  What she was getting before a lot of time was inappropriate for the girls' ages or just awful or scared them or whatever.  After noticing that said toys were "missing" and the clothes never fit quite right and things like that, three years in a row, she started actually somewhat listening to our ideas this year.  Somewhat.  She still thinks the girls are the same person.  Well, really, she didn't want and doesn't generally acknowledge DD#2.  This year for Christmas, she's getting DD#1 a bike (because we said we thought she was ready for it) and getting DD#2 a 4-wheeled pusher thing (because she's getting DD#1 a bike).  We already have enough of those and a trike that DD#2 is starting to try to ride.  Plus I think DD#1 may take it b/c it's a princess one and DD#2 isn't big into princesses the way DD#1 is.  Still, at least she took our advice for DD#1, right?  Now if we could just get her to notice DD#2 too...

mnj917

OHHHHHHH!!! It must be a Grandmom thing- DH's GM does the same thing - gets a large size whan he is CLEARLY not a large - and never gives a gift receipt so we can't exchange/return without telling her and she always seems to be insulted.  And, she asks every year what size he is and every year I tell her...ugh!

queenbone

Mine doesn't ask she just randomly sends us giant package of giant plastic toys from Lillian Vernon, HSN, etc.  Have you not seen how small our house is?  We have no room for all these giant, random toys!  She did ask me what he wanted for Christmas last week though.  Hopefully if I tell her she may buy it.