Atheist bil won’t allow 3 year old nephew to receive a gift during holidays

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this some weird troll against atheists?

My very atheist husband, who refused a church wedding and Catholic baptisms for the kids, is perfectly happy with me explaining the meaning of Christmas to them, Christmas carols, gifts, etc.

And I myself am keenly aware that most Christmas traditions predate the Catholic church, and are pagan in nature.

I don't believe this story, frankly.

We’re an atheist household who happily celebrate secular Christmas. I’m guessing this is not the only way that BIL is a rigid PITA.

[Anonymous]

Send the kid a gift in august or september or october and remind him to bring it to play with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s their job to teach their son about different religious (/lack of religion) and I think he will be just fine! He may as a 3 year old pout a bit but there are many thousands of interfaith families where some cousins get Christmas or Hanukkah presents and some do not and I promise everyone is fine!

Sure, but he’s 3 and will see the other children opening their gifts and enjoying them. We eat and then the kids are chomping at the bit to open the gifts Santa left for them. Mom said why can’t she give her grandson a gift?

[Anonymous]

I am so disappointed. I thought this was going to be about an atheist billionaire, not brother in law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom said why can’t she give her grandson a gift?

Because his dad doesn’t want her to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send the kid a gift in august or september or october and remind him to bring it to play with.

That might work. Thanks, pp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s their job to teach their son about different religious (/lack of religion) and I think he will be just fine! He may as a 3 year old pout a bit but there are many thousands of interfaith families where some cousins get Christmas or Hanukkah presents and some do not and I promise everyone is fine!

Sure, but he’s 3 and will see the other children opening their gifts and enjoying them. We eat and then the kids are chomping at the bit to open the gifts Santa left for them. Mom said why can’t she give her grandson a gift?

Because they’re rigid and they have rigid rules. There’s nothing you can do about that. What answer are you and your mom
looking for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s their job to teach their son about different religious (/lack of religion) and I think he will be just fine! He may as a 3 year old pout a bit but there are many thousands of interfaith families where some cousins get Christmas or Hanukkah presents and some do not and I promise everyone is fine!

Sure, but he’s 3 and will see the other children opening their gifts and enjoying them. We eat and then the kids are chomping at the bit to open the gifts Santa left for them. Mom said why can’t she give her grandson a gift?

Let the parents deal with it. No use getting worked up over something that's not your problem. It may blow up or maybe the kid won't notice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send the kid a gift in august or september or october and remind him to bring it to play with.

That might work. Thanks, pp.

Oh please, obviously you don't have your own kids. They won't remember that they got a gift last week much less months ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find another time to exchange gift that is not religious.

Xmas has nothing to do with gifts.

The gifts aren’t religious, and it’s a family tradition. We don’t get together as a family much due to logistics and this is the one time a year we are all together.

Traditions can change. You can do a family get together with gifts another time. In my family, as people married and had families, we moved our big event to Columbus Day weekend and made it Halloween themed. I know others who do a winter solstice celebration.

But if they aren’t important enough to figure out a different plan, then you have to respect their wishes.

[Anonymous]

Can’t it be a New Year’s gift?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send the kid a gift in august or september or october and remind him to bring it to play with.

That might work. Thanks, pp.

LOL. You clearly don't have kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find another time to exchange gift that is not religious.

Xmas has nothing to do with gifts.

The gifts aren’t religious, and it’s a family tradition. We don’t get together as a family much due to logistics and this is the one time a year we are all together.

Traditions can change. You can do a family get together with gifts another time. In my family, as people married and had families, we moved our big event to Columbus Day weekend and made it Halloween themed. I know others who do a winter solstice celebration.

But if they aren’t important enough to figure out a different plan, then you have to respect their wishes.

No, they don't have to change their long standing traditions to appease non believers. BIL will have to just learn to roll with it. Why does everyone have to kowtow to him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is their decision, but I don't see why they come to the Christmas gathering at all if they are against celebrating... We are atheist/agnostic in our house but we love Christmas as a cultural celebration - food, Santa, gift giving!

They aren’t very fun to have around. We want to include them, they are family. We do have a great time cooking and eating and loving on the kids especially. It’s such a great time of year. We don’t want Larlo to feel left out, or feel he’s being treated differently than his cousins. That’s all. My mom is worried his memories of being at her house will be one of sadness and confusion at not being included. If you are a parent, you understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send the kid a gift in august or september or october and remind him to bring it to play with.

That might work. Thanks, pp.

LOL. You clearly don't have kids

I was thinking the and thing, lol. No kid is going to be interested in a gift they’ve had for months when new ones are being opened.

Not to mention, how is grandma going to peddle the Santa story to the other kids if one kid isn’t getting a gift? None of this sounds believable.