Sister in law recycling presents

durham_girl

Last Christmas my sister in law gave my son a present that was vastly age innappropriate - he was 5 months and the toy was for ages 3-6 years. This year she gave him a formula 1 car for ages 4+ (he's now 17 months).

Her son is 4, his birthday is in December and it's obvious that she is recycling gifts that her son gets and giving them to my son for Christmas. Personally I don't have a problem with recycling gifts, but only if the gift is appropriate for the receiver! She has 3 children aged between a few months and 7 so its not like she shouldn't know better!

My husband is planning to mention to her that we were unable to give him the gift as it was unsuitable but I think we should just offer to stop exchanging gifts if the financial situation means she can't afford a gift. I think the thing that annoys me most is I always try and get nice gifts for her children and this thought obviously isn't returned.

Any opinions or ideas welcome!

laura8417

You could play her at her own game and re-gift the same present for her son's birthday next year? They may have forgotten what they recycled by then...

meritaten

no - I would make OH take her aside and show her the gift and say 'This is totally unsuitable - can you give me the reciept so we can exchange it for something within his age range'.
If OH wont do it then I would! thats not on love! I can understand a gift for the next age range - its either thought your child is very intelligent or its for later on - but NOT years later on!

thatgirlsam

Maybe she is hard up and is embarressed to say

Put it away for him till he is older

My mind is seriously boggling with all the threads with people moaning about what they have been given!!

No offence Durham Girl!

split_second

i swear me, my fiancee and family are the only ones that have got decent presents haha, some of the threads i have seen people have been bought something begrudgingly out of tradition rather than with care, love and attention to what the reciever would like.

have had presents like that myself but hey, i try and buy with care and consideration, those things dont cost money

thatgirlsam

split_second wrote: »

i swear me, my fiancee and family are the only ones that have got decent presents haha, some of the threads i have seen people have been bought something begrudgingly out of tradition rather than with care, love and attention to what the reciever would like.

have had presents like that myself but hey, i try and buy with care and consideration, those things dont cost money

!!!!!!

Ever heard the saying its the thought that counts?

Just be grateful that someone got you a gift!!

All of this greed and competition at Christmas is no good for you and its not the spirit of Christmas!!

victory

Do you remember on here a while ago Martin was saying that say if you spent £20 and they did too then are you really making any headway would you have actually bought the jumper whatever and then got in exchange the equal value but of no use to yourself so then it makes you feel you have wasted £20 and would have been better off not gift exchanging......

The point is if your relative cannot afford it, speak up, let her/him off and say 'you know what next year we are only going to buy to the value of' or not at all or we are going to give to charity or adopt an elephant whatever but make it fair for everyone, your gift was not age related but it could be passed on to a charity/kids' birthday party, a school fete, a school fund raiser, other children's friends that it would be and would be well recieved and appreciated....

split_second

thatgirlsam wrote: »

!!!!!!

Ever heard the saying its the thought that counts?

Just be grateful that someone got you a gift!!

All of this greed and competition at Christmas is no good for you and its not the spirit of Christmas!!

i think you got the wrong end of the stick, we all gave nice presents and all recieved nice things, some users on here have had things that were clearly not suitable for them and the threads i have read have been light hearted. i know a lot of people havent got a lot of money to spend on presents,myself and my family being part of that but we all try and get eachother thoughtful things and have all suceeded.

moomoomama27

It's the thought that counts, he was obviously thought of, as your sister wrapped the present for him! IMO where it comes from and if it was regifted is irrelevant! Maybe she's struggling finacially, or maybe she thought he's enjoy it when he was a bit older!? Surely it's better to get something he can use in the future, than something he's already outgrown?

When my son was 18 months my friend (male) bought him some Jmaes Bond collectable cars! Totally not suitable for him to play, but a nice gift nonetheless, now at age 7 he loves the cars!

thatgirlsam

split_second wrote: »

i think you got the wrong end of the stick, we all gave nice presents and all recieved nice things, some users on here have had things that were clearly not suitable for them and the threads i have read have been light hearted. i know a lot of people havent got a lot of money to spend on presents,myself and my family being part of that but we all try and get eachother thoughtful things and have all suceeded.

Yes, we all might try to get something thoughtful but clearly a lot of us fail if the threads in here are anything to go by!!

Personally I find it appalling that so many people moan about what they have been given - It may not be to their taste but the person who gave it might have tried their best!

I tell you.. If I thought my family and my children were so rude and ungrateful about their presents (wether they liked them or not!) I would be mortified

Christmas should not be about what you can bl00min well get out of people.... and then take the pee out of the people who got it wrong!

mildred1978

My son has many toys way above his age (18 months), including a set of replica ferraris that are meant for much older kids. He loves them!