OP, I think you should become a "white lie" family. This is the TEXTBOOK CASE of when it is appropriate and kind to use a little white lie.

Your friend wants to do something nice and thoughtful for your son.
You want your friend to feel good by giving your son a gift.
Your son actually WANTS what she is giving him.
But you think your friend specifically wants to give him something he hasn't read and when she asked you, he hadn't... but now he has.

Just a omission. No need to be fully upfront with the bald faced truth. Just tell your son to say "Wow, thanks so much! I'll love these!" It's not a lie, it's tact. It's manners.

It's PERFECTLY FINE. The gears of society are greased by the oil of etiquette.

Get your anxiety treated.

-person with GAD

Anonymous wrote:He was very clear he'd like to own the books. Why is it a problem if he's already read them. Is he not allowed to read a book twice?

+1

My kid loves to reread her favorite books. If he loved the series, he can truthfully say, "Oh, wow, I love this series! Thanks!"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you must live with a lot of anxiety. I relate. But agree with others that there's no harm in your kid saying thank you. And I think you were wrong to criticize your child for going out and reading the books. No need to make him feel guilty for his enthusiasm. He can still say thank you for the books.

Yes, that made me sad. Larlo, how dare you go get those books from the library and read them, before Friend gives you a copy?! I mean.

+1

You need to apologize to your kid, OP.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you must live with a lot of anxiety. I relate. But agree with others that there's no harm in your kid saying thank you. And I think you were wrong to criticize your child for going out and reading the books. No need to make him feel guilty for his enthusiasm. He can still say thank you for the books.

Yes, that made me sad. Larlo, how dare you go get those books from the library and read them, before Friend gives you a copy?! I mean.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Man I wish I had this level of problem. Your life sounds so ideal and blissful.

Signed, Mom of 3 teens who give me real problems on the daily

Go away.

I get this is an annoying response and not helpful at all, but I must admit this is what I thought in my head after reading the OP.

For sure. OP is inventing problems.

I have thousands of books in my home library, most of which I have read multiple times. I do not see the problem here, OP.

OP, you must live with a lot of anxiety. I relate. But agree with others that there's no harm in your kid saying thank you. And I think you were wrong to criticize your child for going out and reading the books. No need to make him feel guilty for his enthusiasm. He can still say thank you for the books.

Anonymous wrote:What is the series?

+1. I’m always looking for new books for my reader.

What is the series?

I LOVE re-reading good books. This is a non-issue, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Man I wish I had this level of problem. Your life sounds so ideal and blissful.

Signed, Mom of 3 teens who give me real problems on the daily

Go away.

I get this is an annoying response and not helpful at all, but I must admit this is what I thought in my head after reading the OP.

+1. This is just not a real problem. Plus, OP comes off as very self righteous. “We are not a white lie family”??? Really? You actually see a problem with you kid “saying “Thanks you. I’ve wanted a copy of these books”— when, in fact, he has wanted his own copy?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your kids are like my kids, they read books several times and are delighted to own books they've already checked out and read.

+1

Plus, he'll be able to truthfully say "I love this series and now I'm so happy to have my own copies"

I've purchased copies of many of my kids favorites/books they've read tons precisely so they can re-read them whenever they want without needing to go to the library. I don't see the problem.

He was very clear he'd like to own the books. Why is it a problem if he's already read them. Is he not allowed to read a book twice?