Weird gifts you've gotten: you can't make this up... (Add yours, just for fun!)

[Amy in NH]

5 hours ago, history-fan said:

Wedding present from my moms BFF. I still don’t know what it is, my mom had no clue and didn’t want to as her BFF. A large clear glass orb with glass loop and fishing line strung through so it’s a decoration to hang- but it is larger than a basketball- between basketball and giant watermelon size. It’s been in a box for 25 years.

Could it be an antique glass fishing float?

[OH_Homeschooler]

5 minutes ago, Ditto said:

When I was a high school senior,  a guy I knew gave me a HUGE painting of my senior picture (you know, the one in the yearbook).  I was horrified!  I have no idea why he did it.  We hadn't dated and were casual friends (he wanted more but I did not).  That giant painting freaked me out so much I made my parents hide it.  

My guess is that he perhaps had to paint something for a class assignment, and he chose you! After all, he did want to be more than just friends. And it probably would have been weirder in a lot of ways if he kept the painting for himself. 

I painted a picture of my nieces for a college painting class assignment from a photo I had of them. Then I thought my sister might like the painting, so I gave it to her. She...did not. (I wasn't great at painting. 🤣)  

[Kareni]

1 hour ago, Melissa in Australia said:

My In laws gave us a framed photo of their house for our wedding present. Along with a verbal message that the photo was expensive. 

Perhaps the deed will arrive as a future gift. Or... any possibility that there is a copy of their will behind the photo?!

Regards,

Kareni

[Shoeless]

When I got married, my step-mother gave me a giant copy of Emily Post's book on etiquette as a shower gift.  As I took it out of the gift bag, step-mother made a statement to the room that since I was to be married, it was time I learned to behave appropriately and with some manners. 

The irony of the moment went flying right over step-mothers fat head. 

[ktgrok]

3 hours ago, BaseballandHockey said:

There have been many Christmases when the dog suddenly needs to go out for a walk (we have a yard) sometime after midnight mass and Santa has come.  I'm sure it was a coincidence that, on those years, my gift was something that could be bought at the 24 hours CVS near my house.  

Same ex husband I mentioned who gave me the free stripper shirt also gave me stuff from the gas station for christmas

[katilac]

 

1 hour ago, Ditto said:

When I was a high school senior,  a guy I knew gave me a HUGE painting of my senior picture (you know, the one in the yearbook).  I was horrified!  I have no idea why he did it.  We hadn't dated and were casual friends (he wanted more but I did not).  That giant painting freaked me out so much I made my parents hide it.  

omigosh, this reminds me of what my sister got my kids for their graduations: you know those photo blankets you can have made? and people do give them for graduation, but sane people fill them with photos that evoke memories for that person? Yeah, my sister had a blanket made for my dd, and every single picture was of my dd 😂

This was not a small blanket, people. She was covered head to toe with . . . herself. It was that woven kind, so it took you a minute to realize what you were seeing, lol. Her college friends thought it was hilarious, and they hung it on the wall of the common room as a tapestry for an entire semester. 

[Robin M]

The latest from my sister -  A garden gnome sitting on the toilet with his pants down, reading his phone.  It's been relegated to the furthest planter in the back yard out of sight. 

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Robin M said:

The latest from my sister -  A garden gnome sitting on the toilet with his pants down, reading his phone.  It's been relegated to the furthest planter in the back yard out of sight. 

In another story featuring inappropriate statuary, many years ago, my aunt gave my grandmother (her mother) a statue that said “World’s Baddest Grandma.” Of course this meant, like, a Bad-Ass; a cool granny or whatever, but my grandmother didn’t get it. She thought she was just being called a terrible grandmother. My aunt kept trying to explain but my grandmother remained put out. Generation gap probs. 

[shawthorne44]

I think the worst is this year.   I worry that DD will be crushed, since she loves this aunt.   The trouble is my aunt puts much thought into gifts, just not the right thoughts.  

