Among Friends

[mintedrose]

@henderson Oh my! I know the feeling your sister must be feeling. And no Im not close to her. I tried when first got married but soon realized i didnt want to get hurt. 

[Carmie]

When my brother was younger, maybe  12 or 13, he gave my father-in-law a life size bust of Groucho Marx that he purchased with his own money.

The next Christmas, My FIL wrapped it up and regifted it to my brother.  They passed that bust back and forth every Christmas  for maybe 20 years until my FIL passed.

Maybe you should do the same thing...do your in-laws have a sense of humor?

To be honest here, I would just ignore the bad gifts.  It sounds like someone is trying to make a not so nice statement.  I wouldn’t give her the satifaction of letting her know it bothers you....or regift the items back to her and beat her at her own game.

[Katcat1]

@mintedrose  What goes around, comes around.  I would give them the same garbage they give you.  It is such an insult to you to receive such gifts.  I had a friend that was always giving me jewelry because she liked it and I don't wear that much but when I do, it is the "less is more" approach.  I had so much jewelry that I had nowhere to put it.  I started giving it away.  You would think people would think about what the person likes that you are gifting but instead they buy what they like  

[catwhisperer]

@mintedrose....I have gotten weird "gifts" from family members and do not respond. I do not say "thank you", nothing, hoping they might get the hint. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be working for me. Some people are just very strange. 

[Desertdi]

Be gracious.    Someone at the office gave me a pair of PJ's, size XL.   I am about the size of a 7th grader.    Naturally, I thanked her.    It's the thing to do...........

[x Hedge]

I once had a horrible boyfriend who would buy my birthday, X-mas, and other gifts at gas stations, dollar stores, and, I swear one time off the back of a produce truck.

I love art deco and antiques as anyone can tell by looking around my home. So of course he presented me with a shiny gold tone painted plastic new age wall clock, and insisted on hanging it for me.

I would have hung it in the garage, or maybe inside a closet. But no, he picked out a prime spot on my dining room wall.

It was completely out of place with everything around it.

Every gift he ever gave me was as poorly chosen as that one. It's just who he was.

[Bird mama]

I used to work for someone who didn't like me and I didn't like her.  I'm a straightforward person and don't believe in 'fronting'.  This woman is the type that just radiates ill will.  Seriously, when you don't talk to me and then roll up on me at Christmas and give me a gift, you really think I'm going to bring that negative energy into my car or home?

I waited every year until she was gone for the day/holiday and put the gift in the communal kitchen with a sign that said, help yourself and have a happy holiday :-)  

[Catiele]

No they are not nice gifts. Just say thank you and donate or throw away. 

[Eileen in Virginia]

First, I’d stop buying her gifts when you go on vacation. Then I’d cut back on the $ value of the gifts I sent her, especially if she’s just regifting junk that she didn’t want to you. Would it be too snarky to regift your SIL’s contact paper to her? If you’re Catholic, you could get her a Mass card commemorating her birthday, Christmas, Easter or other special occasion. They aren’t necessarily expensive and who wouldn’t appreciate an entire religious order praying for you on your special day? I’m not being facetious about the Mass card. It’s actually a nice gift for a practicing Catholic who already has pretty much everything they need or want. If you aren’t Catholic, you could make a donation in her name to a worthy cause. Although it’s easier said than done, try not to let them get you down. Some folks get their jollies from aggravating others and the bigger your reaction, the better they like it. 

[catwhisperer]

I have a relative who every year at Christmas makes a donation in my name to a charity of her choice, knowing full well that I would never donate to that particular cause. I find it rude, inconsiderate, and very insulting. I would never in a million years do that to someone. Sick. So many irrational people in this world. SMH.