That’s not presumptuous or patronizing. That’s just tacky. And – from my perspective – really cheap.
How old is your mom? If she doesn’t have a history of bizarre acts like that, I’d be worried that she’s getting a littel Alzheimer-y.
Well, presumptuous of him to think that I would want his cast-off freebies.
When I was 19, a poetry book and a cuddly toy from a good friend - who proved she really didn’t know me at all.
More recently, a Pope John Paul II keyring from my sister-in-law who’d visited Rome. I mentioned it to a friend who said - “if she’d been to India and bought you a trinket with Buddha, or an Om sign, you wouldn’t have minded one bit” - she was probably right, too.
To be fair, the Buddha trinket or Om sign would be a lot more interesting than a JP2 keyring.
My aunt and uncle insisted on giving me and my three siblings all beanie babies as presents for everything for a few years – and that was when we were all teenagers. Last Christmas, when I was 18, they gave me a little puzzle designed for someone half my age. They know how old I am, but somehow they think that I’ll enjoy these things.
Neither - just planted her face right in it.
Okay, so she used a knife and fork, but still…
And thanks for the birthday wishes, tdn! It’s been pretty good so far. All I wanted for my birthday was an hour to work out and a bath. Looks like I’m going to get both and then some!
Oh, and tremorviolet, I often wonder if my mom is getting a touch of…something. From her point of view, though, because she’s older, she can say and do what she wants. I personally don’t consider 62 “older,” and frequently tell her that, but she’s not buying it.
Ahhhh, family. Don’t you love them? 
I’m getting an image where she just sticks her face in and goes “nom nom nom”.
Same here, from DH’s parents. I don’t mind that they’re religious, but I do mind their trying to force it onto us all the damn time.
I once got “The Emily Post Guide To Manners.” The next year, I gave the skinny-ass snob who gave it to me a 5-pound container of weight-gain powder.
I have some relatives Down Under who are very into carrying the flag for Christian God, let us say.
They gave me a present when they were up here last year. A touristy dishtowel and a book about “What Australian Women Need from God” or somesuch. :dubious: I politely accepted it and managed not to twitch.
See, the thing is that I’m about as agnostic as they come. My own family’s given up on hauling me to church except for high events.
My sister in law is into cooking, taking care of the house, etc. My wife is not. One time my SIL asked my wife a question about housekeeping and my wife said something about not really knowing/caring much about the topic. Now my SIL always give gifts to us that are clearly designed to make my wife a better homemaker: books, kitchen stuff etc. If she really wants to help out she can come over and do some damn laundry.
A makeup kit (or something; it little brushes and sponges and stuff). A manicure/pedicure kit. A Victoria’s Secret giftcard. Another manicure kit. A collection of nail polishes.
All of the above were from the same aunt, who has many times made it known I’m not ‘feminine’ enough for her tastes.
She’s never done the same thing to my sister, who is equally if not more tomboyish. I have never given the slightest indication that I would use any of that stuff (she has never, ever seen even a picture of me wearing makeup or nail polish).
Or pre-diabetes-y
I got a Pope medal keyring once! I loved it and used it till it broke. No, I’m not Catholic at all. 
I’m sure I’ve gotten some horrible presents but I’m blanking out just now.
Not really gotten any, but have given plenty.
Some friends got married on April Fool’s Day. Every anniversary for ten years, I sent them a joke gift, based on the appropriate gift type, along with some stupid verse.
Year 1 - Paper - Roll of toilet paper
Year 2 - Cotton - Pack of Q-Tips
Year 3 - Leather - Cat ‘o’ Nine Tails
Year 4 - Fruits or Flowers - Package of Edible Underwear
Year 5 - Wood - A ruler called “Daddy’s Measuring Stick” with conspicuous markings at the 3" area
Year 6 - Iron - A big nail
Year 7 - Wool - A blow-up sheep
Year 8 - Bronze or Pottery - A toilet bowl
Year 9 - Pottery and Willow - as above, with a video of the movie Willow inside
Year 10 - Tin or Aluminum - Aluminum Foil
They’ve moved far away from me since.
Well I for one think it’s adorable.
I’m happy to report I’ve never really gotten any really bad gifts. I do remember being mortified when my grandmother gave me a giant magic set when I was 13. She made me pose with it to take a picture. She was so proud of it. That poor clueless woman.
Dude, I’m 23 and I want a giant magic set! Send it…send it to me!
I get thank you gifts from clients every so often. Fruit baskets, a bottle of wine, etc are the most common. I once had a female client hand me a restaurant gift card, which was very nice. However, it was a seafood restaurant, and the card that accompanied the gift card had her phone number and a lewd comment about oysters and screwing.
The whole thing came out of left field, and as I read the card she was actually leering in the stereotypic “dirty old man” way. Surrealistic!
No, I didn’t take her up on the offer.
The first time I was married, my sister gave us the book “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus” for our first wedding anniversary. When I asked her why, she said that she thought our marriage needed some work.
That, my friends, is presumptuous.
Ok, the marriage didn’t work, eventually. Neither did her relationship, but I didn’t send her a copy of some self-help book.
I don’t know if it counts, but an aunt gave me a book on ‘How to play chess’ once. (I had recently come in the top 10 in the UK Chess Championship.)