Child's lefthanded gold clubs bought at an estate sale.   

Yes, DD is lefthanded.  

I have not been on a golf course ever in my life although 30 years ago I did go to a driving range about 5 times total.   
DH went golfing once about 30 years ago, got a hole-in-one and declared that he was done with golfing.   
We live in the exurbs.   Rural exurbs about 40 minutes away from the nearest golf course, and an expensive one at that.  
We have no interest in golfing.  
DD is 10 and therefore can't go herself.  

-------------------------

Another example of lots of thought leading to a bad gift.   I tell people that I like plants too much to have any.  I kill them.   I remember once an ex-bf bringing home a dying flowering plant from work to get it heathy.   I said (seriously)  Oh Good A Pre-Dead plant so I don't have to deal with the guilt of killing it.  In casual conversation I mentioned to her would be nice to have herb plants growing.  She bought me a dozen books on growing herbs.  Nice books with hardbacks and pretty pictures.  

 

[Melissa in Australia]

2 hours ago, Kareni said:

Perhaps the deed will arrive as a future gift. Or... any possibility that there is a copy of their will behind the photo?!

Regards,

Kareni

No to both 

[Emba]

6 hours ago, teachermom2834 said:

My mom was a talented seamstress and a procrastinator. Christmas morning was frequently boxes of fabric and promises 😂 But just the fabric without the promises would be very strange indeed!

Sometimes  it got made into what was promised but not always. I didn't love that as a gift and I've been careful not to give promises on Christmas morning. One time I remember she gave my uncle a box of corduroy and explained that it was a sportscoat. He just couldn't understand at all. While we were used to opening fabric on Christmas I'm sure that would make his list of strangest gifts. I really am not sure if my mom ever actually made the coat. I don't remember that part. 

My mom did the same thing. I was just remembering some fabric and a pattern she gave me that lo these 20 years later is still just fabric, not an outfit. 😆

 early in my adult life I knit a sweater for my sister and didn’t get the buttons sewn on. I thought she could do it, it would be easy. I think she never wore it, and I learned my lesson. I only give finished gifts now.

[HS Mom in NC]

Not a weird gift for the occasion, for people who do that sort of thing, but the wrong person gave it to me. I managed to avoid the torture of a bridal shower by moving my wedding date up 3 months for various reasons, (not pregnancy) giving everyone only 11 days notice before the big day.  My MIL was bothered that this ridiculous tradition had not been inflicted upon me, so on my wedding day, she gave me a risque black lace lingerie set. No, it's not my MIL's place to give me sex clothes.

[teachermom2834]

7 minutes ago, Homeschool Mom in AZ said:

Not a weird gift for the occasion, for people who do that sort of thing, but the wrong person gave it to me. I managed to avoid the torture of a bridal shower by moving my wedding date up 3 months for various reasons, (not pregnancy) giving everyone only 11 days notice before the big day.  My MIL was bothered that this ridiculous tradition had not been inflicted upon me, so on my wedding day, she gave me a risque black lace lingerie set. No, it's not my MIL's place to give me sex clothes.

I come from a very conservative family. When my cousin got married his 21 yo fiance registered for all kinds of lingere. Right there with the mixing bowls. Now, there are crowds where this would be appropriate and certainly nothing taboo about married sex. But. This was not the crowd. Not the shower being thrown by the in-laws who you have hardly met. It was so funny (to me). I am sure the mother of the groom was pretty uncomfortable. As far as I know those gifts were not purchased by my family.

 

[theelfqueen]

When DH and I first got married, his mom would always buy me these bulky sweaters and turtlenecks. I do not wear such items. In my FOO, adults do not buy other adults clothing as a gift. I became convinced that MiL thought my dress was inappropriately immodest and this was her way of communicating that. A few years later I concluded instead that her Floridian self thought not that I was slutty but that I (Colorado gal) must be COLD. 

