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The Kitchen Table

Havy you ever given an oops gift?

14 years ago

I can remember 3. Thinking it was a rock group album, I bought my young son a Cheech and Chung album. Then I bought him a bopping toy. It was weighted at the bottom and you had to blow it up like a balloon, and they hit it like a boxer. It was supposed to be a cartoon character but as we were huffing and puffing it to inflate it, we realized it was a large whiskey bottle. The last one I remember was giving grown son the same book, two years in a row, for a Christmas gift.

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Comments (4)

morz8 - Washington Coast
14 years ago
I sent a Starbucks gift card in a graduation card to the son of a friend living on the other side of the state one year - only to find out later he had been working part time at a Starbucks and got a free drink every day anyway :(

I bought an American Girl nightie for my niece when she was about 4 1/2 - she got the paper off the box and saw the brand, lit up like her own little Christmas tree thinking it was the doll she wanted. I hadn't known she had wanted another doll, her disappointment so visible, I felt terrible. She's 20 now, and I think has forgiven me.
User
14 years ago
Remember the song "Wipeout" the Fat Boys and the Beach Boys sang 20+ years ago. My then elementary age brothers loved the song so I bought them the Fat Boy album. One song was "Protect Yourself/My Nuts" which had several mentions of male body parts. We still laugh about that.
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For the life of me, I cannot remember what my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas. Shame! Shame! Shame! on me. I know they were thoughtful gifts and something I probably loved because that's the way she was, but I can't remember what they were. I say that because I know she loved me and threw me two surprise birthday parties (short time married to her son), baked the cakes herself. And, I know her son's second wife had a hard time with MIL and had to live in my shadow for 20-something years. She often told my daughter how much she cared for me. Anything I wanted, she saw to it. The first time she made creamed peas was because I said I wanted some. I feel so bad that I don't remember the specific Christmas gifts. Problem is it was so long ago that I was married, I guess. I think I fell second only to her own daughter, whom she nearly worshipped. I guess the moral of my story is that my MIL was a warm person, who made an impact on my heart in many ways all year. You are a thoughtful MIL to want to please your daughter-in-law at Christmas, and I admire you for wanting to make sure your gift is a nice one. Maybe begin with the simple things, like if she's a real coffee drinker, get her something exotic or a better coffee maker than she has. There's a gift idea for coffee drinkers on the board. I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure it's a nice idea. Something similar if she's a tea drinker. Or, something she doesn't normally do for herself, like a massage or day at the spa. A nice little getaway. How about a keepsake jewelry box with her name engraved? A cell phone if she doesn't have one, or a better one if she does. Something for her computer. Has she made any complaints of aches & pains? A foot, shoulder, or back massager.
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Thank you both for sharing your stories. It’s obvious that so many have been through this sorrow. Even all these years later, I want to say that I’m sorry for all your losses. I can’t imagine losing a baby at 8 months gestation, or going through multiple miscarriages. What bravery it must have taken for all of you to try again. Yet, your experiences give great hope. My daughter has always talked about adopting a child, wether she could carry one herself or not. My children’s father was adopted, and my daughter always wanted to give a child a good life, who might otherwise not have a loving family. I suspect I’ll be a grandma someday, one way or another. I’ve really been touched by all your support and the sharing of your personal stories. We’re slowly healing emotionally, and she’s healing physically very well. I finally put the picture I received as my “Best Christmas Gift Ever”, away a few days ago. I’m encouraged by your NCLEX experience, SJN. She joked about being cut off at 75 questions, being either a very good sign, or a VERY BAD sign. I’m pretty sure it’s the former. She had nothing but “A’s” through the entire program, and feels good about how the test went. Today she has an interview at the hospital nearest my home. The nursing license should be posted online tomorrow, if all went well. We’re waiting with baited breath, but I’d be shocked if she didn’t pass. (I hope I don’t end up regretting saying that.) Lisa
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A number of years back my mom gave me a used drink pitcher for Christmas. Not a nice pitcher or one with special memories, this had the nasty dishwasher etching and no idea where she got it. . At the same time mom gave my brother’s girlfriend old coffee cups, based on the design they were probably from the 80’s. No clue what was going through my Mom’s mind, she was not having financial or health difficulties. My husband and brother received very generous gift cards to Best Buy and she gave nice nice gifts to all the other family members. It was as if she was upset with us for some reason. Never figured it out.
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I needed one more thing for my 16yr old DGS, who doesn't play football, and after watching videos I knew it would be fun for him and DS1. It arrives deflated so I bought an air pump for balls. Passback Official Composite Football, Ages 14+ Video below
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jannie
14 years ago
Never given an oops gift. I'm very careful when re-gifting. But I received an "Oops' once. When I had my babyshower at work, "Suzanne" gave me a beautiful wrapped baby stroller. As I unwrapped it, out popped a card that said "To Suzanne from Julie". Aparently she had received the stroller as a gift at one of her earlier baby showers and was re-gifting to me. I quietly shoved the tag in my pocket. I didn't need a stroller as my mother in law had already given me one. Without a receipt of any kind, I took it to my local Toys R Us and they gave me a store credit, which I soon used up on diapers.
Jodi_SoCal
14 years ago
About 20 years ago I asked my sister-in-law what to get her husband. She told me the name of this favorite singing artist.

Got to the CD store, went to find the CD and completely blanked on the singer's name. Then I remembered ... the artist went by three names. And boom the name came to me ... Billy Ray Cyrus!

My BIL nearly disowned when he saw Billy Ray in his hands. He hates him!!!

The name I was looking for and the artist that is BIL's favorite was ... Stevie Ray Vaughn. Oops. :-)

Jodi-

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