So. I'm about half into with my dad about a toddler chair that they got Maddie for Christmas. The problem is that we got her one too. I like ours better, and now we're at a stalemate as to what to do with theirs. It's actually getting ugly; I got a very mocking, condescending email from my dad about it. And ya know what? That's not the Christmas spirit. Nor is what I want to do and reply with FUCK YOU BOTH, FUCK CHRISTMAS, AND DON'T EVER SEND US ANY GODDAMN GIFTS EVER AGAIN. So what is the proper response here? Do I just keep the chair and scrap what I actually wanted my own child to have? Do I donate it? Do I send it back (I already talked to the company and have a shipping label in my email ready to be printed off)? Dad says if I send it back, it will be WW3. Hmm. Really? It's a duplicate gift that I have to keep to make the gift giver happy? And at the same time throw away $130. Yes, it cost that much. Hmm HMM. HMMMMMMM.
It must be me, right? I keep having issues with family, so it must be me. If you know me, you know that I am crazy. BUT. Then you'll also know that my family is way more fucking batshit than I'll ever be. After getting that asshole email from my father, I really want to go ahead and send the chair back just to stick it to him. He lives with her, not me. More than that, though, it's the rational thing to do. We have this chair. We don't need it. Let's send it back and use the money for something else for Maddie. Because isn't that who this is for? For Maddie, right? No?
Christmas brings out the best in every one, huh? Fucking hell.
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I'll be honest: The solution here is to lie. Here's the deal: This happens often between my family and Helena's family and us. One of "them" will buy Jackson something, we, being enlightened children of the internet, have already either purchased said item, an item of similar function, or come up with a view based on articles/reviews of said product and don't want/need it. Here's the key (and I promise you, I've stressed far more than you over this exact situation): say, "You are right, it's perfect, thank you so much!" Tell them how much you love it, take a picture or two of your child using it, and MOVE ON WITH YOUR DAMN LIFE THE WAY YOU WANT.
Case in point: My parents thought Jackson needed a pair of boots. Giant lace-up monster boots. 4 years ago, I would have told them that he wouldn't wear them, that dealing with laces right now would drive us crazy, and that they weren't good for his feet right now. It would have been a whole argument that made both of us feel shitty. Instead, I thanked my parents so much, told them they were awesome, and talked about how much Jackson loved them.
Jackson has only worn those boots once, for 15 minutes. My parents, however, feel like they did good (which is all any grandparent wants), I avoided an argument, and Jackson got to do whatever the hell he wanted.
In summary: Tell them you read up on the one being given as a gift and you actually like it much more based on the reviews. Tell your dad he was right (dads love this), and take a series of pictures of Maddie using it (change her outfits so it looks like different days). You will get to use the product you want, your dad will feel like he provided AND got to be right, and the argument will be settled.
Lies. Solve. Stress.
Ugh, December brings out the crazy in families. As much as I love Christmas, I'm over it.
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