I told DH about this he said helpfully that he thinks it was both lol. 

[MercyA]

4 hours ago, Ditto said:

When I was a high school senior,  a guy I knew gave me a HUGE painting of my senior picture (you know, the one in the yearbook).  I was horrified!  I have no idea why he did it.  We hadn't dated and were casual friends (he wanted more but I did not).  That giant painting freaked me out so much I made my parents hide it.  

I just read about Weird Al doing something similar when he was 12. 🙂 Fun story, here it is:

https://www.facebook.com/70358446004/posts/i-was-12-years-old-in-the-9th-grade-younger-than-my-classmates-and-as-you-may-po/10158652817531005/

I guess nothing says unrequited love like a portrait. 🙂 

Edited December 24, 2020 by MercyA

[Farrar]

Dh gave me a full size skeeball machine one year. It lived in the basement for ages. It was a blast. Then we sold it when the kids were little because of space issues.

[theelfqueen]

2 minutes ago, Farrar said:

Dh gave me a full size skeeball machine one year. It lived in the basement for ages. It was a blast. Then we sold it when the kids were little because of space issues.

Dude. Nobody loves me enough to give me a skeeball!!

[Farrar]

4 minutes ago, theelfqueen said:

Dude. Nobody loves me enough to give me a skeeball!!

It was totally a weird gift, but also totally awesome. Sometimes I miss having it.

[busymama7]

2 hours ago, teachermom2834 said:

I come from a very conservative family. When my cousin got married his 21 yo fiance registered for all kinds of lingere. Right there with the mixing bowls. Now, there are crowds where this would be appropriate and certainly nothing taboo about married sex. But. This was not the crowd. Not the shower being thrown by the in-laws who you have hardly met. It was so funny (to me). I am sure the mother of the groom was pretty uncomfortable. As far as I know those gifts were not purchased by my family.

 

I hate that tradition honestly. My husband's sister gave us a basket with items for each of us and when I avoided pulling it out in front of everyone, she did.  It wasn't at s shower but my other sister in law was there are only 13.  I just think private things are private and don't need to be shared with the IN LAWS especially. Really, no one needs to buy or put on display sexy lingerie belonging to another couple. I find it totally tacky.  Ugh I avoid bridal showers almost completely, going only when I really must and then I'm embarrassed and annoyed that people think this is acceptable behavior.  Yeah, sorry no offense if you like this kind of thing but I obviously just do not. 

[MercyA]

1 hour ago, Farrar said:

Dh gave me a full size skeeball machine one year. It lived in the basement for ages. It was a blast. Then we sold it when the kids were little because of space issues.

SO JEALOUS. I love Skeeball!!! Your DH did good! 

My dream present would be an indoor roller skating rink, complete with lights and a disco ball--and a Skeeball machine. 🙂

[Splash1]

My mother bought my 10 yr old daughter a playboy bunny necklace.  She just thought it was a cute bunny.

 

[TheReader]

add me to the "lingerie from MIL" list.....this was not all that long ago, all our kids were already born, it was during our time in Brazil (so, youngest was probably 6 or so...?) and for Christmas she gave me two "nightgowns" that definitely fell in the slinky/sexy category. Not quite full-on slutty, but not appropriate to wear in front of my boys, either. And I don't have one of those faces that can hide things, so I definitely seemed very confused, and she laughed and said "now maybe y'all can work on having another baby!"  (ummm, ha, but no....dh had already been snipped.....). Very weird. DH made some comment that diffused things, and we just chuckled and moved on (this was at the family Christmas party, wherein we all take turns opening our gifts, one at a time, in front of everyone.....).

Other than that, the weirdest are usually from my current stepmom; she is another of those "puts lots of thought, but lands in the wrong place" gift givers. so, she knows I quilt, and all good quilters need a good iron for pressing blocks, fabric, etc......only, I am relatively lax about that, and have several irons already, and so the year that she gifted me the fancy expensive iron I exchanged it for some Fiestaware I wanted. 

