My mother-in-law recently spent the weekend with us. Upon arrival, she clearly said to me (and in front of my wife), "I brought you a present," and then opened a bag containing a small bottle of choice vodka, and a bottle of Kahlua. I thanked her, and then she -- not me -- placed them in our pantry. One night at dinner we each had a vodka tonic. When she left, I noticed my "gifts" were gone. I asked my wife where they were and was told her mother had taken my "presents" with her.
Suffice it to say I was insulted that someone would be so
rude and lowbrow to abscond with one's gift. But there's
more. I later found out from my wife that when they were
unloading her mother's car, her mom told her the libations were a "treat" for herself.
Am I making too much of this or is it there some subliminal difference between a "gift" and a "present" that allows the giver reclaiming rights?
2007-08-13 05:44:14 · 8 answers · asked by Richard K 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
yeah if she said it was a gift why was she taking it back? she must have only considered it a gift if u consumed it with her. cheap but whatever! no use making a big stink of it.
2007-08-13 05:56:24 · answer #1 · answered by spadezgurl22 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a gift is a gift..... period same thing with a present
to take it back means what ever it was it WASN"T a gift. Once you've given a person something it's no longer your to have any say so over.
Sounds like you're MIL was just trying to "look good"
2007-08-13 05:51:41 · answer #2 · answered by sorryfoot 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is rude, but alot of people seem to do it. My MIL brought a snowman shaped ice cream cake to our house on Christmas eve. Since we had so many desserts, we never cut into it so she took it home. I thought that was ill-mannered, but maybe I'm wrong?...
2007-08-13 05:49:49 · answer #3 · answered by fnd40 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be rude if she bought them and asked you for the money, but she didn't.
It would be rude if she had drank from them all night until empty, but she didn't.
but bringing them to you and declaring that it is a gift FOR YOU then taking them home is not rude...it is psychotic!
2007-08-13 07:18:47 · answer #4 · answered by joe_on_drums 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tacky!
2007-08-17 04:24:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are overreacting, but your mother-in-law is wrong as well. You should just ignore it this time, and see if it becomes a pattern. If it does, just stop accepting gifts from her. say something like "thanks but no thanks"
2007-08-13 06:10:01 · answer #6 · answered by Bill 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is tacky tacky tacky! This woman has no decorum at all.
2007-08-13 18:13:51 · answer #7 · answered by missbeans 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well said Joe-On-Drums!!!
2007-08-13 14:08:07 · answer #8 · answered by Peter N 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