- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
3rd Trimester
nbr: Christmas gifts for people who hate everything
Every year we think we have the best gift for my in-laws, and they hate it. We've gotten them everything from clothing to gift cards to Omaha Steaks and everything sucks. Last year's gift (which we thought was awesome- a Lobster Gram) apparently was the worst because they actually came right out and told us to never get them that again. (How freakin' RUDE!)
Anyway both DH & I are at a complete loss as to what the heck to buy for them. (A little background- they are very rude and miserable people.) Anyone know anyone like this? Advice please?!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: nbr: Christmas gifts for people who hate everything
If either of them shops online, get them a gift certificate to Amazon.com. Amazon sells EVERYTHING, and they just redeem it online - you can't go wrong.
If they don't shop online, maybe one of those "Wine of the Month" gifts, where each month, a different bottle of wine is shipped directly to them?
Otherwise, maybe you could make them a photo book on KodakGallery or something??
Proud Mama to Mickey (12.03.09) and Nemo (06.06.13)
Yep MIL (who I have vented about MANY MANY times on here) actually called me after they received the Lobster Gram and told me to never get that for them ever again. She didn't go into details on why the gift sucked so bad, but at that point, that comment was more than enough.
It's very frustrating because my parents are pretty easy. They usually tell us what they want, and if they don't we can easily figure something out. (And even if they hate it, they always act like it's the best gift ever lol.) This year they asked for tickets to a Broadway show they wanted to see, so my sis and I chipped in and got them the tickets. Easy.
And as much as I'd love to tell them where to go and buy nothing, it will just cause more drama... and trust me when i say we don't need anymore of that from them.....
I can just picture their faces after I said this to them too..... AWESOME!
How about cash?
I have a coworker who participated in a secret santa thing we had last year. When she received her gift which was a pasta gift basket that had some gourmet pasta and sauces and red checkered napkins, etc she looked perplexed. Her secret santa had put it together knowing that italian food was her favorite. Well, she had the nerve to ask her to return it and just give her the cash!
Etiquette Lessons or Coal.
Or
A gift card to their favorite restaurant they go to or a car wash they go to. I never know what to get my dad - so I just get him gift cards for something he already does - lame - but he uses it!
What about donating to an organization in their name then? They can't get mad at you for doing something like that if they view every gift you give them as wasting your money anyway.
Proud Mama to Mickey (12.03.09) and Nemo (06.06.13)
My dad used to do this. Even if he liked the gift, he'd tell you that you shouldn't have done it, as he usually buys what he wants for himself.
One year, after putting a lot of thought/effort into a gift for him, I told him that if anything other than "Thank you, Anne" comes out of his mouth, that I would flip the eff out. You could always try that route.
You know what? Sure it will cause more drama but get them nothing. We had to start doing that with my SIL--she's pretty miserable. She's also a computer programmer who takes no care of her personal hygiene and spends all day locked in her house on her computer--so antisocial and just unpleasant to be around.
Every gift we got her sucked. She doesn't call my DH on his birthday or even get him a card but does for my DH's other two brothers.
We finally just said "screw it." We leave her a message on her birthday and that's it.
She's only seen our daughter three times when my MIL comes to town to visit each year. So yeah--it's not worth it.
If they *** tell them "gee if we thought you liked what we got you maybe we'd more inclined to get you something."
Or better yet let DH handle it.
I've found with DH's family--total, total drama hogs--his mom ran off with my SIL ex-bf so if that's not drama....
We just ignore them they get in contact with us when they want. When we make an effort it results in more drama so this is much easier.
DH even went so far as to tell his dad that he was such a miserable person that we were better off just avoiding each other. Sadly, his dad agreed. They're that kind of family.
Another idea - where do they food shop? A gift card to there or their pharmacy?
If they say anything to you - start crying. Say it's the hormones and you try so hard to please them - but nothing you say or do works and storm out of the room - They will feel very awkward for sure!
I'm thinking coal. Or maybe a grandparents picture frame that they can put a picture of baby in soon? What do they say they want if you ask them what they want?
This!
At some point you just have to say to h*ll with it. If they can not be civil and polite then there is no reason to buy them anything, but if you feel that you must, make sure to get a gift receipt so that they can just return it and get whatever cra**y thing that they think is so much better.
I have a little trouble with this, not to the same extent that you do but it's similar. DH's mom always used to say "oh, this is nice...thanks." but her tone of voice told you she thought it was stupid. A couple of months later (after never being used/worn/displayed/ etc...) whatever we got her would just disapear and I would never see it again. So a few years ago I just decided to flat out ask her what she wanted every year. I ask sometime in October and usually by the time Christmas rolls around she has forgotten that we ever had that conversation! That way we are both happy.
(m/c 1.17.07, m/c 5.15.07)
DS - 03.15.08
DD2 - 12.03.09
DD3 - 3.28.11
Maybe a Visa giftcard? That way they can use with anywhere Visa credit cards are approved.