DD chooses weird gifts for her friends ... venting here because I know I should say nothing

[Anonymous]

Agree the boys who just hand over a crumpled $20 are the worst. I’ try to tell them to at least put it in a card with a fart joke or something. I mean, elevate it a little!

[Anonymous]

My 9th grade friend gave me an inexpensive vase, a small bottle of Avon perfume, and a cheap pottery bank.

I still have all 3 and I'm 55. The vase is in a cabinet just behind me as I type.

[Anonymous]

I remember when my daughter got a bunch of junk from a friend - ugh! It looked like they had stopped at CVS on the way to the party. It was full size candy bars, hot Cheetos and a $5 gift card to Dairy Queen. Totally thoughtless and stupid. Hated the jumble of crap. I was pretty shocked a parent would allow it.

[Anonymous]

Get a gift card and let her pick out one small gift to go along with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember when my daughter got a bunch of junk from a friend - ugh! It looked like they had stopped at CVS on the way to the party. It was full size candy bars, hot Cheetos and a $5 gift card to Dairy Queen. Totally thoughtless and stupid. Hated the jumble of crap. I was pretty shocked a parent would allow it.

My DD would be ever excited for a full size candy bar and a gift card for snacks.

Also, when I was a kid I didn’t have pocket money and my mom wouldn’t let me give presents if it wasn’t a “real” birthday party. I would have to scrounge gifts and yes, sometimes it would be a jumble that was like what you listed above.

Honestly, snacks are better than plastic crap. Hot Cheetos and a Dairy Queen gift card are the 12 year old equivalent of a bottle of wine and a pint of ice cream.

[Anonymous]

I feel like this is totally normal at that age when kids start shopping for their own friends.

[Anonymous]

I guess I am in the minority here but I don't understand the need to be so hands off. I would buy something a little nicer that is a thoughtful gift for the recipient, and throw in the stuff my DD picked out with it.

Idk I think we should be teaching our kids how to give quality, thoughtful presents to others. It's a life skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grade friend gave me an inexpensive vase, a small bottle of Avon perfume, and a cheap pottery bank.

I still have all 3 and I'm 55. The vase is in a cabinet just behind me as I type.

Wow surprised you kept all of those things every time you moved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess I am in the minority here but I don't understand the need to be so hands off. I would buy something a little nicer that is a thoughtful gift for the recipient, and throw in the stuff my DD picked out with it.

Idk I think we should be teaching our kids how to give quality, thoughtful presents to others. It's a life skill.

Eh. It’s a different era. People buy so much stuff for themselves now. You can have just about anything you delivered to your door step the next day- or even same day. I think gift giving should just go away, with the exception of Christmas or if you are traveling and found something truly unique or handmade something

[Anonymous]

Kids this age tend to be about quantity over quality. I get my kids nice birthday presents, but the one they’re always most excited to get is the annual box full of individual snacks. It’s like a Christmas stocking. Lots of little surprises can be as thrilling as one big one.

I wouldn’t worry what other parents think. If the birthday girl loves it, that’s all that matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember when my daughter got a bunch of junk from a friend - ugh! It looked like they had stopped at CVS on the way to the party. It was full size candy bars, hot Cheetos and a $5 gift card to Dairy Queen. Totally thoughtless and stupid. Hated the jumble of crap. I was pretty shocked a parent would allow it.

My DD would be ever excited for a full size candy bar and a gift card for snacks.

Also, when I was a kid I didn’t have pocket money and my mom wouldn’t let me give presents if it wasn’t a “real” birthday party. I would have to scrounge gifts and yes, sometimes it would be a jumble that was like what you listed above.

Honestly, snacks are better than plastic crap. Hot Cheetos and a Dairy Queen gift card are the 12 year old equivalent of a bottle of wine and a pint of ice cream.

Not just any wine, a thoughtfully-selected personal recommendation from the gift-giver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 9th grade friend gave me an inexpensive vase, a small bottle of Avon perfume, and a cheap pottery bank.

I still have all 3 and I'm 55. The vase is in a cabinet just behind me as I type.

Wow surprised you kept all of those things every time you moved.

I'm a sentimental person and we are still friends. The vase is lovely although dimestore. The other things are in the basement with other high school ephemera. I never used the perfume but the bottle is small and pretty. It was just so nice to get an unexpected gift from a friend. When I occasionally look at them, it triggers a lot of happy memories and that's why they haven't been dumped yet. I doubt they could be rehomed. So luckily I'm not close to the point where I need to trash them.

Maybe you all should be glad your kids are getting Cheetos and hair clips.

[Anonymous]

IME with tween/teen girls this is quite common. As I get older, I’m too tired to meddle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember when my daughter got a bunch of junk from a friend - ugh! It looked like they had stopped at CVS on the way to the party. It was full size candy bars, hot Cheetos and a $5 gift card to Dairy Queen. Totally thoughtless and stupid. Hated the jumble of crap. I was pretty shocked a parent would allow it.

My DD would be ever excited for a full size candy bar and a gift card for snacks.

Also, when I was a kid I didn’t have pocket money and my mom wouldn’t let me give presents if it wasn’t a “real” birthday party. I would have to scrounge gifts and yes, sometimes it would be a jumble that was like what you listed above.

Honestly, snacks are better than plastic crap. Hot Cheetos and a Dairy Queen gift card are the 12 year old equivalent of a bottle of wine and a pint of ice cream.

Not just any wine, a thoughtfully-selected personal recommendation from the gift-giver.

I’m the PP. My daughter doesn’t like hot Cheetohs and has never been to DQ. Gift was not personal or good. Literally last minute crap. Parenting fail and laziness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Age appropriate.

Let it go

This. No one cares.