<p>Samurailandshark --This is why I send food. Perishable food. Petit fours, brownies, cheese, etc. If they don’t like it, they can throw it out. But (unless they are <em>serious</em> hoarders) most people won’t keep food around for years. </p>
<p>The ‘perishable’ bit is important. I still have a couple bottles of wine around – I don’t drink – and some little tins of this-n-that that came in gift baskets. Note to self: year end pantry purge due. But the stuff that will rot either gets eaten up fast, passed on to someone who likes it, or tossed. </p>
<p>Just remember to keep in mind any known food allergies/intolerances – this is the first year that no one has sent us baked goods after my dh was diagnosed with Celiac 6 years ago! </p>
<p>swimcatsmom – Sounds like your Mum is transferring feelings about the SIL to the things she received from her. There’s always ‘well, if you don’t like them, I’ll take ‘em!’ I doubt her negative vibes will extend to anything you get for her. However, many people of our parents’ generation don’t need ‘things’ other than what they have…so I buy my mother pretty costume jewelry, things for traveling, and – yep, you guessed it! – food.</p>