Oh, and then she gave me a pasta making attachment for a KitchenAid mixer, because she knew how much we loved our Italy trip and had been making Italian food and such. Which is awesome. Except that I do not own a KitchenAid, and don't do the kind of cooking that would warrant owning one/giving up counter space for one. It came from Amazon and I couldn't figure out how to return it/exchange it, but ended up trading with a friend for a manual one instead (stepmom was a little annoyed when she found out, but......). 

[HS Mom in NC]

9 hours ago, busymama7 said:

I hate that tradition honestly. My husband's sister gave us a basket with items for each of us and when I avoided pulling it out in front of everyone, she did.  It wasn't at s shower but my other sister in law was there are only 13.  I just think private things are private and don't need to be shared with the IN LAWS especially. Really, no one needs to buy or put on display sexy lingerie belonging to another couple. I find it totally tacky.  Ugh I avoid bridal showers almost completely, going only when I really must and then I'm embarrassed and annoyed that people think this is acceptable behavior.  Yeah, sorry no offense if you like this kind of thing but I obviously just do not. 

If I did the bridal shower thing I wouldn't be the type to enjoy a lingerie/couples toys themed one.  But I hate everything about every kind of bridal shower and typical baby shower.

[Martha in GA]

22 hours ago, Garga said:

Oddly enough, I still have it stuffed in the back of a closet. (I’m turning 48 in a few days) I’ve never once taken it to work or anywhere else.

Maybe you can use it in another 20 or 30 years?

[Spryte]

Oooh!  I have one!  I gave it.  🤣

 

My mother loves salt.  Loves, loves, loves salt.

 

So one year DH and I went to the farm store ... and we gave her her very own salt lick.  I have never seen anyone laugh so hard.  She saved that thing for a good 15 years ...

Edited December 24, 2020 by Spryte
Phone typing typos

[happi duck]

15 hours ago, Robin M said:

The latest from my sister -  A garden gnome sitting on the toilet with his pants down, reading his phone.  It's been relegated to the furthest planter in the back yard out of sight. 

Build a little outhouse for this gnome!

[Emba]

11 hours ago, Margaret in CO said:

The worst ones here were both from mil. One year I got a dirty, chipped coffee mug. She hadn't even rinsed it out! And that's the year she gave dd a cardboard box. She explained that she had to save money to have presents for her "real" grandchildren! Did I mention she lived next door?

We need a reaction face for sheer outrage! The sad emoji just doesn’t do this justice.

[Emba]

11 hours ago, busymama7 said:

I hate that tradition honestly. My husband's sister gave us a basket with items for each of us and when I avoided pulling it out in front of everyone, she did.  It wasn't at s shower but my other sister in law was there are only 13.  I just think private things are private and don't need to be shared with the IN LAWS especially. Really, no one needs to buy or put on display sexy lingerie belonging to another couple. I find it totally tacky.  Ugh I avoid bridal showers almost completely, going only when I really must and then I'm embarrassed and annoyed that people think this is acceptable behavior.  Yeah, sorry no offense if you like this kind of thing but I obviously just do not. 

That is not done much around here. It does happen occasionally, but certainly not every bridal shower. My sister did give me some lingerie, but it was after the shower, in private (whichi greatly appreciated). And I was there with the other brides maids when her SIL gave her some race things on her wedding day, but again, it was fairly private, just the brides maid, who she was close to.

[Emba]

10 hours ago, MercyA said:

SO JEALOUS. I love Skeeball!!! Your DH did good! 

My dream present would be an indoor roller skating rink, complete with lights and a disco ball--and a Skeeball machine. 🙂

Actually, that would be mine to, except with a full size air hockey instead of skeeball.

[alisoncooks]

29 minutes ago, Spryte said:

Oooh!  I have one!  I gave it.  🤣

 

My mother loves salt.  Loves, loves, loves salt.

