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Grandparenting

Unwanted gifts from neighbour

(33 Posts)
Cookhouse1 Tue 15-Apr-25 17:20:38

Hi all one of my neighbours my wife’s got friendly with keeps buying her grandchild gifts, like drawing pads and pens she is a widower no kids of her own early eighties long since retired.my wife is definitely getting uncomfortable with this and has told her not to bother,including the my wife’s daughter who my neighbour has only met once and the granddaughter five years ago.the neighbour refuse to stop buying these gifts! Which she buys every month as my wife and her friend takes her to the shops. As she can’t walk well and has a wheelchair In each trip she will insist on buying my wife’s granddaughter a gift despite being told she doesn’t need anymore she won’t listen and has said she is going to continue whether the mother stays not to or not!I think this personally is actually rude and bothers me a lot what the best thing to do?I annoyed because now she wants to go shopping this week and wants to buy an art work set for the granddaughter despite being told not to my wife says she won’t take no for an answer what the best thing to do?

lixy Mon 21-Apr-25 10:24:44

Maybe your GC could draw a picture for your neighbour, or even spend a little time with her using the art materials together?
We sometimes invite our neighbour to an ‘art’ session in our garden and it’s lovely to see them teaching the little ones art skills. Both sides benefit.

Elrel Sat 21-Jun-25 18:36:25

The neighbour really is not the person being rude here. The gifts are kindly meant and do not appear to be inappropriate.

Witzend Sat 21-Jun-25 18:43:04

Going against the tide here, but I really do think that if the woman’s been told more than once, thank you very much but the Gdd really does have plenty of such things now, she ought to stop.
Perhaps an occasional little present for the neighbour who takes her shopping would be nice.

Primrose53 Sat 21-Jun-25 18:45:43

There was a time when kind acts were the norm in most communities.

My Mum always knitted a little jacket or hat if she heard of anybody nearby having a new baby. She knitted beautiful socks for bereaved men and she made scones or sausage rolls for anyone she thought needed cheering up. Anybody in hospital got some magazines or some fruit. She didn’t have much herself but she was brought up to be neighbourly and kind. All her 7 siblings did the same.

You should thank your lucky stars you have a nice neighbour.

sharon103 Sat 21-Jun-25 18:57:31

I don't think the lady is rude at all. She's insisting that she wants to buy something for the granddaughter as appreciation for the shopping help and won't take no for an answer. It makes her happy. What's wrong in that.
I can see that there's perhaps some concern that the lady is wasting her money.
Whatever grandaughter doesn't want give to a charity shop.
It wouldn't be a problem for me.

Desdemona Sat 21-Jun-25 19:08:29

The lady giving the gifts is NOT being rude.

Regift appropriately.

CariadAgain Sat 21-Jun-25 19:13:13

She's probably been brought up with good manners and to feel she has to "pay her way". Some people have - and it's her way of saying "Thank you". Be a gracious recipient - whatever you do with the toys afterwards.