Do you like your in-laws shopping for you and for items in your household?

@cream97 (29087)
United States
June 6, 2011 8:05am CST
Just this Saturday, my husband called his mom's cell phone number because he was trying to get in touch with his father. His father was not at home at that time, so my mother-in-law must have given him the message when he came back home. So, a couple of hours later, my father-in-law brought back Charmain toilet paper and Raid Roach and Ant Spray back to our house. Me or my husband never buy Charmain bath tissue at all. We buy another brand that has more sheets on it anyway. I talked to my husband about this last night, and he told me that toilet paper is toilet paper, it does not matter what kind that it is. He then went on to tell me that basics of us having to use a tree branch to wipe ourselves with, if we did not have toilet paper at home. His dad went and bought toilet tissue and he did not ask my husband, his son, what kind of toilet tissue that we use. My husband said that my in-laws use Charmain toilet tissue at their house too. Well, that does not mean that we use the same thing here too. I just don't like my father-in-law buying our personal things for our home. I told my husband that he should have went with his father when he went to the store to get our toilet paper for us. He said that he did not feel like going and also that it would have been a waste of gas for his father to pick him up and take him to the store, then bring him back home afterwards. I just don't like my in-laws shopping for our personal care items for us, especially when they buy something that we don't use, but yet they use instead. It was very generous of my father-in-law to buy toilet tissue for us, even if it came out of his own pocket. I am grateful, it is just that I feel very awkward whenever my father-in-law shops for things that we need, instead of us going with him to get it our ourselves instead. This is not the first time that my father-in-law has done this too. He has done this many of times before in the past. We don't have a car, but I feel like when it comes to our personal care items, we should be able to get it ourselves, not unless it is an emergency of some sort.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@roneal (62)
• Mexico
7 Jun 11
Honestly, I do not mind. I am not a very picky person at all and really appreciate every little thing that I have. I actually love it when my in-laws shop for me, I just feel slightly awekward and embarrassed when it comes to the personal stuff. Unfortunately, I have only had the pleasure of living close enough to my in-laws (for them to shop for us) for one year as we now live over 1500 miles away from them so, no more shopping for us! I will admit though, I do miss the surprise grocery runs that my mother in law did for us. It was kind of nice. If I had an issue with it though, I definitely would have spoke up to her about it.
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@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
7 Jun 11
I like to do my own shopping. I do not want someone else to go buy things because they do not know what I really need ro the brands I buy. I am always looking for the best brand or deal also so I need to do it myself to make sure to get it right unless, like you said, it is an emergency.
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@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
6 Jun 11
hmmm... While I've had issues with my in-laws, they do usually try very hard to buy what my husband likes. So when they get something else, it's usually because they didn't know, not because they are trying to be annoying. Have you tried telling your husband that you would prefer if you or he just buy these items for your household yourself? It does seem like you are a stuck in an awkward place since they are picking things up for you.
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@carolscash (9492)
• United States
6 Jun 11
My first question to you would be does the Charmin tissue cause you an allergic reaction? If not, does it really matter that they bought it instead of the brand you would normally buy? I think that it is important to make sure that your in-laws know that you appreciate what they do for you, but maybe you could ask them to pick up the brand that you buy the next time. I think that it is nice that they buy things for you.
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@Omoidasu (28)
• Philippines
7 Jun 11
I think it's really the thought that counts. But the one thing you should keep in mind is that an open communication could really go a long way. Vast relief from stressful headaches at least once people talk.
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@sender621 (14894)
• United States
6 Jun 11
I don't mind it if my inlaws woulf lkiker to help me out in my shopping needs. i just don't lke all of my decisions and choices to ne made for me. it can speak and choose for myself, but i will not deny the help when i need it and it comes my way.
• United States
7 Jun 11
I think if someone bought it for me and I didn't have to fork out my money for it then I would use it and not say anything about it. When I had a baby my mother in law went grocery shopping for us and bought a lot of things. Some things I would have gotten a different brand but I didn't say anything because I was grateful that she bought the groceries for us.
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
6 Jun 11
I am particular about certain things I use as well. The thing is if someone else gets it and uses their own money I can hardly look a gift horse in the mouth so to speak. But if you do have a real issue with it as you apparently do then talk to you in laws and tell them that if they wish to help you all by getting things for you, then to please get the brands you use. Inform them that you do appreciate them getting things for you but it would be much more appropriate to have things you actually use instead of things they use. Maybe letting them know that the price is about the same might help also. Or if it is less that would help even more. The thing is the items they get is what they are use to picking up and it is just easier for them to do. This is the thing for a man. If he is going shopping for items in a store he is going for things that he is use to getting. It's easier that way.
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@celticeagle (157281)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Jun 11
I tend to agree with your husband. T.T. is T.T. and if i went out to buy it I would buy what i used unless someone told me differently. And it would have been extra gas for his dad to come and get him first. I don't sweat the small stuff. Personally I don't like Charmin because it is too thick. I use a cheaper brand I like better and is a better deal. I would not cause a big THING over this and would just move on. Let it be known what you use so next time they get the right thing and then forget about it.
@r3jcorp (1382)
• Philippines
7 Jun 11
I live near my in-laws and they always help us in everything. I appreciate everything that they are doing specially when they buy groceries for my daughter's need. It doesn't matter of the brand as long as the need was met. I would be happy for anything that they do for the family. For a working mom like me, it would be very valuable if someone had done the cooking in time for dinner. My father in law loves to cook and we eat our dinner at their home.