AITA for not wanting to take home what my MIL got my son for Christmas?
Picture this: you’re a 33‑year‑old mom who’s just finished a perfectly decent “I’m not a toy‑addict” rant on Reddit. Your mother‑in‑law (MIL) has a history of over‑stepping, so you decide to set a firm boundary: “No new toys, please. Just experiences for our 18‑month‑old—maybe an aquarium membership or a day at Legoland.” Because, let’s face it, your baby can’t yet pronounce “present” or even “toy.”
You send the MIL a carefully curated Amazon wishlist. It’s a modest list: Yoto cards, toddler headphones, a couple of sports shirts, a tiny water table for the balcony, and a few books. No car, no iPad, no play kitchen—nothing that will take up more than a few inches of space in your already cramped apartment.
The next morning, your husband asks, “What’s the MIL planning to get the baby?” The MIL texts him back with a smug “I might be on the naughty list now” and a video. In it, she proudly shows off a massive pile of gifts: a miniature car, a keyboard, a play kitchen, an Amazon iPad, and a stack of books that would make a small library blush. She’s also bought a whole set of things that fit perfectly in a storage unit, not your living room.
You calmly tell your husband that the MIL can keep those things at her place if she wants, but you’re not taking them home. The MIL’s reaction? She feels like a toddler who just got a brand‑new toy set and didn’t care about the “rules.” You’re left wondering if you’ve just become a “no‑toy” extremist or if the MIL is just being a classic over‑enthusiastic grandparent.
The question on the forum: AITA for not wanting to take home what my MIL got my son for Christmas? The comments? A mix of “take the tablet to avoid screen time” and “put the money into a college fund” and “maybe your MIL thinks she’s giving a gift, but she’s actually giving a toddler a tiny car and a tablet.” Spoiler: the comments are as hilarious as they are heartfelt.
Comments (in the spirit of a meme‑filled comment wall)
Take the kiddie Kindle/iPad. That way you can keep your child off it.
Someone pointed this out and I think it’s a great idea. My husband caught my MIL earlier this month showing my son YouTube videos on her phone. We were pissed. So we are taking the iPad to avoid him using it.
I hate to bash on parenting styles because you never know what someone is struggling with but I hate the effects of “iPad kid” culture.
One of my nephews is a typical iPad kid. He’s nine and I’ve seen him literally hit his mother with balled fists on her legs because his tablet was charging and he couldn’t use her phone.
He’s significantly behind in school both academically and socially.
70‑year‑old Meemaw here. I have 5 grandkids, ages 3‑7. Your MIL is being very disrespectful. Instead of buying all those toys, she could’ve put money into an account for your child's future education. My grands get so many toys from the other grands that I give them 1 little toy and a check for their future college fund. The kids barely play with the toys before one is thrown down and another picked up for 5 minutes. You need to set boundaries based on what you had requested. Tell her she needs to keep the crap she bought at her house or return it and put it towards your child's future. If you keep it, she'll continue this behavior.
Same here. Started the savings account at birth. Very inexpensive gifts at Christmas and birthdays, plus a bit of clothing here and there.
Their house is small and already cluttered. As all kids do, she already has too much, and they never play with toys for long.
The savings account is the responsible thing to do.
We also pay for preschool, because we can afford it and want her to be able to go. Especially important as an only child.
TL;DR: MIL thinks she’s the Santa of the family, but she actually delivered a toddler’s personal garage, a mini‑play kitchen, and a tablet that probably will be used as a doorstop. Parents politely refuse to bring the chaos home, and the internet suggests a savings account over a new car. The moral? Set boundaries before the toy‑storm hits your living room.