Okay, hivemind, here's a question for ya. The DH's parents are usually pretty broke because they like to buy stuff and did no planning for their future. For their 50th anniversary, all the kids got together and gave them an Alaskan cruise, as it's the only state the FiL has not been to and his Sister and BiL are going and they like to travel together. So far so good.

Cut to today. They have two cars, but one of them is old and they have been wanting a new one. "It makes Daddy sad to drive an old car" according to MiL is the reason they need to replace a good, working car. Today, they informed their kids that they decided they want a car instead of the trip and that they wrote the deposit check and each kid needs to send them $1,000 right away or their check will bounce.

DH is totally livid about this, but then says, "We gave them a gift--I guess it's like they returned it for something else which they can do of course, but it feels really rude to me." I say it IS rude and he is not overreacting. What say you?

It's very rude, but what can you do?

I don't think he's overreacting at all.

Yeah, we already sent the check, but geez louise.

they wrote the deposit check and each kid needs to send them $1,000 right away or their check will bounce.

I'd possibly be most mad about this part.

Also, my parents are having their 50th anniversary this year. We've talked about sending them on an Alaskan cruise....

At least they have a newer car.

They've been agitating about this car thing for a while, haven't they?

DH is totally livid about this, but then says, "We gave them a gift--I guess it's like they returned it for something else which they can do of course, but it feels really rude to me." I say it IS rude and he is not overreacting. What say you?

It's completely rude, not because they "returned" the gift, but because they put you in a poor position by writing the check without talking to you. He's not overreacting at all.

-ma to you that maybe it IS strep, smonster--cause then you'll get antibiotics, take them, and all will be well! As opposed to a cold which just knocks you out and nothing to be done.

ETA: OMG, there are things about my parents that drive me nuts, but I'm so glad they mostly have their shit together on things like that!! (Though when helping my hoarder dad clean his office, my sister found a few years of unfiled taxes...he figured they were getting money back, and he'd do them later, and never did. Oy!)

I'd go insane, Scrappy.

My sister and I are intending to send my parents on a cruise this year, and god damn it, they had better like their cars just fine. Because I will bitch forever if anything gets in the way.