Worst Christmas Gift Ever....

Wow, I'm amazed she said that!  Although mine told DH the other day that she gave me a book of poetry (by a poet I'd never heard of nor, it turns out, like) because "Abby likes things I don't, so I thought she'd like that book."  Um, so her entire thought process was "Wow, this book sucks.  I know!  I'll give it to my daughter-in-law because she likes things that suck!"

LOL! 

abby - LOL

that is some crap my ex MIL would do!

Wow, I'm amazed she said that!  Although mine told DH the other day that she gave me a book of poetry (by a poet I'd never heard of nor, it turns out, like) because "Abby likes things I don't, so I thought she'd like that book."  Um, so her entire thought process was "Wow, this book sucks.  I know!  I'll give it to my daughter-in-law because she likes things that suck!"

But maybe that's a good thing, because if she gave you stuff that she liked, that would mean she thought YOU liked it too - i.e., you have the same taste!! 

That's how my MIL is...she thinks anything she likes is stuff other people like, or at the very least, should like.  My MIL doesn't give gifts for the pleasure of making someone happy by giving them something thoughtful that they would like; she gives them because it makes her happy to give things she likes to other people. 

Just thought of another one! haha.. I had an Ex back when I was in the US. He didnt have a job at the time,so he asked me for some money to get me a Xmas gift, I gave him $100. So what did I get on Christmas morning??? ... A cardboard box with cheap  velvet on it with a note inside saying "I promise to do the washing up for a month"!!!!!

Did he do the washing up? NOPE
And what did he spend the other $95 on? ..video games for himself!!!

And that is reason number 934,345 why he is an ex!!

I repeat.  I am SO, SO HAPPY that this thread has been resurrected.  It makes me smile every day.  Abby and Ah-loom-in-num, you both have my sincere sympathy and thanks for some good laughs from both DH and I.

I'm happily wrapping myself up in the lovely silk shawl that my in-laws brought back from their travels for me for Christmas and being thankful for their fun gifts.

But maybe that's a good thing, because if she gave you stuff that she liked, that would mean she thought YOU liked it too - i.e., you have the same taste!! 

That's how my MIL is...she thinks anything she likes is stuff other people like, or at the very least, should like.  My MIL doesn't give gifts for the pleasure of making someone happy by giving them something thoughtful that they would like; she gives them because it makes her happy to give things she likes to other people. 

Ah, that's the difference between our MILs!  Mine gives gifts solely as a means to feed her ego.  She just wants to see/hear someone open it (yes, she used to make us call her and open gifts while she was on the phone with us!!) and tell her how wonderful she is for giving said person a present.  What's inside the box is not remotely important, that she gets showered with praise and adulation for giving it is.

Ah, that's the difference between our MILs!  Mine gives gifts solely as a means to feed her ego.  She just wants to see/hear someone open it (yes, she used to make us call her and open gifts while she was on the phone with us!!) and tell her how wonderful she is for giving said person a present.  What's inside the box is not remotely important, that she gets showered with praise and adulation for giving it is.

Yes, key difference!  My MIL couldn't care less about what happens after she gives the gift (she assumes you will love it - because she loves it - and that you would never, for a minute, consider giving it away to a thrift store).  All she cares about is giving what she wants to give.  I think she is a compulsive shopper and just wants excuses to buy things she likes.  She probably grieves that she can't keep the stuff for herself.

One of my  best friends from high school, who I haven't spoken to in years for obvious reasons, gave a shirt from Old Navy. 

Fair enough, but it was clearly given to him and he hated it.  I did too. 

It was an awful faded brownish sh@@ colour with a weird collar, no shape even for a men's shirt, huge and had one orange stripe at the neck.

I am a female who had just gotten out of boot camp, didn't have a job and was the thinnest I have ever been.

I returned it and got 1.00, so I used it to buy a pair of pj bottoms and my friend who went with me made up the difference. 

MIL gave me a straw bag with kittens on it. She's told me that we all have to go green, so we all have to use these bags. I certainly am not short of green bags, what gets me is the kittens. I know that I'm the youngest whenever I'm with them, but I'm not 5!

<giggle> My MIL gave me one of those Dove bath gel sets that you get a boots or morrisson's. She also gave me some sweets and a nice 2010 diary, and some money, so, I overlooked the bathgel set. I just thought it was hilariously funny. I told DH that I'll use the poof when we go on holiday somewhere, and that the bathgel was great, because in the States, I'd have to spend around $10 for both of those. But, thinking about it now, it's just funny. Why would you give someone bathgel for Christmas?! <giggle>

But, thinking about it now, it's just funny. Why would you give someone bathgel for Christmas?! <giggle>

Um, I always get something bath related for Christmas.  What's funny about it?  Dove isn't anything fancy like you might expect from a present, but there's nothing wrong with giving someone bath gel. 

My parents seem to be getting in on the ILs' propensity to give us bars of soap.  My mom gave me two bars of moisturizing soap this year!  And my SIL gave me a bar of soap.  Is our family trying to tell us we smell??  

My parents seem to be getting in on the ILs' propensity to give us bars of soap.  My mom gave me two bars of moisturizing soap this year!  And my SIL gave me a bar of soap.  Is our family trying to tell us we smell??  

I love getting soap! Most people don't seem to give it because they think it's boring, but it's one of my favourite gifts! I like to get special soap and have it last all year until the next Christmas!

I love getting soap! Most people don't seem to give it because they think it's boring, but it's one of my favourite gifts! I like to get special soap and have it last all year until the next Christmas!

I don't mind it once in a while, like a special bar, but it feels like the ILs just give it as a filler now, you know?  It's lost the specialness of it, I guess, since they just chuck a bar in every package they send. 

My mom gave my sister and me special homemade soap that she found at a market in VA last summer. I love getting special soaps- especially ones I wouldn't be able to find or buy for myself. Dove sets do seem a tad lame compared, but I use Dove so I'd be happy I could save some money!