Some people at xmas make me mad!!!

dlb

This year i have been making home-made hampers for the people i buy for thanks to all the great ideas you have all given me. But i am so worried about the one for my FIL + MIL, It looks beautiful and is the most expensive one i have made, it has lots of food items, pickles, expensive t-bags,biscuits ect and 2 books and a scarf for MIL.

The thing is she the MIL is so materialistic, she normal TELLS US in august what she wants for xmas and it is never cheap!! So beat her to it this year and told them before they told me that we had sorted out their xmas pressie.

She has phoned me every week asking what it is, i havent told her told her it is a surprise, but she keeps asking.:mad:
She bought us a slow cooker in Feb for this xmas!! We always get our gift very early they get them in the sales which is great but i wish they would wait until dec to give them to us!!!

Now i am so worried as i know she isnt going to be impressed with the hamper as it wouldnt be what she picked herself. She keeps dropping hints about how much they have spent on us in past years.:mad: :mad:

Does anyone else have relatives like this???

Queenie

I think we've all experienced people like this at some point or another! (((hugs)))

You can't do anything about how *she* chooses to react to the well thought out/planned hamper you have put together for them. She is in control of her own thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions.

What you *do* have control over is .. YOU!
I'm guessing you were not in a worried frame of mind as you put it together; after all, you wouldn't have gone to all that time and trouble if you were worried from the beginning
You were probably feeling quite excited at your ingenuity, creativity and enjoyed the experience of putting it together. And rightly so!! Well done, you! :T :T :T
You've catered for their materialistic side You've bought "expensive T-bags" etc., you've spent the most on their hamper. The items are practical and special. Be proud of yourself.

To deal with the worry you feel, try and think about the very *worst* thing that could happen when you give it to them? Will she get mad and rip the house up? Will she refuse to speak to you ever again? I'm serious; just how many different ways is she most likely to react and what is the worst? If that worst outcome happens, how do you imagine you'd deal with it? When you've considered all of that and got yourself a strategy on how *you* will deal with any negativity, you can put your worries away and get on with enjoying the excitement and anticipation of Christmas with confidence.
If she is so materialistic, then point out you have got her something "priceless" - which of course it is - there's no price for gifts from the heart ((hugs))

And as a bottom line: if she should receive it negatively ... remember: that says far more about *her* then it does *you*. ((hugs))

Lara

You said that their hamper is the most expensive. You have taken so much time and thought to do it so if they aren't happy they are being ungrateful. All the thought & care you have put into it will shine through. It makes it so much more personal and make sure you tell her this! Stop worrying and hopefully they will appreciate it. She probably hasn't even thought of a hamper so will be doubly surprised! As for giving you their present back in February I've never heard os such a thing:eek: .

Good Luck and well done. I think all your hard work is brilliant .

hezb

I agree with Queenie. Don't worry you have done a wonderful thing creating somthing from your heart.

hollydays

There are some people who dont appreciate a present that you have truly put a lot of thought ,effort and love into.I gave something similar once to be told "its like an old persons emergency rations" or something similar. This person however would put very little effort into buying a present-always the same thing from m & s -given with the receipt.Advice-dont bother giving thoughtful presents to people like this-just buy them gift vouchers.

Maysie

How about a thoughtfull messagy poem type thing in there as well explaining why each thing was bought. Anyone screwing there nose up at such a personal message would makethemselves look sooooooooooo bad or will maek them realise the effort you made. I wish i was getting such a thoughtful hamper !

newMS

me being me and calling a spade or spade would wait till she opened it and if she grimaced or moaned would take it back and say i'll have it them to make up for the crud you gave me....

But thats me no tact or diplomacy lol

dorsetmiss_2

Anyone with the money can go to a shop and spend shed-loads, that's the easy peasy way - to be given something created with thought, time, effort and love says so much more about you!!

*I'd love to be given something like that!*

jetty

i would really appreciate something like that, the time and effort, i love the personal touch and it means so much more. give them a satsuma and a lump of coal in a stocking :rotfl:

ManAtHome

Sad reflection of some parts of society - would rather you spent 30 seconds adding to their bling hoard by sticking your name on a credit card slip than spending days putting something together yourself.

What were they like when OH came home from school with hand-made Easter cards etc - "you idle little sod, there's a card shop just up the road"..? Speaking of OHs - what does he think about all this?

black-saturn

Some people are never happy with whatever you get them.