Submitted by ikilledfncrepairman t3_xuyfry in tifu
I Bought My 8yo Niece Granny Panties
This happened on Sunday.
My sister has just moved back to Ohio from Texas. This was the first birthday party and it meant a lot more than just a party for an 8yo. It's the first time we've celebrated with them, she's 8yo, it's a big deal!
I have 4 kids who are 10, 9, 8, 7. When we walked into the dollar store, intending only to buy a bunch of cheap makeup, my 7yo suggested we get her a bra as a joke - along with the real presents. The others agreed that this would be hilarious but decided 3xl granny panties would be even better. I agreed and said we should get her some other gags as well e.g. beef Jerry, lightbulbs, dish gloves etc.
We get a large bag that says "Happy Birthday!" and a small canvas "Princess Bag". I spend $74 at the dollar store on all kinds of makeup, brushes, a few gag gifts, bag of balloons, some tissue paper, a $.99 pink table cloth and the two bags.
We put all of the good stuff in the Princess bag and laid it at the bottom of the big bag. We stuffed the table cloth onto the princess bag to create a false bottom. We layered each gag gift between colorful tissue paper. The kids and I had a Blast putting this together, laughing the whole time. We got her a TON of makeup, it's what she's into and her mom said it was okay.
We arrive at the party only to realize we'd miss the gift opening portion. Due to a soccer game that couldn't be missed, we left before any of it happened. The kids weren't devastated but it was easy to tell they were disappointed. I didn't want to be a special case and have my niece open our gift apart from everyone else's so I had my sister and her husband promise to video.
Low and behold, after driving 40mins to the soccer game, we finished just in time to drive 40mins back and join the gift opening. The kids insisted we make the drive so we did.
At this point in the day, I'm wishing I hadn't said anything about it. I mean, I no longer needed a video. I was a little frustrated by the drive but this reaction was going to be worth it. Tons of laughs from kids and adults, I'd give the kids all the credit and everyone would commend them.
Well, as you know by now, it didnt go as planned.
My niece didn't get confused or pause for any of the gags but rifled through them quickly. She didn't pretend to like any of the gags, like the videos you see on YouTube. She didn't even pull half of the gags out of the bag. She was digging through the bag hastly looking upset and annoyed. Meanwhile the room is completely silent, no one understands what's happening. The one girl I had told ahead of time is pointing at me and laughing silently. My young children can feel the room change and know this is going South; so much so that my oldest two jump up to try to explain to her that it's a joke - just as my niece reaches the bottom row of the gags. She pulls out the three pack of 3xl granny panties on a hanger and chucks them across the room in one fluid motion. She did it so quickly that many people had no idea what it was or why it happenend and began speculating out loud. She runs out of the room, down a hallway, and out of sight.
My niece, then, locks herself in the bathroom for a long time while my two daughters plead with her to see if there's anything else in the bag, explaining that the good stuff is at the bottom. Meanwhile I'm Explaining what's happened to the adults and taking 100% of the blame.
Everyone left right afterwards while my niece still had tears in her eyes. One of those traumatic experiences that, I think, she'll remember for the rest of her life.
Did I mention that it's also the first time I've seen or talked to my parents in 3yrs?
My sister insists that it was funny and my niece is going to be fine. My brother in law laughed the whole time because he could see in the bag but I definitely effed it up for the birthday girl, the other guests and my parents.
Tldr: bought gag gifts for 8yo girl. Ruined her bday and maybe her life.
Edit: Obviously it wasnt funny. FWIW We didn't leave with everyone else, my four children and four nieces played for another two hours. I apologized immediately. I know we don't know each other and that this was my TIFU but the assumptions are really sad and I'm frightened by my peers thought processes. Who among us wouldn't apologize to an 8yo girl you've traumatized?! Some of you are projecting some really evil stuff. I feel awful for those of you who have been hurt and found a way to make the story about you. I'm sorry if this story triggered those awful feelings.
This was careless mistake and is being compared to malicious patterns. I am very close with my sister and nieces. My family, the kids specifically, is the main reason that they moved back. We've never celebrated a birthday together but we're together far more often than many of my local family members.
As critical as this thread became, I'm most surprised that no one has ridiculed me for "subjecting my children to 160mins of car ride over an 8yo's birthday party." I mean, where's CPS when you really need them?
My tifu wasn't funny but it wasn't malicious or cruel. It had the potential to be funny and if any of my kids had been on the receiving end, they would have thought so... it was their idea and I helped before taking 100% of the blame when it went wrong.
For those saying it was a bad gift, gtfo. $60 gets you a TON of "big girl" makeup. She's got a dozen nail polishes, half a dozen lip sticks, half a dozen color pallets, brushes, sponges, a nail dryer, body spray, and more!! It was 100% her favorite gift and was the ONLY thing she paid any attention to for the fillowing 2-3hrs. Kiss my ass