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[quote=Anonymous]I've had this problem. It really starts to become a problem when the stuff they give starts to accumulate, faster than you can get rid of it.  It takes a ton of energy to deal with it and get it out of your house (more energy than it takes for them to buy it).  We've given up trying to say something because it doesn't stop the behavior (which could very well be pathological like an addiction or compulsion).  My new year's resolution is to get the extra stuff OUT OF THE HOUSE. It helps when they outgrow the toys, but even if the toys are well and good, too many of anything is a bad thing when your kid can't walk through their room because of all the stuff.  All you can do is donate and be minimalist.  I'm hoping the older the kids get, the fun of the ILs buying and giving gifts will wear off.  Not to make light of grieving but I just realized it's like the 5 stages of grief.
Stage 1: Denial (Did they really just give us that much stuff?! Again?!)
Stage 2: Anger (How dare they keep giving us more stuff when we've asked them to cut back! I don't have the time or energy to deal with it all! If they don't stop, I'm not going to spend Christmas with them ever again!)
Stage 3: Bargaining (If they would give presents only on birthdays and Christmas, maybe it won't be so bad. Maybe we can just get them to only buy books.)
Stage 4: Depression (There is so much crap it's overwhelming. I'm exhausted looking at the piles. It's never going to end.)
Stage 5: Acceptance (I can't change their behavior. I can only donate to charity.)[/quote]

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