Irritated and then amused (Long)

Matildasun

Last Christmas my mother bought my niece a beautiful sled from LL bean. It made sense for them, they live in MA and they have a lot of snow. We didn't go there for Christmas, and Ada was tiny, so it wasn't a big deal that she didn't get one. 

My mother is all for equity though, so when she saw one at a yard sale she picked it up for us. There really isn't enough snow here for such a sled, and we are rapidly running out of room in the cellar, so I told her we didn't want it. She tried to make me take it this summer and again this winter. My father offered to strap it to the roof of my car, without my mom around, and I was very blunt about not wanting the sled, so he told my mom it didn't fit in the car. Later I explained to her why we really don't need it. Fast forward to today...

The UPS man comes to the door with two large packages, I was confused about what they were, so I looked at the label and saw LL bean and sled. I was instantly furious, because I assumed it was from my mother, and I couldn't believe that she was so he11 bent on us getting this darn sled that she had bought another one and sent it to us. I tried to call a friend and then my husband. I was almost in tears I was so frustrated. I finally went back and looked at the label again. Turns out it is from my mother in law. 

I called my dad and told him the whole story. He thought it was hysterical. I think am just going to tell my MIL  that Ada  already has  one (technically she does) and see if we can return it.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but we just do not have room for it. 

daisyterp

that's hysterical and sounds very similar to something that would happen to me w/ my mom/MIL.  

Don't even get me started on the numerous snowsuit debates I have had with my mom.  She seems to really think an infant that can not walk needs a snowsuit, even though said infant would never be playing in the snow, nor riding in a sled, nor strapped to me while I do XC skiing, etc.  

Oh and growing up my mom had this ridiculous baby sled, like for babies that couldn't really walk.  I am so glad she didn't hang onto it, because I know it would be on our carport rusting away. 

nutmegger

I would have been super frustrated, too.  And I love that you say "cellar"; I don't hear that much around here and it reminds me of home!

I guess a plus is that there's an LL Bean in Columbia, so maybe you can exchange the sled there for something you'd like?

Matildasun

Update.

My husband talked to his mother. After a little persuasion she was okay with us returning the sled. We offered to send the refund to her. They decided that we would use the money for something for Ada, assuming that we would have to get a gift card.

I knew better. LL Bean has the best return policy on the planet. It is tougher than it was 17 years ago, when we drove 2 hours from college to Freeport in the middle of the night, so my friend could return things from the lost and found bin at camp (Terrible. I know), but it is still amazing. I asked what my options were, stating that I would prefer not to get a gift card. They are sending me a check for the total amount. I am going to use it to buy a membership at Port Discovery or the aquarium.

Daisy-- my mother could not be persuaded that we didn't need a snow suit. She even made a hat to match it. A wears the hat, but the snow suit has not been touched.