Anonymous wrote:Age appropriate.

Let it go

This. No one cares.

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.

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

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 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.

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 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 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 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.

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

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.

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

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 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.

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!