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AIBU

Serious Discord Over a Gift

(61 Posts)
willa45 Mon 28-May-18 19:46:53

Awhile back I wrote about my husband's illness and about a condition called Afib. He wasn't getting better so we got a 2nd opinion and long story short, it wasn't the Afib that was making him so sick...his aortic valve was almost blocked. Last week he underwent a valve replacement that was done successfully and he has made a remarkable recovery after a long, desperate journey that lasted almost six months (but that's another story and another thread).

My issue today (apologies for length) is that some three months ago we decided to shop for a recliner chair, because at the time H couldn't sleep at all, no matter where we put him.

I finally found one in a reasonable price range and my daughter asked me to send her the link saying we had enough expenses to deal with and she would be happy to pay for it as a gift for her Dad. I sent her the link but didn't hear anything else about it. A few weeks later, (probably around March?) I asked her if she got my email and what happened with the chair. She said we needed to talk because she didn't like the idea of buying furniture on line.

In the meantime my husband was getting worse and we were spending a lot of time in hospital, doctors visits, Emergency rooms etc. No more discussion about the chair nor did I give it any further thought because by the end of April we were beyond that and my husband was fighting for his life.

By May 15th he was so sick, my daughter got us an appointment with a specialist in New York City. He was admitted the same day and last Monday, he got a new heart valve via femoral catherization which is considered minimally invasive. It's like a miracle! He was released two days later and just this weekend was already driving the car! Yesterday we went to the food market and he is like a new man.

Back to chair issue. We decided to stay at my daughter's until Friday because she lives close to the city. On Thursday morning she confronted me about the chair accusing me of not following through with it. She said the chair was important because he was going to need it more than ever. I reminded her that we had already picked a chair we both liked and that I had sent her the link but didn't hear back from her. She told me flat out that the chair I had picked looked good on line but that it was probably uncomfortable and cheap. She then offered to take us to a local dealer and once again reminded us that she would be happy to pay for it. Son in Law suggested she just give us the credit card and allow us pick it out.

She insisted on going anyway, accusing me of worrying more about how the chair looked in my living room over her dad's comfort and well being. I countered with the fact that a recliner could fulfill both conditions (looks and comfort).

At the store she found fault with every chair I looked at. She finally took over and picked out an enormous pink/beige fuzzy monstrosity. When I flat out said I didn't like it, she snapped at me in front of the salesperson saying it was her gift for Dad and that his comfort and well being were more important to her (as if I didn't love him too). My husband of course was delighted with the chair, because he is aesthetically challenged. The chair is powered and has a lot of buttons. It also cost twice as much as the one we had originally chosen. What's not to like?

My H even denied he ever agreed to the original (cheaper chair) we had picked ...the one we could afford. He accused me of being ungrateful and says that I've started a ruckus. I later asked my H...."If the car needed a paint job and she offered to pay for it, would you be ungrateful if she chose an ugly shade of purple and you told her you didn't like it? ....and since it's my car too, what if I gave her permission to go ahead with it anyway even though you didn't like the color? Would you be happy about that?" He didn't have anything to say except "...it's a gift for me...and what does that have to do with anything?"

Daughter in the meantime told one of her siblings that she had to step in because I probably never had any intention of buying a recliner anyway because I think they're unsightly. She also told me BTW, that the chair is both a Father's Day and a Mother's day gift.

AIBU to feel as though I have been disrespected, railroaded and treated unfairly? Our daughter was instrumental in finding a specialist and getting her dad seen so quickly...otherwise, he could have died. I'm thankful beyond words for that and I love her dearly. But this chair thing although seemingly trivial has hurt me deeply. I am so angry over this, I can't seem to get over it.

Chair is being delivered Thursday. Of course I have thought about sending it back, but that would cause WW III and no one would forgive me for doing that. I've no choice but to live with it. I am willing to move my vanity into the guest room so we can put the chair in a corner of our bedroom. H however just announced he would like to put it in our family room (%%###!!!) and daughter and I aren't speaking!

Please help!

FlorenceN Tue 05-Jun-18 21:10:51

I'm with OP. I have to say, it reminded of the dads chair in 'Frasier...'

willa45 Fri 01-Jun-18 00:06:20

Chair arrived today.

