Dad 'loses it' because his 2 and 5-year-old sons got him children's toys for his 42nd birthday, mom claims they wanted to get him something they could do together: 'I would have been over the moon with some socks, boxer shorts and a mug'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Feb 6, 2025 8:00 PM EST

My family will never stop telling the story of when I innocently ruined my mom's surprise. I can't remember if it was for Mother's Day or her birthday, but my dad and I went to the store to get a wallet for her as a present from me. I couldn't have been older than four at the time. The shopping went off without a hitch, but the second we got home from the store, I ran out of the car and screamed, "Mommy! Mommy! We got you a wallet!!!" In hindsight, the memory of this hilarious gift-giving faux-pas was much more meaningful and memorable than the wallet itself. Also, in retrospect, it was sweet that my dad and I went to get the wallet together so that I could feel like I was giving it to her instead of tacking my toddler name onto a gift that my dad bought on his own. 

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  • However, not all parents are great collaborative gift-givers with their toddlers. A lot of kids (and adults) are guilty of wanting to give rubber snake gifts, which are gifts that you want, but instead of getting it for yourself, you get it and give it to someone else. The kids in this story got their dad rubber snake gifts, but it's questionable whether or not he should be bitter about that. 

  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10464458752
    via Edgar Soto

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02

    I’ve received kids toys and books for my birthday…

    My wife(42) of 11 years and 2 boys (2,5) organised a few presents for my birthday today(42).
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10464469504
    via Edward Cisneros

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 04
    I said that I wanted something special for me, and it didn't even have to be a gift, maybe a card and something small then to go out for dinner and drinks and have some alone time.
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 05
    This morning I was pleasantly treated to some gifts hurriedly stuffed into a bag. Upon opening them I kinda lost it.
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 06
    The gifts were 2 Bluey Children's books, two Nintendo switch games (Mario Party and Switch sports) some switch accessories and a children's dumpling making kit (I am a chef of many years)
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 07
    AITAH for losing my sh? I think birthdays should be about the individual on that day, I mean it's supposed to be a day where you at least get to eat cake guilt free...
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 08
    I would have been over them moon with some socks, boxer shorts and some kids drawings on a mug or something goofy like that.
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 09
    Looking at the gifts here there is not one thing that's just for me, when pressed wife said “They are so you can use them to play with the kids" and when asked why there wasn't anything specifically for me the response came back "The boys wanted stuff they could do with you..."
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 10
    She is working right now (remote from home on a Sunday) and I am looking after the kids till she finishes at 1pm. So it's a little difficult to play and such and keep a happy demeanour.
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10464470016
    via Christian Erfurt

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 12
    The anger has subsided but now I feel sad and guilty for wanting a day to be about me...
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 13
    Edit and update: So many mixed responses and comments. It's been overwhelming. So, to try and make the best of the situation I opened the dumpling kit and started to make Bao buns with the boys. Needless to say they were excited for the first 10 minutes but soon moved on to other games soon after.
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 14
    After my wife finished work she and I had long discussion outside away from the boys and she apologised profusely stating she had all the best intentions and knew that I was planning to buy these things for the boy's birthdays later on in the year...
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 15
    In response to if there was another present later or something planned... There was nothing planned to do anything for the rest of the day except head to the pub for a quiet dinner.
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 16
    So being a hot day I took us down to the beach, swam with the kids, and we picked up some doughnuts (in lieu of a cake) and pizza on the way home to have a little celebration.
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 17
    Now everyone has gone to bed and I'm just chilling with the dog listening to the thunderstorm outside. Might have a cheeky rum I may not have received the best start to the day but thanks to all who helped make it better.
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 18
    Trailsya 4d ago Well, at least you didn't get cleaning material or something related to you having to do chores like my friend did ;) "The boys wanted stuff they could do with you..." I can kind of see this happening if they were in a store, but I would also think your wife would buy her own present for you that is not a kid's toy.
    via u/Trailsya
  • 19
    Amazing-Essay7028 My now ex gifted me 2 kitchen appliances for Christmas. I wanted to cry. I mentioned to him that I wanted something like a Sephora gift card, or a microphone, or clay (I like crafting). The kitchen stuff was the complete opposite lol.
    via u/Amazing-Essay7028
  • 20
    blarryg 4d ago My solution was to "like" goofy socks. They are easy to get and they don't cost that much. I "want" to wear them. In reality, I could care less, but it gives a definitive answer to "What to buy dad". Doesn't always work, but I have a slowly growing collection of goofy socks. My favorite gifts are to buy stuff myself with one to three of my daughters as stylists/advisors. Then I end up with good clothes that my daughters like, they feel they've contributed and they are right. "So m
    via u/blarryg
  • 21
    Goon_To_Toons Normalize asking for specific things you want for yourself. My wife and I do this and everybody wins. If I wanna add something extra I think she'd enjoy, whether she does or doesn't, she still gets the specific items she asked for and vice versa.
    via u/Goon_To_Toons
  • 22
    Last_Welcome5978 NTA, especially in light of the fact that she JUST had her birthday and received the things she asked for and a whole day for her. It's worth sitting down with her and having a conversation about how you don't feel appreciated and it's unfair that she gets to ask for things she wants and have a day be about her but you do not. All those people who are saying "you got something, don't complain" (you didn't, the kids did)
    via u/Last_Welcome5978
  • 23
    or "you're too old to care about birthdays" seem joyless to me. I'm not saying your spouse needs to buy you a Rolex but like, OP says they would have been happy with socks. They didn't get a single present or even the time to themselves they wanted, their wife got things for the kids and f ed off. I'd be miffed too.
    via u/Last_Welcome5978
  • 24
    cjgist Plus it's also teaching the kids to make other's special occasions about what they want as opposed to what the person wants.
    via u/cjgist
  • 25
    Thick-Journalist-168 What did you give your wife for her birthday? Update: I saw what you got her. And she is definitely an AH.
    via u/Thick-Journalist-168
  • 26
    Fuzzy_Confusion 7192 OP Well we just had it two weeks ago. Her present was a new set of Birkenstocks, a specific set of makeup and a full date day. So out at an exclusive cafe in the morning for brunch, Lunch at her Favourite spot. Then I had the kids looked after and we went out for Cocktails, a Greek feast (her favourite) and a wine bar to finish the evening.
    via u/Fuzzy_Confusion7192
  • 27
    REDDITSHITLORD 4d ago Being disappointed is one thing. "losing it", is another. If you lost your shit over a present in front of your kids, you're an a hole.
    via u/REDDITSHITLORD
  • 28
    xBrownEyes Can't believe how far I had to scroll down to read this. I sure get his disappointment, but you're an adult and you have young children. You don't lose your sh at them over well intended presents they got you; that's vile behaviour. I hope his kids weren't present for that. Talk about it with your wife. She could have steered this in another direction.
    via u/xBrownEyes

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family drama gifts presents toys kids birthday mother dad little kids family birthday present mom son parents children Father Parenting FAILS
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