Anonymous wrote:My DD begs grandpa to take her to the car wash (she's 3). She'd die if she got a gift card to the car wash. On Saturdays grandpa takes her to the car wash, then library story time and then out to lunch. Pretty sure that's the kind of experiences people are asking for.

What a wonderful grandpa! They will remember those times forever.

Anonymous wrote:Both of our grandmas like to give junk from five below or the dollar store so they can see the kids open it. Then it breaks a couple days later and I have to deal with the tears, or clean up all the crap, and eventually send it to the landfill. Even $5 for ice cream would be better.

We have a grandmother like this, too. The pile of stuff from last week's birthday is already broken (1 of 3) or forgotten (other 2). If not experiences, then please books. No one needs more plastic junk.

I would prefer no gifts to the junk my in-laws insist on giving each year (in spite of us asking for no more toys for the kids). And it's not so easy to just give stuff away. I have to sort through everything, find all the missing pieces, load it up, and take it to the donation center. My labor isn't free. I'd rather take that time to play with my kids at a museum or park.

We just had a second baby, same sex as the first. We said firmly - no clothes for the baby. We're already bursting at the seams with baby clothes. Guess what MIL brought? And she said, "I know you said no clothes, but what else do you buy for a new baby?!" Yet they refuse to open a 529 or give us money to put into the 529s we already have. It's just selfish, really. They have fun watching kids open gifts and we're stuck dealing with the junk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m happy to not receive any gifts or for you to give my kids money for their savings account if you simply HAVE to give something. Truly I prefer nothing at all, they don’t need it, but that crappy $5 1000 piece puzzle is going straight in the trash if you buy it.

+1. I won't throw it in the trash, but I'll likely keep it for a little while and then donate it unopened in a couple of months.

It's not about you. It's about your kid, who I'm sure enjoys opening up a gift on Christmas.

No, again, my kids have plenty and they know a “this is thoughtless junk but I wanted you to open something so I could feel giving” gift when they see it. Absolutely nothing at all is necessary. Really.

I’m sure your kids would disagree. You don’t get to make every decision. You are raising a person with their own preferences and feelings.

And I don't buy thoughtless junk. Everyone is getting a book.

Then don’t ask me what to get them. Because I guarantee you I’m not going to bring up your gift giving myself.

My DD begs grandpa to take her to the car wash (she's 3). She'd die if she got a gift card to the car wash. On Saturdays grandpa takes her to the car wash, then library story time and then out to lunch. Pretty sure that's the kind of experiences people are asking for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m happy to not receive any gifts or for you to give my kids money for their savings account if you simply HAVE to give something. Truly I prefer nothing at all, they don’t need it, but that crappy $5 1000 piece puzzle is going straight in the trash if you buy it.

+1. I won't throw it in the trash, but I'll likely keep it for a little while and then donate it unopened in a couple of months.

It's not about you. It's about your kid, who I'm sure enjoys opening up a gift on Christmas.

No, again, my kids have plenty and they know a “this is thoughtless junk but I wanted you to open something so I could feel giving” gift when they see it. Absolutely nothing at all is necessary. Really.

I’m sure your kids would disagree. You don’t get to make every decision. You are raising a person with their own preferences and feelings.

Anonymous wrote:My brother and SIL asked for experiences. I tried to buy them an annual pass to the children's museum in their town, and they said they wouldn't use it.

Then they came back and said I could pay for my niece and nephew's sports activities. UHHH no thanks. I'm going back to my $10-20 per person rule. I have my own kids' activity bills.

Well they sound entitled with poor manners.

Anonymous wrote:It triples or quadruples the cost every time. Accept your small gift and if you don’t like it donate it!

Maybe you should ask whomever is asking for the experiences that you need to stop giving gifts because it is too expensive. I'm sure they would appreciate nothing rather than the junk that you prefer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m happy to not receive any gifts or for you to give my kids money for their savings account if you simply HAVE to give something. Truly I prefer nothing at all, they don’t need it, but that crappy $5 1000 piece puzzle is going straight in the trash if you buy it.

+1. I won't throw it in the trash, but I'll likely keep it for a little while and then donate it unopened in a couple of months.

It's not about you. It's about your kid, who I'm sure enjoys opening up a gift on Christmas.

No, again, my kids have plenty and they know a “this is thoughtless junk but I wanted you to open something so I could feel giving” gift when they see it. Absolutely nothing at all is necessary. Really.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m happy to not receive any gifts or for you to give my kids money for their savings account if you simply HAVE to give something. Truly I prefer nothing at all, they don’t need it, but that crappy $5 1000 piece puzzle is going straight in the trash if you buy it.

+1. I won't throw it in the trash, but I'll likely keep it for a little while and then donate it unopened in a couple of months.

It's not about you. It's about your kid, who I'm sure enjoys opening up a gift on Christmas.

My brother and SIL asked for experiences. I tried to buy them an annual pass to the children's museum in their town, and they said they wouldn't use it.

Then they came back and said I could pay for my niece and nephew's sports activities. UHHH no thanks. I'm going back to my $10-20 per person rule. I have my own kids' activity bills.

Anonymous wrote:I’m happy to not receive any gifts or for you to give my kids money for their savings account if you simply HAVE to give something. Truly I prefer nothing at all, they don’t need it, but that crappy $5 1000 piece puzzle is going straight in the trash if you buy it.

+1. I won't throw it in the trash, but I'll likely keep it for a little while and then donate it unopened in a couple of months.

I’m happy to not receive any gifts or for you to give my kids money for their savings account if you simply HAVE to give something. Truly I prefer nothing at all, they don’t need it, but that crappy $5 1000 piece puzzle is going straight in the trash if you buy it.

Anonymous wrote:The experience thing is a pain in the butt. Just because you want to clear your house of clutter doesn’t mean your kids would prefer a crappy museum visit over a toy or game.

Maybe your kids wouldn’t. Mine definitely did.