Post your Christmas present disappointment

[Roc A Bee]

No ones fault, but my MIL lost the package that DH sent to her house with my main gift in it.

[wannabe]

Dec 28, 2012 11:48:59 GMT -5 purplecow0206 said:

My third BIL bought us all mugs with his photo on them. Really?

Holy shit, this is fucking comical.

[LauraMoser]

I wasn't disappointed in any particular gifts, more so the lack of gifts. That makes me sound greedy, but I didn't really get much this year.

DH didn't get me anything, but we had agreed no gifts for each other this year, just worry about the kids. So that didn't upset me. My parents paid the majority of the bill for pics I had done of the kids. That was much appreciated. My mom also picked out a wall clock for us. It has grapes on it, which really isn't my style. Her reasoning for the clock was that we don't have a clock hung anywhere and she doesn't have a clock to look at when she comes over.

My MIL picked out a cute bead for my Pandora bracelet, which I liked, no complaints there. My aunt, who usually gets me at least something small every year, got me and my little sister nothing, while giving my older sister a nice cookbook. According to older sis, she was almost going to not accept the gift on the account of it not being fair to me and little sis. But aunt has been weird lately. She used to be our closest aunt, but now she seems to favor other family members more, and she's not good at hiding that favoritism. My mom doesn't want to go to the Christmas Eve gathering next year because aunt made her feel like the odd one out, and its her own sister!

My kids made out pretty well though. I try to tell myself that that is what matters, but I really missed opening a few gifts picked out thoughtfully and specifically for me. Even just a giftcard to one of my favorite stores....

I think maybe DH and I will have to do small gifts for each other next year. That way we can each get at least one thing exciting and that we want.

[dirtyred]

My mother is a horrible gift giver. She used to pester the shit out of me to give her a list of what I wanted, and then on Christmas what did I get? Not a single thing on the list, and her saying "I didn't know what to get you." (note: I wasn't asking for expensive or hard to find items)

So one year I put down stuff like real estate, Tom Selleck, a live in maid. My mother calls me and tells me "You know, you're not going to get a single thing on your list." I replied "I never get anything that's on my list, so what difference does it make what I put on it?"

It turns out, the whole thing is my fault. I didn't ask for things that are "good" presents, like jewelry, or things that my mom thought I should have.

So now I tell her to spend whatever money she would have spent on me on an Angel Tree kid.

Dh, being an engineer, takes my wish list very seriously.

[StJess80]

My MIL bought me a bunch of clothes for work, all 2 sizes too small. Plus, she took all of the tags off, and didn't give me a gift receipt, so I can't return any of it. She's done this 2 years in a row. I am sure that is her way of telling me to lose some weight.

[Willis Jackson]

Dec 28, 2012 12:19:46 GMT -5 wannabe said:

Dec 28, 2012 11:48:59 GMT -5 purplecow0206 said:

My third BIL bought us all mugs with his photo on them. Really?

Holy shit, this is fucking comical.

Yeah, this is pretty funny.

I would probably take a picture of myself drinking from the mug, put that picture on a mug, and give it to him the next year.

[cajunmom]

MIL gave us a regifted framed religious "House Rules" picture thing. She was excited about regifting it to us. She said "X gave it to Y, and then Y gave it to Z, and now I'm giving it to you!" and she wrote a little note to us on the back. Right next to another note left when Y gave it to Z.

To make it even better, H and I are atheist.

[cjeanette]

This was the first year I wasn't at all disappointed.

[CloudBee]

My MIL gave me a giant Christmas tree cookie jar. It's massive.

Every year my husband's parents call and ask what he wants. Every year I tell him he should give them some gift suggestions for me as well. He fails to do so, and I end up with something really tacky that never gets used.

This year on the way home he said "hun, I think next year I need to give my parents some guidance on your gifts". LOL

His mom is really thoughtful and means well, but she never gifts well.

[purplecow0206]

Dec 28, 2012 12:43:19 GMT -5 Willis Jackson said:

Dec 28, 2012 12:19:46 GMT -5 wannabe said:

Holy shit, this is fucking comical.

Yeah, this is pretty funny.

