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2005-12-21 3:19 PM

Member
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Tucson
Subject: What would you do?
I am having a situation with my family and I would like some outside opinions on the subject. I have 2 girls age 5 and 2. Each year my aunt,(their great-aunt) asks for a list of what the kids woudl like. I provide this list and each year she never buys anything from the list. So this year is no different except she bought something almost identical to what Santa is bringing for the 5 year old. (2 barbie dolls and a barbie clothes carrying case). Now my Aunt does not celebrate the holidays with us, she gives us our presents a week or two before Christmas then she goes to California. She wants us to open the presents when she gives them to us but I said no this year. (That's a different story in itself) So my mom is now in possession of these gifts that we are opening on Christmas day. Since the gifts are sooo similar, I suggested that I would return the gift from the Aunt ahead of Christmas and replace it with one of the many things my daughter really wanted off the list I gave my Aunt. Then wrap it up and put it with the rest of the gifts. My mom thinks I am compltely out of line and I am losing the spirit of Christmas by doing this. I don't want her to have the same thing Santa got her from her great Aunt and I don't want her to open it and then I have to return it after Christmas. Any suggestions on how to handle this? This is stressing me out. Thanks!


2005-12-21 3:23 PM
in reply to: #310031

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Resident Curmudgeon
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The Road Back
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Subject: RE: What would you do?
Return Santa's gifts and get something else on their lists. I would also suggest family counseling, as the issues appear to run deeper than just Christmas presents.

Edited by the bear 2005-12-21 3:26 PM
2005-12-21 3:25 PM
in reply to: #310031

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Buttercup
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Subject: RE: What would you do?

Why not:

  1. Give your aunt's presents to your daughters
  2. Return the Barbies (COME ON?!!! BARBIE?! Geez... Ok, ok, ok, it's a girly thing) from 'Santa' and get something from that list from Santa or you or whoever it is from (I'm losing track).
  3. Do not let your daughters open gifts from anyone until Christmas Day (or eve, if that's your custom).
2005-12-21 3:31 PM
in reply to: #310031

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Elite
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Muskego, WI
Subject: RE: What would you do?
(a) It sure would be nice if she would UTILIZE the list. Next year, when she asks for it, can you ask her to let you know ASAP what she is buying to avoid overlap? One way or another as the kids get older this would need to stop.

(b) For this year, can't you take YOUR Santa present back and get something else from Santa?

I don't see how it is "losing the spirit of Christmas" to avoid overlapping gifts...but I would ask you to remember that, as rude as it is to AVOID your list, she did go out of her way to spend her own $$ and get a gift for YOUR child. The Aunt should give the original gift for that reason, and you should try to get something else.
2005-12-21 3:35 PM
in reply to: #310031

Subject: ...
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2005-12-21 3:38 PM
in reply to: #310055

Buttercup
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Subject: RE: What would you do?
Another BT controversy begins...


2005-12-21 3:49 PM
in reply to: #310031

Extreme Veteran
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Northwest Ohio
Subject: RE: What would you do?
What would I do? Pour myself a glass of wine and chill out.

It's called a gift. It's not like you placed an order with a mail order company and they filled it wrong. It's a gift. Say "thank you for remebering my daughter even though you can't be with us on such a special day."

It's Christmas. Fa la la la la la la la la.

Take a deep breath. Relax. Drink the wine. Don't whine.

2005-12-21 3:53 PM
in reply to: #310031

Member
96
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Tucson
Subject: RE: What would you do?
Thank you all for the input. Let me clarify this since it makes a difference. Sorry I didn't clarify this earlier. Santa got her 2 Brats dolls with a Bratz carrying case that she has been asking for. Aunt got her 2 barbie dolls and a Barbie carrying case. So they are quite similar but not the same brand. I thought of taking back the Brats but that is what she has been asking for. She doesn't need 2 of the same type thing and space is an issue in our house.
2005-12-21 4:11 PM
in reply to: #310037

Member
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Tucson
Subject: RE: What would you do?
I have suggested counseling before but no one but me would agree to go..
2005-12-21 4:13 PM
in reply to: #310084

Buttercup
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Subject: RE: What would you do?

trifan76 - 2005-12-21 3:53 PM Thank you all for the input. Let me clarify this since it makes a difference. Sorry I didn't clarify this earlier. Santa got her 2 Brats dolls with a Bratz carrying case that she has been asking for. Aunt got her 2 barbie dolls and a Barbie carrying case. So they are quite similar but not the same brand. I thought of taking back the Brats but that is what she has been asking for. She doesn't need 2 of the same type thing and space is an issue in our house.

