Posted on 12/13/2018 5:09:13 PM PST by super7man
On occasion our kids, when little, received Christmas gifts from Grandparents that our kids were not expecting and frankly had no idea of what to do with it.
A wood box to our 5 year old son, with nothing in it. Just the box. But it had been his Great Grandfather's and Grandma wanted him to have it. Hope dashed, a tear welled up in his eye but he did not cry.
OR the silver Victorian shoe horn that our 6 year old got; it was pretty but she had no idea of how it should be used at Christmas dinner. Oh, and the proud announcement that this was the first item of a 12 piece set that my daughter would receive for the next 11 years.
I realize that it is difficult for Grandparents to know what a nice gift would be for Grandchildren whom they see twice a year and don't really know. And requested gift lists were generally ignored.
So this is what we did. We told our kids that if they received a gift from Grandparents which was not what they had hoped for, after Christmas we would buy that gift for $20. BUT they had to be gracious when receiving the gift. Maybe something was said about "It's the thought....."
They did not have to lie. If the gift was beautiful like a Victorian shoe horn, say so and thank them. If the gift was practical like the socks our son got from Grandma, tell them how you will enjoy using them when you go hiking. All the while, visions of a new GameBoy game danced in their heads.
It solved a lot of problems.
I hate the holidays
I just write checks now————easy.
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I work on the theory that the sons get what they need, the grandsons get what they want.
I always ask them what they want, this year, they both told me money. Pretty easy.
When I was 10, my Brothers and I searched for a Mother’s Day gift. We picked a pretty but cheap flower vase at the dime store.
We could not find a card which said “from your 3 Sons” so we just put an “S” after Son and a “3” before. For some reason it really touched her.
Many years later she told me that vase was the most valuable thing she owned. After she died, I found the card in her keepsakes. My Daughter now has it and the vase.
Amazon wish list.
Every child should be given a piggy bank and a way to make music. YMMV
Yes, she thought it was some kind of eating utensil.
Wake me on Jan 2nd!!
Mom was touched by our grown up gift...leau de toilette....17 cents at Woolworths. Always wondered why it lasted so long.
Checks work..... Do you need my address?
Nice story.
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:-)
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Those were very nice comments.
I do cash....My grandkids are in their 20s.
Every 5 year old should get a drum set. ;-) At 6 they should get a vuvuzela. ;-)) At 7 a case of air horns is in order.
They will not make it to 8.
I try to find a gift for friends kids that the kids will love and the parents will hate. Like the voice changing megaphone I gave my best friends 3 year old. She’s 15 now and still has it, parents still hate it. It’s good for a laugh now.
Very sweet. Thanks.
I hope you keep all those grandparents’ gifts.
When you kids are older, they may pay double to get it back.
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