My Niece Insisted on Receiving a Pram as a Gift, and When She Refused, She Turned the Family Against Me.

My niece asked for a pushchair as a present, and when I refused she turned the whole family against me.

Kids grow so quickly that I barely notice when my own son started toddling and racing to meet his dad. We always try to buy the best for our firstborn, even if it means sacrificing our own wishes.

We bought an expensive, compact stroller that fit perfectly in the boot of our car. It served us faithfully, and we handled it with care because we had originally planned to sell it later.

When Oliver finally outgrew the thing, we listed it on an online marketplace. John, my husband, suggested a 30% discount off the original £200 asking price, but I thought the economy was tight and people were short of cash, so I decided to cut the price in half to £100, hoping it would sell quickly and feel like a good deed.

A few hours after posting the advert, a cheery young woman called and offered to meet and see the stroller in person. I agreed, and half an hour later the front doorbell rang.

When I opened the door I froze in astonishment: standing on the step was my niece, Poppy, whom we hadnt spoken to in two years after a quarrel over boys. I was delighted to see her; Id been looking for any excuse to mend the rift.

Over a cup of tea she told me she and her boyfriend, Tom, have a little son and that money is tight.

After an openhearted chat we examined the stroller together. She liked it, and I gladly offered it to her for less than the advertised price.

The next day I buzzed around the house, preparing a tasty dinner for the visitors. We gathered around the table as a family, swapped stories from the old days and enjoyed the reunion.

When it came time to seal the deal, Poppy, sensing my willingness to compromise, said it would be wonderful if I gave her a pushchair for her childs birthday. I wasnt prepared to make such an expensive gift, so I told her straight away that I couldnt.

She took great offence, called me cheap, and stormed out of the flat. She then told her family that she was sorry for the baby, they backed her up, and we ended up cutting off contact with her family as well.

That episode made it clear that I cant please everyone, and Ive decided never to do business with relatives again.