Sister already sent gift suggestions for her kids xMas; it's okay to pass and send a check right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I totally disagree. It's not a gift for you.

As the parent and the homeowner, I get a say in what comes into my house.

A stuffed animal is the hill you are going to die on? With family? At Christmas?

Seriously. Way to suck the joy out of the holidays because you have super duper control issues. Lighten up, Mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send books. No one objects to books.

Haha I do. MIL gets the kids books and waits 2-3 years to give the books to the kids. By the time the kids receive the books, they're way beyond that reading level. Also, we have one bookshelf in the kids' room. We have no space. I've explained that when a new book comes in, an old one has to go to make room for the new one. This causes tremendous strife for my 9yo pack rat dd. I've asked MIL to consider kindle books or amazon gift cards so the kids can choose but she feels they're not real books and won't foster a love of reading the way a paperback would. So I let her do her thing, and I keep making dd cry when she has to pack up old books and put them in storage. And when we move (every few years because of dh's job) we have to carry around extra boxes of books. It's a hassle. I object.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go for the gift cards and mail them with their cards so they go directly to the kids. They'll be thrilled and you sister will have nothing to complain about. For all you know, her kids don't even want what she's suggesting.

Little kids like opening a present. I think exchanging gift cards is pretty lame.

[Anonymous]

Do her precious little snowflakes at least send thank you notes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I totally disagree. It's not a gift for you.

As the parent and the homeowner, I get a say in what comes into my house.

A stuffed animal is the hill you are going to die on? With family? At Christmas?

Seriously. Way to suck the joy out of the holidays because you have super duper control issues. Lighten up, Mom

Unless you let relatives buy whatever they want to get your kid, regardless of whether the kid will actually enjoy it and whether it fits into the family's house and lifestyle, you have control issues and have sucked the joy out of the holidays. Noted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send books. No one objects to books.

Haha I do. MIL gets the kids books and waits 2-3 years to give the books to the kids. By the time the kids receive the books, they're way beyond that reading level. Also, we have one bookshelf in the kids' room. We have no space. I've explained that when a new book comes in, an old one has to go to make room for the new one. This causes tremendous strife for my 9yo pack rat dd. I've asked MIL to consider kindle books or amazon gift cards so the kids can choose but she feels they're not real books and won't foster a love of reading the way a paperback would. So I let her do her thing, and I keep making dd cry when she has to pack up old books and put them in storage. And when we move (every few years because of dh's job) we have to carry around extra boxes of books. It's a hassle. I object.

Whatever you do, DO NOT get the kid another book shelf, or under bed storage bin, or hanging rack/shelves in closet, or do anything creative to get room for books she loves. Definitely keep making her cry and throw out books in the name of order, rigidity and sticking it to your MIL through your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I totally disagree. It's not a gift for you.

As the parent and the homeowner, I get a say in what comes into my house.

A stuffed animal is the hill you are going to die on? With family? At Christmas?

Seriously. Way to suck the joy out of the holidays because you have super duper control issues. Lighten up, Mom

Unless you let relatives buy whatever they want to get your kid, regardless of whether the kid will actually enjoy it and whether it fits into the family's house and lifestyle, you have control issues and have sucked the joy out of the holidays. Noted.

Explain to us how a stuffed animal is a family lifestyle choice.