Relationships between mothers and daughters-in-law can sometimes be tricky, but when a mother-in-law doesn’t seem to pay attention to her daughter-in-law’s likes or needs, the tension can escalate.
Many women have shared their worst gift experiences from their mothers-in-law on the Ask Women platform on Reddit, revealing a series of bizarre and unwelcome presents. The stories ranged from inappropriate items to thoughtful but misguided gestures, each one more surprising than the last.
10. The Sports Fan Bikini
One woman recalled her first birthday celebration with her now-husband’s family, which turned into an uncomfortable moment when her mother-in-law handed her a bikini adorned with a sports team’s logo. The issue wasn’t just that the woman didn’t like the team — it was that her mother-in-law had bought the bikini based on the fact that her husband’s ex-wife was a fan of the same team. This gift was an odd and clearly thoughtless reminder of the past, which added unnecessary tension to the moment.
9. Aesthetic Tissue Box
Not every odd gift came from a mother-in-law. One woman shared a story about her aunt-in-law’s in-laws, who gifted her an empty Kleenex box because they thought it looked aesthetically pleasing. While the woman appreciated the gesture, she was left baffled by how this could be considered a gift. It’s a reminder that some people simply don’t understand what makes a thoughtful present.
8. The Scale That Meant More Than Weight
One of the more disturbing gifts came from a woman’s mother-in-law, who presented her with a scale during Christmas. The woman admitted that it took a while to get over the impact of the gift. While some gifts are neutral, this one was not only impersonal but also left the woman feeling self-conscious about her appearance. A scale, as a present, could easily be misinterpreted as a subtle comment on someone’s weight, making this a particularly awkward and hurtful choice.
7. The Tanning Salon Gift Card
A woman shared an experience that took an unfortunate twist when she received a $100 gift card to a tanning salon from her mother-in-law, despite having shared her melanoma diagnosis with her family. It was a shocking and insensitive gift that could potentially worsen her condition. This gift showed a complete disregard for her health and a lack of empathy, underscoring how thoughtless presents can cause real harm.
6. Clothes That Don’t Fit
Many women have received clothing from their mothers-in-law that didn’t suit their style, but one woman took it a step further. Her mother-in-law repeatedly bought her clothes that were too small, believing they would motivate her to lose weight. The woman humorously reflected, “Yeah, good luck with that.” This gift was a classic example of how misguided well-meaning intentions can be, especially when they place unnecessary pressure on someone’s body image.
5. Static Slippers
One woman received a pair of matching slippers from her mother-in-law, who also bought them for her sister-in-law. While the idea of matching slippers didn’t bother her, she couldn’t understand the strange design. The slippers were ankle-length, leopard print, and glowed in the dark from static electricity. It was a quirky and impractical gift that left the women wondering what had gone through the mother-in-law’s mind when selecting them.
4. The Diaper Bag Disaster
A woman shared a story from when she was unmarried and had no children. Despite this, her soon-to-be mother-in-law gifted her a designer diaper bag. The woman was not pregnant, nor did she have any intention of having children at that time. She couldn’t help but wonder if her mother-in-law had mistakenly bought it, confusing it with something else. Regardless, the gift felt completely out of place, especially since she had never expressed any interest in having children.
3. Angel Statues Galore
One religious woman shared that her first husband’s mother believed she would enjoy filling her home with angel statues. Every holiday, the mother-in-law would gift her one, with each statue growing bigger and more elaborate than the last. The final gift was a massive angel statue with hinged wings that spanned as wide as her arm. While the statues may have been meaningful to the giver, they were not something the woman desired, turning the gesture into a reminder of her mother-in-law’s misguided attempts to connect.
2. Piercing the Comfort Zone
One woman received a pair of earrings from her mother-in-law for Christmas, but there was one problem: she didn’t have her ears pierced. She felt too awkward to tell them, and now the earrings sit in a drawer, unused. What made it worse was that her partner knew her ears weren’t pierced and had been aware of his mother’s gift plan but said nothing. The lack of communication around this simple gift led to unnecessary discomfort for the woman.
1. Wedding Shower Woes
The worst gift story, however, might just be the cracked Pyrex pie plate. A woman’s soon-to-be mother-in-law gave her this damaged dish as a wedding shower gift, proudly boasting that she had purchased it for only a dollar at an auction. The crack in the bottom was impossible to ignore, making this gift feel not only cheap but also careless. It was a striking example of how a gift, no matter its cost, can feel disrespectful if not thoughtfully chosen.
The Takeaway
These stories highlight just how significant thoughtfulness is when it comes to giving gifts. A present should show that the giver understands and appreciates the recipient’s tastes, needs, and feelings. While these gifts may be funny in hindsight, they can also serve as reminders of the complexities that come with family relationships, particularly when the giver fails to consider the recipient’s preferences. The best gifts are the ones that come from a place of genuine understanding, not assumptions or thoughtlessness.
