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[quote=Anonymous]Okay, I have been a preschool teacher for many years, and I have my own 2 kids.  I feel I can respond from both perspectives.

1. As a parent, it is NOT helpful when everyone and their sister gives new parents advice.  Sometimes people want to figure out what works for them on their own. 
    As a teacher, I often have ideas/suggestions for family  members dealing with young kids but I DO NOT offer unless they ASK me.   Maybe I might say "have you tried x"? if I think it might be the solution they are looking for, but only rarely.

2.  Stop with the gifts.   There are nice/expensive gifts that do not match the taste/needs of the recipient.  I used to get these from a family member until she figured out we were not into them.  The other type is the "fun but inexpensive gift"  I  have a MIL whose love language is definitely gifts.  I often wished that she would be the grandma who would buy my girls one American Girl doll on their birthday rather than 100 gifts from the dollar store given on random occasions over the year.   It was an added task to deal with extra crap, during a time in my life when I already did not have time to complete necessary tasks.

Do you ever babysit for them?  Have you offered?  You can have whatever fun activities you think he'd enjoy at your house and you can do them with him while his parents get some time on their own.[/quote]

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