Any gift-giving traditions from spouse's family that annoy you?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Gifts are either late or just don't show up (even though we've been told they are in the mail). Sadly, it happens with gifts for the kids, too. I few years ago, DH sent an email that we were no longer exchanging with the adults. Its just easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What annoys me is the wild swings in the gifts. One year it is a pair of running shoes, another it is a check for serious money, another it might be a $50 amazon gift card. Their income doesn't vary so I don't get it. Are we being rewarded or punished for our behavior during the year?

Just because my income is steady doesn't mean my Christmas budget is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually I was going to say the whole fact that my ILs still give gifts to adults is what's annoying to me

Agree 100%
I don't need them picking things out for me, and I don't need to be picking things out for them (or nagging husband to). Everyone has more than enough and buys what they want year-round, so gifts are ridiculous. We all know we love each other and show that in many other ways! And we have young kids they can focus all their attention on. We are slowly making progress

Same here!

[Anonymous]

It frustrates me that my inlaws feel that box after box of toys and lots of useless stuff is an expectation and that its no fun for the kids if they do not have this. We are working on having them see the value of more experience type gifts such as taking them to the zoo or something similar. They just can not understand how this could be fun. The irony is that the kids really do not need or want any more stuff and love getting experiences so much more.

[Anonymous]

OP, Doorways VA will happily take your gift cards and give them to needy families!!

[Anonymous]

Not 10:11, but for the person who has unwanted giftcards stacked up, Homeless Families can use Target, Giant or Safeway cards.

http://doorwaysva.org/donate/seasonal-ways-to-give/holiday-wishes-campaign/

[Anonymous]

My mom's siblings decided that it was dumb for them all to exchange gifts--we kids did a Secret-Santa-type gift exchange where we each picked a name out of a hat and just bought a gift for that person. The aunts and uncles put the money they would have used to buy a gift to buy Christmas dinner, grocery staples, and gifts for a needy family (my aunt worked at a school, so she knew which families were hurting). Christmas was still a lot of fun with the small gift exchange, a yummy dinner, and lots of games.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What annoys me is the wild swings in the gifts. One year it is a pair of running shoes, another it is a check for serious money, another it might be a $50 amazon gift card. Their income doesn't vary so I don't get it. Are we being rewarded or punished for our behavior during the year?

Those all sound really nice. I don't get what the problem is.

[Anonymous]

Hate that we always buy gifts for DH's parents, but they NEVER send anything for our DCs for Xmas, bday, graduation.

[Anonymous]

The fact that we have to exchange with them. It is so absurd to ship boxes of gifts across the country. They are filthy rich, so nothing we can pick out (and it must be from their lists) makes a bit of difference in their world, and they are horrible, horrible gift givers to me and our child. Wildly age-innapropriate things for our kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My in-laws decided that the grand kids all give and get presents from each other, and give and get presents from the grandparents. Who buys all these presents? The daughter in laws who also have to make dinner for everyone. All the boys seem incapable of helping with this tradition their mother came up with. Fabulous. Oh, and their religion means no wine all day. Sigh.

Next year, invest in a nice big coffee mug, fill it with wine, and blow on it gently every time MIL glances your way. This is the only way I get through Beach Week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hate that we always buy gifts for DH's parents, but they NEVER send anything for our DCs for Xmas, bday, graduation.

Then just stop sending something to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hate that we always buy gifts for DH's parents, but they NEVER send anything for our DCs for Xmas, bday, graduation.

Then just stop sending something to them.

Yes, our youngest finishes high school this spring, so for Xmas they are getting a fruit basket (maybe).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband's family is into mailed greeting cards for birthdays, which annoys me no end. They purchase cards, sign their name to the bottom (no other comment) and consider that a birthday remembrance. I view it as wasteful and unnecessary.

You think getting a card mailed to you is annoying? I don't even have a snarky response to that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My in-laws decided that the grand kids all give and get presents from each other, and give and get presents from the grandparents. Who buys all these presents? The daughter in laws who also have to make dinner for everyone. All the boys seem incapable of helping with this tradition their mother came up with. Fabulous. Oh, and their religion means no wine all day. Sigh.

Next year, invest in a nice big coffee mug, fill it with wine, and blow on it gently every time MIL glances your way. This is the only way I get through Beach Week.

Coffee and tea are also out, but thanks for the good thoughts.