My MIL does this and its so annoying.

[fryjack2]

My MIL asks for gift ideas for my kids. She asks, I send her an Amazon wish list and tell her that either the things on the list, or something like them, or really anything she feels like buying is fine.  Its not like they are old enough (19 months) to ask for something specific.

Every occasion turns into her texting/calling/emailing a million times about the items on the list.   Conversations go like this:

Her: "You have a green car on the list. IS IT OK if I buy a BLUE one?" 
Me: "Yes, its fine. Its just an example. Any car is fine." 
A day later....
Her: "So, are you SURE a BLUE car is ok?  I'm at the store and will buy it if it is."  " I didn't hear back while at the store, so I DIDN'T BUY THE CAR.  LET ME KNOW IF A BLUE ONE IS Ok.  IF its NOT there tomorrow, is there a different color that's ok?" 
Me: "MIL, any color is fine.  Any car is fine." 
Her: "Maybe I should get something else since I can't find a green car."
Me:

Then she finds something else she thinks she wants to buy and asks a million times if its ok if she buys it because its not on the list or isn't exactly what I have on the damn list. 

The capital letters is real.  She likes to emphasize important words. :Y:

[kirby]

I'm sorry, but this is awesome and made me laugh. She sounds sweet but this would drive me crazy, too.

[rupertpenny]

Every single person in my H's family does this. But at the end of the day after asking me 7,000 times they will say something like "Oh, I'm sure you didn't really want a toy car anyway, here a picture frame with an ugly saying on it instead." It is so obnoxious.

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2013 16:31:51 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Every single person in my H's family does this. But at the end of the day after asking me 7,000 times they will say something like "Oh, I'm sure you didn't really want a toy car anyway, here a picture frame with an ugly saying on it instead." It is so obnoxious.

My one SIL does this. "I know you asked for a gift card to a specific place, but here is a totally useless gift that I bought last minute!!"

[mrsgoontz]

How annoying.

3 weeks ago we drew names at work for a Secret Santa. Today is the group holiday party after work and I have had 2 people come up and ask me whose name they drew (I organized drawing the names) so they can get something before the party. Since there hasn't been any ML SS drama yet I'll let you know how the work SS turns out. Fingers crossed someone gets a shrimp cocktail thrown in their face.

[SKP82]

Dec 16, 2013 16:51:04 GMT -5 @guernica said:

Dec 16, 2013 16:31:51 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Every single person in my H's family does this. But at the end of the day after asking me 7,000 times they will say something like "Oh, I'm sure you didn't really want a toy car anyway, here a picture frame with an ugly saying on it instead." It is so obnoxious.

My one SIL does this. "I know you asked for a gift card to a specific place, but here is a totally useless gift that I bought last minute!!"

I hate when people ask for gift cards for Christmas for some reason. Maybe next time tell her something specific that you want so you don't end up with something useless.

[fryjack2]

Dec 16, 2013 17:34:14 GMT -5 SKP82 said:

Dec 16, 2013 16:51:04 GMT -5 @guernica said:

My one SIL does this. "I know you asked for a gift card to a specific place, but here is a totally useless gift that I bought last minute!!"

I hate when people ask for gift cards for Christmas for some reason. Maybe next time tell her something specific that you want so you don't end up with something useless.

How is that not asking for something specific? Or are you being sarcastic?

[jenny1223]

This is my mother. I've found it's better to be vague with her (she has good taste and is a good gift giver generally), but if I give a link and say anything like this, she feels locked into that one item.

[goonfest]

Dec 16, 2013 16:51:04 GMT -5 @guernica said:

Dec 16, 2013 16:31:51 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Every single person in my H's family does this. But at the end of the day after asking me 7,000 times they will say something like "Oh, I'm sure you didn't really want a toy car anyway, here a picture frame with an ugly saying on it instead." It is so obnoxious.

My one SIL does this. "I know you asked for a gift card to a specific place, but here is a totally useless gift that I bought last minute!!"

Yes! I asked for a gift card to a store that has a physical location within 10 minutes of my parents house (and I know they've been in the vicinity lately). Apparently I'm getting something else because the grocery store doesn't sell this type of gift card. I'm annoyed. 

[hisno1girl]

My husband does that when I send him to the grocery store.

What kind of butter do you mean? Regular butter or peanut butter? Or did you mean butter pecan ice cream? Is Imperial margerine okay? Salted or unsalted? Irish? In quarters or a whole brick?

It makes me want to kick him in the scrote.

[Smallstar]

This is my MIL except add in "Are you sure I got the right thing? I wasn't sure. You can take it back if you want to. I won't be offended." I know she means well, but she makes Christmas life a lot more difficult than it needs to be.

[fryjack2]

Holy hell. I just opened yet another email. I groaned and H said, "Oh geez, another email from my mom?" Yup. He's emailing her now. How and why is this so hard?

[SKP82]

Dec 16, 2013 17:37:40 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

Dec 16, 2013 17:34:14 GMT -5 SKP82 said:

I hate when people ask for gift cards for Christmas for some reason. Maybe next time tell her something specific that you want so you don't end up with something useless.

How is that not asking for something specific? Or are you being sarcastic?

No, I wasn't being sarcastic.

I mean, instead of saying, "I want a Sephora gift card," ask for the Naked Palette, or whatever you would use the gift card for.

I don't mind getting gift cards for people, but I hate doing it as their only gift.  I would much rather buy the thing that they want the gift card for. 

I guess I'm weird.

[papie]

Lol

[Captain Serious]

Are you married to my brother?  Because this read like a play-by-play of my mother's gift shopping.  Except in the end, she'll often tell me, "This is difficult for us.  Why don't you just buy it, and bring it, and I'll give you the money for it when I see you?"  Which, of course means she expects us to wrap it, too.

[papie]

Dec 16, 2013 21:57:39 GMT -5 Captain Serious said:

Are you married to my brother?  Because this read like a play-by-play of my mother's gift shopping.  Except in the end, she'll often tell me, "This is difficult for us.  Why don't you just buy it, and bring it, and I'll give you the money for it when I see you?"  Which, of course means she expects us to wrap it, too.

We have the same mother.

[Captain Serious]

Dec 16, 2013 23:09:28 GMT -5 papie said:

Dec 16, 2013 21:57:39 GMT -5 Captain Serious said:

Are you married to my brother?  Because this read like a play-by-play of my mother's gift shopping.  Except in the end, she'll often tell me, "This is difficult for us.  Why don't you just buy it, and bring it, and I'll give you the money for it when I see you?"  Which, of course means she expects us to wrap it, too.

We have the same mother.

I have thought this a few times after things you have posted.

[Booze Raccoon]

My MIL is the exact opposite.

She ONLY buys what is on sale/clearance/has a coupon for (jackpot for the trifecta).  She pays NO MIND to what anyone actually wants or needs.  

Case in point.  She bought my 12 year old nephew an Eclipse (Twilight) trivia game from Bed, Bath and Beyond because it was on clearance for $5.

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2013 21:38:43 GMT -5 SKP82 said:

Dec 16, 2013 17:37:40 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

How is that not asking for something specific? Or are you being sarcastic?

No, I wasn't being sarcastic.

I mean, instead of saying, "I want a Sephora gift card," ask for the Naked Palette, or whatever you would use the gift card for.

I don't mind getting gift cards for people, but I hate doing it as their only gift.  I would much rather buy the thing that they want the gift card for. 

I guess I'm weird.

I get what you're saying. On the other hand, some people don't like to ask for expensive gifts. It may not be in that person's price range. But if you have a gift card to the place, the item is now cheaper for you.