There's no way of stopping this is there?

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• 17-Mar-2010 9:41

  There's no way of stopping this is there?

  MightyQuin Joined on 12-Apr-2006 SW Not London Posts 6,466

  Contact MIL is lovely, but she does have a habit of buying really awful baby clothes and sending them to us. I mean things I can't even believe they make, they're so hideous. It makes me feel bad because they're spending money on their granddaughter and none of it is EVER going to get worn (H said we could use them as punishment maybe) plus my house is filling up with stuff I don't want. There isn't anything we can say is there? We can't exactly say "oh, we hate all the stuff you send so please stop!" I think my only option is to go shopping with her next time we see them and try and steer her towards things that are to my taste, even then I don't think that would stop the truly awful. Or I'll have to wait for G to learn to talk and then she can tell her what she thinks! Anyone else have relatives with terrible taste? Gabrielle Rose (The Bug) 11.10.09

• 17-Mar-2010 9:42

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  jelly baby Joined on 22-Feb-2005 United Kingdom Posts 17,952	Contact I think we need some pictures ! I still remember Puss's "lovely" dress that she was sent for Phoebe by her MIL.  It was truly hideous. Apologies for lack of capital letters - Zoe has stolen my shift key

• 17-Mar-2010 9:43

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  MightyQuin Joined on 12-Apr-2006 SW Not London Posts 6,466	Contact I'll see what I can do about pictures Gabrielle Rose (The Bug) 11.10.09

• 17-Mar-2010 9:44

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  Hugo Brambles Joined on 27-Sep-2004 United Kingdom Posts 6,648	Contact It can't be that bad surely?!   I wish relies would send us stuff lol   Can't you just put them in it, take a photo to send to MIL then bang them on ebay and put the money into the childrens piggy bank?

• 17-Mar-2010 9:46

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  Virgin Goddess Joined on 08-Dec-2002 United Kingdom Posts 42,651

  Contact Yeah definitely need pics. My mum can sometimes get it so wrong too so can sympathise. Great thing about baby stuff is you can let them wear is once (just for grandma to see) then the "oh it's too small for her now" line is a great cop out i.e. you sent it to the charity shop. Like the idea of you taking her shopping though - she might get the message. Breastfeeding Help & Jewellery Available

• 17-Mar-2010 9:49

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  KB3 Joined on 13-May-2008 Posts 16,332

  Contact I can imagine! my sister has this problem with her MIL. Think chintz and Mrs Bucket then mix with a little Draling Buds of May and you get a tiny idea of what she has to deal with Funny thing is, her partner is really fussy about what clothes their daughter wears (ie no primark / second hand and she HAS to have the latest designer trainers) yet is happy to dress daughter in the hideous clothes his mother buys!

• 17-Mar-2010 9:54

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  MarineGirl Joined on 19-Apr-2006 United Kingdom Posts 12,476

  Contact Hugo Brambles: Can't you just put them in it, take a photo to send to MIL then bang them on ebay and put the money into the childrens piggy bank?    I decided right from the start not to do that - they won't learn if they think you like them!  We had some hideous pink things - bought the same day as I'd clearly said I hated pink overload for girls.  They remain in a box at the bottom of the wardrobe known as "the not until hell freezes over box".  If we're given something we like, it goes on for a visit and I coo over it.  If I don't like it, I ignore it.  Time will tell if that works!

• 17-Mar-2010 10:01

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  maryline Joined on 01-Sep-2003 Ireland Posts 6,560	Contact  I couldn't possibly give my opinion on the matter until I see the evidence. Louise 19/12/05 Matthew 4/08/09

• 17-Mar-2010 10:02

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  MightyQuin Joined on 12-Apr-2006 SW Not London Posts 6,466	Contact I'm not putting my daughter in these even for one picture:     I like MG's idea of a "hell freezes over" box Gabrielle Rose (The Bug) 11.10.09

• 17-Mar-2010 10:07

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  monalisa Joined on 20-Aug-2005 United Kingdom Posts 3,357	Contact LOL! I could cope with the dress for MIL visits I think but that tracksuit is fairly scary. It's a lovely thought though.

• 17-Mar-2010 10:10

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  Spamboule Joined on 23-Sep-2007 United Kingdom Posts 5,924

  Contact Waaaah Poor G, no wonder you don't want to dress her in that! Any chance you can take them back to the shop they came from? My boss bought Isla a nasty pink frou frou babygrow complete with frills and a little matching hat. That went straight back to where it came from even though I didn't have a receipt. I think you're going to have to take the bull by the horns and mention the sort of clothes you like to dress G in, but at the same time stroking your MILs ego saying how generous she is with her granddaughter... Good luck

• 17-Mar-2010 10:10

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  maryline Joined on 01-Sep-2003 Ireland Posts 6,560

  Contact Okay, I have seen A LOT worse! For example, hoodie with "babe" written on it, for a one-year old. Nice. T-Shirt with shoulders cut out. Awful skirt and sporty hoodie combo, the hoodie is cropped. And stuff my aunt has given me, that used to be my cousin (she is 12 years older than Louise). Knit skirt and top combo, all black and red tartan, with embroidered collar. Louise 19/12/05 Matthew 4/08/09

• 17-Mar-2010 10:13

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  expatgirl Joined on 25-Feb-2010 Northumberland Posts 146

  Contact I was trying to be open minded until I read further down and saw the pictures. Definitely not my style. I'd try teh shopping trip and see how that goes. My MIL doens't buy to my taste but they're not too bad. We do have very different tastes when shopping though, and I'm not sur emy efforts to show her what I like have paid off at all.  Otherwise, i'd do the ebay suggestion - with or without photos (depending on whether or not you want her to 'learn' or if you want to just honour her wanting to buy things for LO and show her wearing them once...) mum to W, June 2008 expecting a little brother or sister, early December 2010

• 17-Mar-2010 10:13

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  maryline Joined on 01-Sep-2003 Ireland Posts 6,560	Contact Oh and I forgot, one of my aunt (not old and diddery, she's only 50) bought Matthew a snowsuit. It's lovely, only it's pink and purple with glittery silver stars. I feel guilty as she has probably spent a bit of money on it. Louise 19/12/05 Matthew 4/08/09

• 17-Mar-2010 10:13

  Re: There's no way of stopping this is there?

  MightyQuin Joined on 12-Apr-2006 SW Not London Posts 6,466

  Contact Spamboule: Any chance you can take them back to the shop they came from? My boss bought Isla a nasty pink frou frou babygrow complete with frills and a little matching hat. That went straight back to where it came from even though I didn't have a receipt.    Sadly it looks from the tags that these came from an independant shop or market stall or something, so we can't take them back. Gabrielle Rose (The Bug) 11.10.09