Bratz dolls are  t o t a l l y  different. Keep both.

2005-12-21 5:53 PM
in reply to: #310031

Champion
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Subject: RE: What would you do?

PC:  Keep the aunt's gift, adjust santa's gift / let santa deliver his gift too.  Morey's got it right.  Either way works.  It's all about the kids and the spirit of the season, not the adults / bittnerness about the list / space.  There's enough space for the barbies AND brats, guaranteed.  You can make space when it's important.

Non-PC:  Drink the wine, keep the bratz, crank call your aunt, take a few other gifts (preferably to others) back to make space for the new computrainer.  It's all about the adults and the bitterness, and getting the exact right thing each and every time, right now.  You can make space when it's important.  



Edited by rkreuser 2005-12-21 5:55 PM



2005-12-21 6:23 PM
in reply to: #310031

Champion
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Sydney
Subject: RE: What would you do?

From a kids perspective bratz and barbies are just NOT the same....otherwise Im sure your daughter wouldnt have had a preference of one over the other. I would say just relax...its christmas! And enjoy your daughters face when she see's santa got her what she wanted!!!

Although space is an issue....the look on your daughters face on Sunday will hopefulyl make it seem all worth while

Merry Christmas to you and your girls

2005-12-21 8:32 PM
in reply to: #310031

Subject: ...
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2005-12-22 9:45 AM
in reply to: #310249

Champion
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Subject: RE: What would you do?

betsybromley - 2005-12-21 8:32 PM keep both and then they could have fights between Barbie's and Bratz

Bratz to win the battle ('cuz they're so ghetto and all)
Barbie to win the war, (better lawyers)

Tell your kids Auntie didn't know that Santa was bringing the dolls and the sleigh was already packed

drink the wine

2005-12-22 10:06 AM
in reply to: #310031

Extreme Veteran
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Texas
Subject: RE: What would you do?

Totally different gifts...keep them both.  If she has been asking for Bratz then Santa should give her Bratz.  If she is anything like my nieces they want specific barbie dolls to play with at a specific time, she will enjoy play time with both.  I would make sure she opens the presents from Santa first. 

As far as opening gifts before Christmas, does your Aunt want the kids to open them while she is visiting?  I would understand if she did.  Actually I understand why she wants them to open the gifts early.  Personally I send my nieces gifts after their birthdays and Christmas, that way the excitement of the day and all the new toys is continued and there is more focus on what I give them. Smile

2005-12-22 2:16 PM
in reply to: #310031

Crystal Lake, IL
Subject: RE: What would you do?

It's very easy to get caught up in this kind of stuff this time of year so I don't mean this to sound like I'm jumping all over anyone.  I also am not usually a huge fan of Jesse Jackson's, as I firmly believe that the most dangerous spot on the planet is anywhere between him and a television camera.  However, he had a column in the Chicago Sun-Times this week about Christmas that just blew me away.  Especially toward the end when he talks about kids.  Again, I'm not trying to trivialize the original problem, but when you read this you realize how brainwashed we all are into what's important and what's not.  And this is not preachy religion stuff - it's about tangible societal issues. 

So my advice:  read the column below, think, relax and try to enjoy the holiday.  It's not as bad as it seems. 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/jesse/cst-edt-jesse20.html



2005-12-22 4:28 PM
in reply to: #310031

Expert
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Kaneohe, Hawaii
Subject: RE: What would you do?
I refuse to allow my daughters to play with the Bratz stuff. I think it teaches them to be prostitots.
2005-12-22 7:06 PM
in reply to: #310799

Veteran
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Michigan
Subject: RE: What would you do?

Shaved_Wookie - 2005-12-22 5:28 PM I refuse to allow my daughters to play with the Bratz stuff. I think it teaches them to be prostitots.

I was waiting to see if anyone would say anything about those Bratz dolls.  Prostitots - that's perfect!  No Bratz for my daughter either for a number of reasons including how creepy they are with all those gigantic heads, oversized lips and all that makeup.  Just my opinion!

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