'You're making me look bad': Aunt Asked to Return Her Niece’s Christmas Gift and Stay Out of Her Life Because Her Present Is Better Than the One Her Mom Got Her

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  • 01
    Posted by u/Helpful_Salad1649 20 hours ago AITA for refusing to return the gift?
  • 02
    My brother got divorced 11 years ago when his child was only 4 years old. I was my niece's nanny and I practically raised her. She is like a daughter to me.
  • 03
    Recently my niece has been asking us to buy a laptop for her because she needs one for school so we figured that can be her christmas gift. With my brother's permission I bought a gaming laptop for her because I know she is a gamer and I figured she will like it.
  • 04
    The problem is that niece's mom called a few days ago and informed us that she bought a chromebook for my niece since she has been asking for a laptop.
  • 05
    I informed her that I bought a laptop for my niece. She told me to return the laptop. I told her that this is ridiculous and she should be the one returning the chromebook. She got mad and said that she is the mom and decides what her daughter should have and asked me to butt out of her parenting and just return the laptop.
  • 06
    I told her that I'm not returning the laptop so she has a choice now, she can either return the chromebook and buy another gift or watch her daughter's disappointment when she opens her gift and realises how petty and cheap her mom is.
  • 07
    Artistic-Jeweler155 20 hr. ago Partassipant [1] ESH. Is there a compromise where she has one laptop at dad's house and one at mom's house? 46.1k Reply Share
  • 08
    Helpful_Salad1649 We suggested that but her mom refused because she thinks my niece won't like her gift once she sees mine 44.1k OP 20 hr. ago Reply Share
  • 09
    LadySwingsBothWays 18 hr. ago ● That's a situation for everyone involved. What if your niece's mom were to return the Chromebook and contribute that money towards the one you bought. That way it comes from both of you, and your niece gets the laptop she would be happy with.
  • 10
    excaliber2022 17 hr. ago ● I think the adults need to be adults in this situation and figure this out. I bet the child is stuck in the middle often.
  • 11
    Ya_habibti 18 hr. ago I wouldn't allow niece to take the gaming laptop to her moms house. I feel like mom is petty enough to accidentally break the laptop on purpose.
  • 12
    ruinedbymovies · 17 hr. ago. edited 5 hr. ago Partassipant [4] ESH It's completely reasonable for your niece's mom to buy her a chrome book and of you to call her petty and cheap for it.
  • 13
    and cheap for it. In our school district chromebooks are the preferred option for school/school work. It's also a better idea for a kid to carry a $200 laptop back and forth to school daily than a $600 one. You both met a need for your niece and instead of feeling grateful that you can both provide something for her you're squabbling.
  • 14
    Let your niece use the Chromebook for school and the laptop you got her for fun gaming without worry that it will be damaged on the daily commute.
  • 15
    jimbojangles1987 - 18 hr. ago She wanted to buy her niece a laptop, dude. Any amount of backlash to that is the bad parenting. It's not a dog.
  • 16
    External-Hamster-991 16 hr. ago It's not her child no matter how much she feels differently. If this was the mom's boyfriend telling the father to return his gift, I don't think people would be so supportive of it.
  • 17
    New_Discussion_6692 18 hr. ago ● Chromebooks r trash. U can't do anything in them They are very handy for school age children. The school gave one to each of the kids for zoom school. Not being able to do anything on it, except school work was a bonus.
  • 18
    meditatinganopenmind 19 hr. ago NTA. Clearly the laptop you bought would be a better gift than a Chrome book. If we focus on the child here, instead of on adult egos, the best answer would be for her to have the laptop and the Chrome book returned for another, thoughtful gift. Sure, this seems to favor OP, but the alternative is a computer that she couldn't game on and is definitely not as versatile and user friendly. 2.6k Reply Share
  • 19
    Helpful_Salad1649 OP 19 hr. ago Thanks. Everyone is like "but what about what's best for the mom?" Like who cares? I'm gonna think about what's best for the kid. My son has a gaming laptop and my niece loves it. She so jealous of him. I can't wait to see her face when she sees that she's got her own gaming laptop 1.5k Reply Share
  • 20
    EricaB1979 19 hr. ago I feel like you would get a lot less Y TA replies if you had added in your OP that she's a weekend parent, your brother is the custodial parent and you got your brothers permission first. 1.2k Reply Share

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