I would probably take a picture of myself drinking from the mug, put that picture on a mug, and give it to him the next year.

Oh, we should so do that! Get everyone involved, and just all give him mugs, that would be awesome!

[justjen]

I spent the first several years with DH being disappointed by his gifts. (He famously gave me an ironing board my first birthday we were together.) I come from a family of really good gift givers, so it was something I'd never even experienced before... There were definitely some tears.

But I really think he "gets it" now. He's been great the past several years, which makes us both enjoy the holidays so much more.

[SusanBAnthony]

Dec 28, 2012 12:35:26 GMT -5 StJess80 said:

My MIL bought me a bunch of clothes for work, all 2 sizes too small. Plus, she took all of the tags off, and didn't give me a gift receipt, so I can't return any of it. She's done this 2 years in a row. I am sure that is her way of telling me to lose some weight.

DH's grandma does this! Argh, it drives me crazy. And she has horrible taste. She has actually stopped buying us gifts as she has gotten more elderly, which I am so glad about, bc I literally donated everything she gave us. What a waste!

DH got me exactly what I wanted, but it didn't work. Not his fault, it has been returned and I am getting another. Still sad not to be able to use it. It was a Bluetooth phone charger. Also, I specifically told him I did not want any candy or sweets in my stocking, and he got me a box of chocolate and a box of walkers shortbread. Thanks for listening to that request, babe! His explanation was that he thought I could share them. WTF?

Mil have me cash, and fil just gives the kids gifts, which is fine, but also kind of sad to not have a single gift to open at Christmas.

My biggest disappointment for the kids is that sil buys the kids gifts. she has no money, I mean really, we are talking she makes minimum wage. We walk a fine line between wanting to buy niece nice stuff bc we can afford it and her parents can't, and not wanting to give niece a ton of stuff and make sil feel obligated to do the same for our kids. Anyway, she got dd this super super super cheap doll set. The doll lost an arm an hour after dd opened it, the stroller is so flimsy I am amazed it isn't broken yet. I just wish she wouldn't waste what little money she has. I don't fault her for what she can afford, but dd has plenty of nice dolls and a nice doll stroller, and I wish she would just keep her money, she needs it more than we do. But I can't say that. If anyone has suggestions, though, I am all ears.

[SusanBAnthony]

Dec 28, 2012 12:47:34 GMT -5 cajunmom said:

MIL gave us a regifted framed religious "House Rules" picture thing. She was excited about regifting it to us. She said "X gave it to Y, and then Y gave it to Z, and now I'm giving it to you!" and she wrote a little note to us on the back. Right next to another note left when Y gave it to Z.

To make it even better, H and I are atheist.

The good news is that it is apparently perfectly acceptable for you to give it to some relative next year!

[kangaroo11]

I got yet more crap from my great-aunt. She thinks I'm super sentimental about things and she always gives me stuff from her house. For my last birthday, I got a single black dinner plate. For Hanukkah, she gave me and DH a set of ceramic kitchen containers. They are not in a box, so I can't return them for other stuff, since I already have a set from my wedding 3 years ago. All my cousins and my brother got checks.

[hbomdiggity]

My DH did a good job this year. My only complaint is that in designing a photo mug, he used crappy cell phone pics, instead of the nice photos I've taken with my fancy camera. I know he did it at work and that's all he had access to, but if he would have waited 2 hours to get home and access our home computer it could have been better.

[jennistarr1]

Dec 28, 2012 12:35:26 GMT -5 StJess80 said:

My MIL bought me a bunch of clothes for work, all 2 sizes too small. Plus, she took all of the tags off, and didn't give me a gift receipt, so I can't return any of it. She's done this 2 years in a row. I am sure that is her way of telling me to lose some weight.

you need a plan for next year...this is outrageous...I would say "where are these from? Did you cut off the tags?" or if you're feeling really bold "are these from good will"...why don't you have your husband ask "out of curiosity mom, why do cut the tags off the stuff you give". Or say "one of those tops is too low cut for work, can I have the receipt to see if I can exchange it"

[cinco]

DH went to Wal-Mart on the 24th to pick out my gift. He said he was a little overwhelmed (duh), so he just started grabbing jewelry off the rack. OMG, is it hideous. I was trying not to laugh as I kept pulling out more and more beaded atrocities out of my stocking. The best part is my 6 year old thought it was the most beautiful jewelry ever. It was sweet I have a feeling I'll be sharing. I think the most expensive "piece" was $7, so no need to feel bad.
To be fair, I got him a Dunkin Donuts shirt (which is so.freaking.awesome). No hard feelings, lol.