H and I had it placed in a corner of our bedroom as we had agreed. H is still not sleeping 100%. He will likely have some sleepless nights and the chair will be close by, just in case.

What really upset me from all of this was my D's behavior towards me and the fact that my H unwittingly enabled her. Right now, I'm a lot calmer and things are gradually winding down.

My Gransnet post. I really appreciated those of you who supported me. Many of you responded with understanding and kindness and offered constructive suggestions to help me cope. Thanks to you, I am gradually feeling much better. Sometimes we just need our feelings to be validated and it shouldn't matter whether there's any right or wrong.

Lastly, I don't like to see anyone get into a heated debate over this. We are all here to help one another.

Belgravian Fri 01-Jun-18 00:05:30

It sounds like the chair is going to be redundant now as the husband doesn't need it.

Maybe it be adapted so the husband can enjoy it now he is up and at 'em!

youtube.com/watch?v=m_Zf9qM37Tg

Grammaretto Thu 31-May-18 23:29:04

I can relate to this situation. When DH was sick, DD behaved in a bazaar way . I suppose she was desperately worried about her dad but being callous and unfeeling towards you who was also suffering is unkind.
I'm sure you'll be able to make up and be friends again but whether you'll ever get used to sharing your house with a great ugly chair, I don't know. I would hate it.

FarNorth Thu 31-May-18 23:14:42

Everyone's been totally stressed out and maybe not acting logically.
Maybe Willa has realised that now.

MawBroon Thu 31-May-18 23:08:58

The problem is DD ignored her mother’s wishes totally and bull dozed in with what SHE thought dad should have.. regardless. Dad didn’t want any fuss so told wife it was lovely and now he’s had time to reflect possibly agrees with wife but doesn’t want to offend daughter
We are second guessing the OH’s thoughts of course. If it’s in the bedroom it hardly matters whether it suits the decor.
#storminateacup

Bluegal Thu 31-May-18 22:55:43

Doodle you have missed the point. It’s not where the chair is but OP’s DD completely ignoring her mother’s feelings

Doodle Thu 31-May-18 22:42:28

willa posted H however just announced he would like to put it in the family room
he needs the chair to sleep in not to watch the television
Bluegal there is no need to shout READ properly at me (I might be dyslexic but I am neither deaf nor stupid). Unlike some, I always read the full thread before I post. I believe my question to willa is valid. If the chair is/was to sleep in why would her DH want it in the family room and not the bedroom.

Bluegal Thu 31-May-18 22:16:27

I see it totally different Eglantine I see a woman who wanted to buy her DH a chair to assist his “sleeping” who’s DD said “let me buy it Mum”. Then things got shelved because of husband being hospitalised and then his subsequent treatment which thankfully was successful. THEN daughter decided to buy a chair for her dad and didn’t take any account of either wishes. Husband was not caring too hoots what the chair was but was grateful for DD for buying it! Told wife he loved it. Whether he did or not.

Chair is an eyesore. Doesn’t fit in with anything and is actually not even needed so much anymore (Willa can correct me if am wrong)

The problem is DD ignored her mother’s wishes totally and bull dozed in with what SHE thought dad should have.. regardless. Dad didn’t want any fuss so told wife it was lovely and now he’s had time to reflect possibly agrees with wife but doesn’t want to offend daughter

I would never want a piece of furniture in my lounge i hadn’t had a say in tbh and I don’t think many others would. YES if is necessary but from what Willa said she is thinking if her DH all the time. I don’t think she is selfish one little bit.

Eglantine21 Thu 31-May-18 21:58:46

You’re right Bluegal, I’m being snide and that’s not helpful. So let me give my honest opinion based on what the OP has written.

It seems to me that having her own way is the most important thing in the OPs life and that she is prepared to quarrel with the daughter who saved her fathers life and browbeat her sick husband into agreeing with her.

I stand by my observation of her post that her husband liked the chair and wanted it in the family room in their home. But what he wants counts for nothing.

The OP posted under AIBU. In my opinion yes, massively, incomprehensibly. I am never going to understand such a fuss about a chair when the miracle is she can look over and see her husband sitting in it....

