Am I being unfair!

[missy E]

The most important thing giftwise for me from my kids is a card, or a phone call. I tell them not to worry about the present & just get me some cheap chocs if they have to.

Now both of them are so far away now, DD20 in Aberdeen (uni but she prob will live there after with BF) and DS24 who has moved to the Netherlands, the most important thing overall is contact. I miss them & in a heartbeat would love them to be at home/near to buy me a cheap air freshener.

[ClaireNJ]

KIDS HEY 🙄I wouldn’t be happy with the air freshener either I have 2 sons who are not great with presents so usually give me moneythink I would make a little comment maybe
Have a lovely Birthday

[ILoveDaveLamb]

Trying to bring some levity to the situation, the ambipure didn't have anything to do with your user name, OP? :-)

I would be upset too. I agree with the poster who said not to be confrontational about the present. It's not worth an escalation. But I would let DD know the choice caused a bit of consternation. She probably thought is was a diffuser type gismo.

We have a tin of spam which is passed around, wrapped up as a gift at Christmas and birthday time between a group of 5 friends.

I hope you have a lovely day in other respects. Go and treat yourself to you favourite chocs. xx

[snowbelle]

I understand your point OP , I love my mum too bits and appreciate every thing she has done for us , which over the years is a lot .
It’s not about money or whether people agree that presents are not the done thing .
It’s about the thought .. when people say “ it’s the thought that counts “ it is not in this case and your DD has been thoughtless and left you feeling under appreciated.
Please don’t fester on it , tell her you are disappointed and try and enjoy your day .
My Dss gave me an awful thoughtless ‘ gift ‘ last Christmas and I would rather of had nothing than the item he gave me ,so understand where you are coming from .

[SmilingSammie]

Hmm...is it like your favourite air freshner? Favourite scent? Have you mentioned it in the past? Do you have an animal and your house smells a bit? XD Just trying to think of reasons why she may have bought it for you.

I bought my mum chocolates for Mothers Day. They were chocolates that i have given her a sampler of and she had asked where they were from etc and that she liked them. I thought I would surprise her and get her a batch of them for mothers day. When I gave her them it looked like I was handing her a bag of poop and she was so angry and unhappy with the gift. Ill never forget how awful she made me feel because I thought it was a super thoughtful gift and she would love it...

Just think about your reactions cause ill never forget how my mum made me feel about that. Talk to her? Maybe there is method to the madness

[macdonald]

Sorry you feel down (we all have the same feelings at different times) but Happy Birthday..

[batleyboy26]

I don’t usually get anything for my birthday from my DH or my adult DS’s! We are, however, usually in Florida or due to go shortly afterwards and get told ‘buy yourself something over there’. This time I bough a Coach handbag which will be from DH. Eldest DS has got me nothing and youngest DS teamed up with his GF to buy me a few bits and bobs but I know wouldn’t have bothered if his GF had not bought them 😕

[vowels]

I think it is a great gift.

It has helped take your mind off your miserable few days, gave some dibbers the giggles, your house will smell nice, you won't get fat and your daughter remembered your birthday. Perfect.

Have a wonderful day. 🎂

[BucksBugsy]

Don't let it stew and blow up at of proportion

Speak to her and tell her what you think and feel

[Bats]

So, is it an air freshener, like a spray or is it a nice reed diffuser thing?

I think it makes a difference and it may just be the way you've worded it.

But here's some other questions ...
How would you have felt if you'd been in a good mood? If you'd have felt the same no matter what your mood, then you may need to have a word.

Has she been thoughtful in her gifts before or is this pretty much the norm for gifts?

Happy birthday, enjoy the chocs!
Joa