She does the same thing to my SIL. The only gifts she ever really likes come from her daughters. Even when my husband suggests a gift she is polite but after we leave makes snotty comments. Since money is very tight this year, I have opted for making handmade crocheted rugs (known as rag rugs). They are beautiful & very heavy plus after making a couple of them for less than $5 my neighbor wanted to buy them & offered me $45 a piece for them. I said sure & sold them. While I could use that money to buy her a nice gift, I figure that it will still be laughed at - even though she is not weathly she does not have extra bills to pay so she is somewhere in the middle for people her age. Therefore, would a handmade rug (made to match her home) be okay? She does live in the country & her entire home is done in a country theme. I'm just tired of spending money on gifts for her. Like I said, the only gifts that are not made fun of would be the ones from her daughters. Any suggestions?
2007-12-11 01:10:14 · 18 answers · asked by Love being a Mom 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
BTW - I have even bought expensive perfumes, nice clothes, expensive jewelry boxes, mircowave oven (hers had went out), etc., and she still made fun of the gift when we left. Also, she never buys a gift for my husband or me. Nor for our kids. She only buys for her boyfriend.
2007-12-11 01:15:47 · update #1
I have heard every Christmas the comments she makes about my SIL gifts and then my nephew innocently asked me why his grandma always held up the gift I bought and laughed about it when I left. He asked me why she didn't like it because he "thought it was pretty". He is only 7. Then when I asked his mother about it she just sort of smiled and said, "oh, you know mom". That answered my question.
2007-12-11 01:23:37 · update #2
Just get her a donut then
2007-12-11 01:43:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the thought that counts, and by putting effort into it, either by making something or going to the store and buying something, you are being the bigger person. If there really is no pleasing her, which is how it sounds, I would not financially stretch yourself for what will just be unappreciated in the long run. If this was a different situation most people would be flattered with a hand made gift, and she should be too. She isn't too good for your present. I can understand wanting to impress her or make her happy, but you've tried and if she cant see what you are doing, regardless of what she buys for other people, then that is her loss. Give her the present you made, and sincere wishes for a merry Christmas.
2007-12-11 01:38:06 · answer #2 · answered by ShouldBeWorking 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the rug is a great idea. It's personal and handmade and sounds lovely.
When you give it to her, you can tell her that you know she's not always a fan of your gifts so if she doesn't like it, you'll be glad to take it home with you....
I hate shopping for my MIL too....lots and lots of the same reasons. Never a thank you, always some complaint about whatever it was I got her, and she never sends anything for our daughter! Last year she called and asked my husband to spend $40 on her, so we did and she NEVER sent us the money or thanked us at all. When my daughter called her to thank her, she said" you're so welcome honey"!!!! Grrr.
Anyway, a long time ago I stopped buying for her, and made my husband do it. But it took me nagging every step of the way. This year I'm not nagging him at all. I told him I wasn't doing it, I gave him some ideas, and I've been quiet. Maybe it's not that important to him.
Is it important to you and your husband?
2007-12-11 01:24:44 · answer #3 · answered by oopzydazeys 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your mother in law is an ungrateful, nasty and spiteful human being who managed to have a son with good taste - evidenced by him choosing you. I would love to receive a handmade rug from a family member and would treasure it. Since she makes fun of everything that you get for her, buy her something inexpensive from now on and expect that she'll make fun of it. Don't take it personally and don't bother listening to anyone else who talks about how she reacts to the gift.
By the way - have you thought about selling your rugs on Ebay or starting your own website to sell them. You could make some extra money on the side and provide a nice product to those of us who are not handy with crafts.
2007-12-11 01:38:56 · answer #4 · answered by Susan G 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Since she is so hard to please and you never get anything in return I would not go through the trouble of making a handmade rug for her. She won't appreciate it anyway. I would do a simple Visa gift card so she can choose the store and what she wants to get. This way if she is unhappy with the gift she can only blame herself.
2007-12-11 01:21:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
to be honest with you, you seem like a really nice considerate person, and i feel as if i want to tell you to not bother getting her anything at all! she seems very ungratefull and insensitive, and does not deserve a thoughfull daughter-in-law like you. but, if you feel like you must get her something, i would either get a gift voucher for somewhere where you know she shops regularly, so she can choose her own, or i would ask one of her daughters if they could suggest something, but ask them not to tell her that you have asked. then if they do, and you buy it, if she then makes any snide remarks about it, you can always say " well, acually it was one of your daughters that gave me the idea"!!! a little bit of pay back wouldnt you say! that would shut her up! good luck, and a merry christmas to you.
2007-12-11 01:23:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have the same type of ungrateful mother in law. I was talking about this with my own mother and she suggested that perhaps I dont know my MIL's taste as well as I think I do...She suggested that I tell my hubby to pick out a gift for his mom. Even though the things you are giving her are nice & you like them they may not be her style....I let my hubby pick out his moms gift this year....He got her a set of Margarita glasses and a set of mixes to make margaritas....while I would have NEVER picked this out for his mother...I know she is going to love it...because she is always making margaritas.....Perhaps your husband can give you a perfect idea that you yourself would have never thought of getting for her.
2007-12-11 01:45:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a collection of Christmas goodies and wrap them up in a reasonably bag with attractive ribbon. additionally incorporate slightly rolled up piece of paper of why you adore your buddy. Then put in some greater like have a robust day and merry christmas.
2016-10-11 01:24:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Save your money and just give her a card - since she does not buy for you or your husband or even your kids (who does not give their GRANDKIDS some kind of gift?) If anything is said, just respond that you have given her many gifts out of love, but since they were ridiculed and not appreciated, you have stopped wasting your time and effort. Merry Christmas!
2007-12-11 09:57:03 · answer #9 · answered by labadala l 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Give her the rug. She's pretty rude. I can't believe she doesn't even get anything for your kids. That is just not right.
2007-12-11 14:21:45 · answer #10 · answered by snowwillow20 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd give her the rug. Save your money for someone who appreciates the gesture and thought.
2007-12-11 01:15:45 · answer #11 · answered by karisob 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