[bronxgirl]

My husband gave me a Mercedes, bought I asked for a beemer. Fucker.

[Deleted]

Dec 28, 2012 14:43:58 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

My husband gave me a Mercedes, bought I asked for a beemer. Fucker.

:-(

[Deleted]

Dec 28, 2012 14:43:58 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

My husband gave me a Mercedes, bought I asked for a beemer. Fucker.

What the fuck is wrong with him??? OMGAH.

[whitemerlot]

I have, and love Fiestaware dishes. Every year, my in-laws get me something to "go with my dishes", but they buy random brands that don't actually match at all. They also give me a lot of random stuff that I don't like, like old lady scented body wash. I wish they would buy one piece of my actual dishes because I really don't like these random things that don't match.

[StJess80]

Dec 28, 2012 13:33:23 GMT -5 jennistarr1 said:

Dec 28, 2012 12:35:26 GMT -5 StJess80 said:

My MIL bought me a bunch of clothes for work, all 2 sizes too small. Plus, she took all of the tags off, and didn't give me a gift receipt, so I can't return any of it. She's done this 2 years in a row. I am sure that is her way of telling me to lose some weight.

you need a plan for next year...this is outrageous...I would say "where are these from? Did you cut off the tags?" or if you're feeling really bold "are these from good will"...why don't you have your husband ask "out of curiosity mom, why do cut the tags off the stuff you give". Or say "one of those tops is too low cut for work, can I have the receipt to see if I can exchange it"

That would be kind of funny. She'd probably get in all sorts of a huff about it though.

[Lucille Bluth]

There are so many wonderful gems here. I can't stop laughing.

My MIL loves to give gifts, like books and CDs which she's already opened and used. This year we got a guide book to our own city with newspaper clippings of new restaurants in it. She's shameless and lets us know she's used / read them herself as well as her own suggestions.

She got my husband a heat pack you microwave, because "sometimes you just need some heat and I like the comfort it gives." Yeah, we're not 60+.

[lurkergirl123]

My MIL gave me a hideous nightshirt. Hideous. It looks like something a 90 year old crazy cat lady would wear.

Also, soap. Just random soap. I think it was Dial.

[ssmjlm]

I got this from my MIL




I wish she would just give us a gift card. She's a horrible gift giver. She also called me one day and asked what size DH wore and I told her he doesn't like clothes as gifts. DH got a sweatshirt from her.

[Deleted]

Does Roku work with amazon prime? App,e tv doesn't.

[sockerheel]

I was disappointed on my DH's behalf. My dad gave him a knife with an American flag and bald eagle on it in a tin with the same design. He also received a Planet of the Apes DVD - what a random choice. And he was told that he was supposed to get it last year.

[dr.girlfriend]

Dec 28, 2012 21:09:40 GMT -5 @irishbride said:

Does Roku work with amazon prime? App,e tv doesn't.

Yep.

[nonsenseabound]

Dec 28, 2012 12:43:19 GMT -5 Willis Jackson said:

Dec 28, 2012 12:19:46 GMT -5 wannabe said:

Holy shit, this is fucking comical.

Yeah, this is pretty funny.

I would probably take a picture of myself drinking from the mug, put that picture on a mug, and give it to him the next year.

DO THIS! Please!!!

[bunch]

I don't care, but my gmil gave an impressive assortment this year, even for her. For me: the same Spode coasters that she gave me last year and the 4 appetizer tray that she's given me in as many years For H: a solar powered house address sign to be used at the new house, should we ever move, which is a full half mile off the road and an ornament that doubles a digital photo frame.

The brands of 3/4 of the items were not able to be found on google, so into the goodwill bag it all went.