 

So one year DH and I went to the farm store ... and we have her her very own salt lick.  I have never seen anyone laugh so hard.  She saved that thing for a good 15 years ...

Ha! I told oldest DD that I was giving her a salt lick for Christmas (because she's a salt addict). We ended up giving her two shakers of Bojangles seasoning. 😄

[MercyA]

31 minutes ago, happi duck said:

Build a little outhouse for this gnome!

@happi duck, you are a genius.

[teachermom2834]

Well if this is morphing into a MIL thread then I am back in 🙂

When my now 22 yo ds was maybe 5 yos my MIL came to visit and brought a Boyd’s Bear teddy bear for him. As a 5yo boy who was rough and tumble and just wanted to play ball he was polite but not over the moon about the gift. She proceeded to take it back and say if he didn’t appreciate she would just keep it. She took it home with her and never gave another gift to my family. 
 

In fairness she does send small checks most years for me to shop for the kids for her. But they arrive on the 24th and then she wants a report on Christmas morning from the dc on what she gave them. Haha. Like I am shopping on Christmas Eve just so I can wrap up a gift under the tree from her. Cash...that is what they report she gave them 😂

[Halftime Hope]

On 12/23/2020 at 12:17 AM, wathe said:

I have a kid who got a watch from a granny that was obviously a promo freebie.  Branded Viagra.  With a slogan on it that seemed innocent literally but clearly had a double meaning in context.  I can't remember what exactly, but something like "savor the moments".  Kid was about 5.  I don't think granny quite realized.

The watch was a very fetching shade of blue though.

Oh, Lordie....leaving aside the giving it to a kid part, that's just wrong. I mean who would ever actually wear that?  Use it?!?

[Halftime Hope]

23 hours ago, ieta_cassiopeia said:

The worst gift I've ever been given is not one I want to discuss, but the worst gift I've ever given was when I was looking for a souvenir for my parents of a holiday to France and thought I'd found a pair of great blue salad bowls for Mum. When I got home, she took one look at them and said, "Ieta, these are giant colanders". I'm not sure they got much use...

Well, you tried, right? ❤️ 

[Halftime Hope]

17 hours ago, Robin M said:

The latest from my sister -  A garden gnome sitting on the toilet with his pants down, reading his phone.  It's been relegated to the furthest planter in the back yard out of sight. 

Goodness, you're nicer than I am.  I would have made sure the gnome had an accident.

[gardenmom5]

On 12/22/2020 at 10:05 PM, rebcoola said:

I used to get underwear every year from my grandmother's dog.  No idea why. 

 

Did your grandmother have a dog?  Did you have a dog?  did any dog in either her life or your life delight in chewing up underwear?  (or even more personal items they find in the trash . . . . . . )

[gardenmom5]

2 hours ago, Spryte said:

Oooh!  I have one!  I gave it.  🤣

 

My mother loves salt.  Loves, loves, loves salt.

 

So one year DH and I went to the farm store ... and we gave her her very own salt lick.  I have never seen anyone laugh so hard.  She saved that thing for a good 15 years ...

Does she have an adrenal problem?   one of the symptoms is craving salt.

[Kareni]

38 minutes ago, Halftime Hope said:

Goodness, you're nicer than I am.  I would have made sure the gnome had an accident.

We received a wedding gift that we really did not care for; it's possible that it ... uh ... fell of a shelf (along with several items that we did like) in the Loma Prieta earthquake.

@Robin M, you're in earthquake country....

Regards,

Kareni

[rebcoola]

34 minutes ago, gardenmom5 said:

Did your grandmother have a dog?  Did you have a dog?  did any dog in either her life or your life delight in chewing up underwear?  (or even more personal items they find in the trash . . . . . . )

We both had dogs neither dog ever destroyed underwear to my knowledge.  My siblings and cousins didn't receive anything from dog.  Though I was the only grandchild who saw her in person at Christmas.

