Sentimental gift or just a weird option?

[Anonymous]

Dear Friend’s FIL passed away and was a UPS Driver. Her son has recently turned 1 a few months ago and I considered getting one of those pullback UPS brown trucks as a christmas present. He doesn’t have one, and I thought it may be nice for him to play with the toy his grandad drove.

Is that strange? Tell me if that’s an awful idea. .

[Anonymous]

I think it's sweet.

But I also don't understand social interactions, so take that as you will.

[Anonymous]

I think it is sweet too..but hard to know how the actual family might react.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs! His passing was just a few months ago so it is still very soon after which also cautioned me but I can also possibly see it meaning more now too.

Op here.

[Anonymous]

It's a sweet idea but I feel like it's a bit... personal. Not for you as a friend to decide to gift that in honor of grandpa, IMO.

[Anonymous]

That sounds sweet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a sweet idea but I feel like it's a bit... personal. Not for you as a friend to decide to gift that in honor of grandpa, IMO.

I agree. It might make the adults sad. The kid won't know/won't care.

But the kernel of the impulse makes sense.

My sister's FIL used to collect promotional toy trucks for his future grandkids. He did not live to see his kids get married, due to cancer. But at some point, the trucks were duly unboxed and given to the grandkids.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s a nice gesture for two reasons: I’m sure the boy loves trucks or things with wheels, like most boys his age. I think it’s a sweet way to remember and honor dad/grandpa in Christmas, the first Christmas since his passing.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s sweet. But I’d probably not just wrap it up and hand it to the kid. I’d write her a kind note that you’ve been thinking about a lot about her dad and her loss, include a kind memory if you knew him personally, and say you wish her son would have been able to know him and hope as he grows up you’ll have the privilege of seeing some of her dads best qualities reflected in the fine man DS is sure to become. Then say you saw the truck, it made you think of her dad and smile at his memory (again, if you knew him), and you wanted to share it with her son.

[Anonymous]

Why not just ask your friend? I always check with parents for young child gifts.

[Anonymous]

I would not do this. Was the kid close to his grandfather? If he does associate the truck with his grandpa, he may start asking for grandpa.

When a relative of mine died, a couple of his grandchildren around that age would continue to ask for grandpa whenever they saw things that they associated with him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a sweet idea but I feel like it's a bit... personal. Not for you as a friend to decide to gift that in honor of grandpa, IMO.

I agree. It might make the adults sad. The kid won't know/won't care.

But the kernel of the impulse makes sense.

My sister's FIL used to collect promotional toy trucks for his future grandkids. He did not live to see his kids get married, due to cancer. But at some point, the trucks were duly unboxed and given to the grandkids.

That is so heartwarming.

[Anonymous]

I think it is really sweet but at a sensitive time they many not feel the same, so probably would not.

[Anonymous]

I understand the sentiment, but I wouldn’t do it. Maybe they have kind memories of ups, but maybe they don’t.