Belgravian Thu 31-May-18 21:53:02

youtube.com/watch?v=L0MK7qz13bU

MawBroon Thu 31-May-18 21:38:30

. H however just announced he would like to put it in our family room (%%###!!!) and daughter and I aren't speaking

Surely where the chair was to go was very much part of the problem confused !

FarNorth Thu 31-May-18 21:15:30

You have all been stressed out by your DH's illness and I think the squabble about the chair is a result of that.

As a previous poster said :
"Back track quickly. Tell her the chair is great, that you have been so worried about your DH that you’ve not been yourself, and ask for a hug."

Bluegal Thu 31-May-18 21:07:08

Oh and doodle. READ properly. This has nothing to do with where the chair is!!!

Bluegal Thu 31-May-18 21:00:27

Eglantine- comments that are neither helpful or necessary.

Willa ignore it. So long as you have sorted your problem in a way it suits you all that’s all you need. I must admit I don’t understand what Eglantine is getting at either! She sounds like only if you are in America there will be a tv in the bedroom ?. I know this isn’t the issue but really? I don’t know anyone in UK who doesn’t have a tv in the bedroom anyway.

Hope you don’t feel we are all so backward him ??

Doodle Thu 31-May-18 14:37:55

If the chair was only for your DH to sleep in why did he originally want it in your family room instead of the bedroom?

As others have said, I think avoiding any falling out with your DH and DD would be the best thing to do.

Eglantine21 Thu 31-May-18 14:19:56

Well like I say, as long the arrangements suit you......

willa45 Thu 31-May-18 14:14:52

Eglantine,
You should read posts more carefully before you comment.
- He needed the chair to sleep in, not for watching
television. -
- It was a medical necessity...there was never any mention of a particular proclivity towards watching TV

.....and if you must know, he's not a fan of watching television. He sometimes watches movies in our home theater because in America many people, have them now and they're located far, far away from the bedroom......and BTW our family room chairs are very nice and very comfortable too. You presume a lot don't you?

Eglantine21 Thu 31-May-18 08:55:55

I’m a bit puzzled. So he’s going to have to go and sit in the bedroom if he wants to sit in a comfortable chair? Is there a television in there? I guess there will be if you’re in America.
So he will be on his own in the bedroom and you will be on your own in the sitting room?

Ah well, whatever suits you........

Allegretto Thu 31-May-18 08:30:35

Contact the shop. See if you can change the order so that it is the same design of chair, but with upholstery of your choice.

Besstwishes Thu 31-May-18 07:56:18

Well, if you want to hurt your daughters feelings again, that’s certainly the way to go.

Belgravian Wed 30-May-18 22:28:32

willa45, it sounds as if you're all moving on from the episode.

It's amazing how your husband has been treated and his recovery has been so great.

We can take our health for granted sometimes so I hope you both have some great times making up for when he was ill.

willa45 Wed 30-May-18 22:14:52

My H finally seems to get why I feel the way I do, which has calmed me down somewhat. As a compromise, he agreed to put the chair in a corner of our bedroom, so no one else will see it (I do have to move my vanity dresser into the guest room to make way).

Today we went into the city for his follow up visit and he's doing splendidly.

On a separate note, our daughter picked us up from the train station and we are on speaking terms once again, albeit things were strained.

Only time can heal all wounds, I guess.

.....and many thanks to those of you who understood the reasons for my wrath. Re: chair......I get that I have no choice but to 'eat it', but it helps to know IWNBU!

As soon as H makes a full recovery, he probably won't even need the chair. I'm thinking to donate it to some charity and save the receipt. With the tax write off, I could even buy myself a nice 'Mother's Day' gift.
(I can be such an awful person...I know! grin)

Falmer Wed 30-May-18 09:39:36

It's not too late to cancel delivery, it's tomorrow. That's what I'd do anyway.

Teetime Wed 30-May-18 09:16:55

Willa45 I can understand your distress about this - my mother would have cleaned the floor with me if I had behaved like this.
We had a similar situation with MIL when she was alive- we wanted to help to go an choose the chair she needed but my BIL insisted he knew best (as usual ex headteacher wont be gainsayed) and he arranged but was not paying she was, for a vile brown vinyl chair to be delivered that was far to big for her little flat and far too heavy to move. She told us she was too frightened of him to complain - he wouldnt have listened anyway. I do think people should have the right to choose what goes in their own home. You have my sympathies