OP, first of all, this involves a CHILD. Not an adult guest to your home. And not someone upon whom you can put the entire weight of the conduct of the American population.

Your child was apparently brash enough to hint or ask this guest to purchase and bring him a gift. (Rude in my book, but whatever). And this young guest complied. You apparently feel that this guest should not only have purchased and brought your child a gift, but brought one for every child in the household. In your words -- WTF?

Do you honestly feel that guests to your house have an obligation to bring gifts for every member of the household? This young child showed extraordinary consideration to bring your child what he wanted, a pumpkin. And instead of sitting your child down to write him a thank you note, you are complaining that he didn't bring every single one of your children a pumpkin??? That he had the gall to want one of the pumpkins he purchased for himself? OMG -- what an UGLY American?

Yes, there is certainly a cultural disconnect here -- between you and your greedy children and this considerate young guest who must have been mystified.

Since they said they stopped by the store, maybe they meant that they stopped by the store ON THE WAY OVER, in which case, it makes sense, I guess to take the two they purchased for themselves home. I still find it weird they only left 2, when there's 3 kids--how old are the kids, though? And how old is the freaky pumpkin-gifter?

I vote this as the funniest thread in awhile! Move over dirty dice!

Uh, what if they read this?

that's not a cultural disconnect. it's a communication disconnect.

Anonymous wrote:
Now I'm not US born, but I always thought a gift was a gift, and not a loaner....

Seems like you misunderstood which of the 4 pumpkins were gifts and which were not. No biggie.

Did you ask your kids why your guest took 2 pumpkins home when you have 3 kids? How old are DC?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here...
It reminds me of when my BIL came to thanksgiving dinner (he lives 15 miles away) bringing a completely frozen pie as dessert...of course he went home with it still frozen

Probably too much food left over at the host's house so he took it back home with him.

the dessert wasn't ready to be consumed....who brings a frozen dish to thanksgiving dinner?

Don't you just throw it into the oven 30 minutes before serving so it's nicely warm?

Anonymous wrote:If the guest came with 4 pumpkins and left with 2, don't you have 2 pumpkins still at your house? So it appears that they brought one pumpkin per kid, and that the kid who brought them (did the kids carve them?) left with his/her pumpkins?

Sounds to me like you've been here long enough. "cos". " WTH" long enough for slang, obviously.

the pumpkins weren't carved, and I have 3 kids...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here...
It reminds me of when my BIL came to thanksgiving dinner (he lives 15 miles away) bringing a completely frozen pie as dessert...of course he went home with it still frozen

Probably too much food left over at the host's house so he took it back home with him.

the dessert wasn't ready to be consumed....who brings a frozen dish to thanksgiving dinner?

Anonymous wrote:OP here...
It reminds me of when my BIL came to thanksgiving dinner (he lives 15 miles away) bringing a completely frozen pie as dessert...of course he went home with it still frozen

Probably too much food left over at the host's house so he took it back home with him.

If the guest came with 4 pumpkins and left with 2, don't you have 2 pumpkins still at your house? So it appears that they brought one pumpkin per kid, and that the kid who brought them (did the kids carve them?) left with his/her pumpkins?

Sounds to me like you've been here long enough. "cos". " WTH" long enough for slang, obviously.

Did they bring it over to decorate or carve together for Halloween? Or did your kids tell your guest that 2 were enough for your house? That would explain why they took 2 home with them.

OP here...
It reminds me of when my BIL came to thanksgiving dinner (he lives 15 miles away) bringing a completely frozen pie as dessert...of course he went home with it still frozen

Friday my kids had a sleepover guest. The guest arrived with 4 pumpkins, and said they'd been at the store, talked to DC on the phone, and DC had indicated a desire for a pumpkin.(I haven't picked one up yet). I was wondering WTH, cos no-one consulted any adults, but I offered to pay for the pumpkins anyway, since DC had made that request unknown to me. The guests waved me away, saying the pumpkins were a gift. Next day, after the sleepover, I saw the guest leaving with 2 of the pumpkins....

Now I'm not US born, but I always thought a gift was a gift, and not a loaner....