 

My MIL never game me lingerie but she does give me her hand me down romance novels.  Real bodice rippers.

[Annie G]

From my sister, yesterday.  yup, she went out and searched for three sizes of toilet paper rolls to make these.  As if we all need a reminder of how 2020 has been...

[katilac]

16 minutes ago, Annie G said:

From my sister, yesterday.  yup, she went out and searched for three sizes of toilet paper rolls to make these.  As if we all need a reminder of how 2020 has been...

I like it! Cute yet practical 😄

[Spryte]

1 hour ago, gardenmom5 said:

Does she have an adrenal problem?   one of the symptoms is craving salt.

Ah, thanks! But she’s good.  I insisted she get tested because I have Addison’s Disease and it’s a symptom.  But she’s all good.  It’s just her.  😊

[Robin M]

3 hours ago, happi duck said:

Build a little outhouse for this gnome!

That's actually not a bad idea! 😉

1 hour ago, Kareni said:

 

@Robin M you're in earthquake country....

True.  But it's unfortunately safe outside unless the fence or a tree falls on it.  Hubby's hoping a squirrel or possum will will steal it in the middle of the night. 

[HS Mom in NC]

3 hours ago, Emba said:

That is not done much around here. It does happen occasionally, but certainly not every bridal shower. My sister did give me some lingerie, but it was after the shower, in private (whichi greatly appreciated). And I was there with the other brides maids when her SIL gave her some race things on her wedding day, but again, it was fairly private, just the brides maid, who she was close to.

My MIL gave mine to me in front of the 7 year old flower girl.  And I had no idea what it was going to be when I opened it. Flowergirl said, "Are you going to wear that at the hotel?" Somewhere in her life she had heard some reference to lingerie and hotels.  10 minutes later the music cued and we were walking down the aisle.

I got rid of it later.  My husband doesn't need sex and his mom in the same part of his brain.

[Shoeless]

5 hours ago, Homeschool Mom in AZ said:

If I did the bridal shower thing I wouldn't be the type to enjoy a lingerie/couples toys themed one.  But I hate everything about every kind of bridal shower and typical baby shower.

Wait, is this a thing? People host showers where the guests buy them...implements for brewing tEa?! 

"Thanks, Aunt Lucy! We'll think of you every time we..."

[HS Mom in NC]

14 minutes ago, MissLemon said:

Wait, is this a thing? People host showers where the guests buy them...implements for brewing tEa?! 

"Thanks, Aunt Lucy! We'll think of you every time we..."

The ones I've heard about are usually for the bride's friends, coworkers,  sisters and cousins in her same generation. 

Edited December 24, 2020 by Homeschool Mom in AZ

[Shoeless]

Just now, Homeschool Mom in AZ said:

The ones I've heard about are usually for the bride's friends, coworkers,  and cousins in her same generation. 

Coworkers! Oh, yikes!  No way do I ever want my coworkers to contemplate how I might like my tEa, lol.

[Pippen]

1 hour ago, katilac said:

I like it! Cute yet practical 😄

Nothing to store!

[HS Mom in NC]

2 minutes ago, MissLemon said:

Coworkers! Oh, yikes!  No way do I ever want my coworkers to contemplate how I might like my tEa, lol.

It probably depends on the coworker.  I'm not suggesting all the coworkers at the bride's place of employment, but plenty of young adults make friends with coworkers and socialize with them going to bars and such to meet other single people and other social activites outside work, so that kind of coworker would be on the guest list.

[Guest]

I thought of this thread today as I was wrapping gifts because I made up stockings for my future son-in-law and ds’s gf. One thing everybody got was a bottle of Poo-pourie. (You know; spray it in the toilet before you do your business there and you cannot smell poo.) I think it supremely wonderful, especially for YAs who generally live in close quarters with just one bathroom. But it did go through my mind wondering if the bf and gf will be like, “Geez...poo-pourie from my future MIL?”