Soldato
- Joined
- 16 May 2004
- Posts
- 6,868
- Location
- Derby
Packaging is crazy and friends and family not considering suggestions we made for them.
Maybe gripe is the wrong word.
I have 3 boys and we limited the number of gifts to them this year as 2 of them are at that age where they can ask for something during the year and if we consider it appropriate, we will get it for them. So with that in mind they had just a smallish stack of presents to open. Now, the mother in law and their Uncle and aunties got a **** ton of gifts, many small silly pointless ones and a few fairly reasonable ones. The wrapping on the kids presents from us half filled a black bin bag. From the others, 3 more bin bags worth. The cardboard and plastic packing was a joke. One full recycle bin (we have two full size ones so not much of an issue until collection day, general waste on the other hand).
I mentioned to the wife, next year how about just getting a few of those big massive gift bags instead, or some hessian sacks. Just have the gifts in those. I did think, would it ruin the magic not actually opening presents, but my 2 eldest know about climate change, how bad plastic are (yeah, toys are made of plastic but the issue is packaging mainly), they know how to reuse, recycle etc. Maybe just have the presents that 'Santa' drops off wrapped up. They all had 2 Santa presents each this year, the rest were from us, which they knew. The mother in law said that might be a good idea, probably because it saves her wrapping 100 stupid pointless things.
What do you guys think? Maybe a poll?
Is it a fair point about waste, and if the kids feel they are ok with not ripping open gifts, do it?
No, it ruins the magic of xmas.
Pancake
To note, our suggestions list was mainly to prevent our eldest from being too overwhelmed on Xmas day (he has ADHD and ASD) this has no effect on the 4 year old or the 2 year old, they go with the flow.
One thing that did make it from our xmas suggestions list this year was the amount of chocolate/sweets the kids got. Last year on boxing day we emptied every selection box, chocolate santa/reindeer, tub, you name it, all into a bag for life and it was rammed to the top. We ended up binning the contents at the start of Feb this year as we would still be eating them now. This year we had a list of things we are ok for people to get and things not ok. On that list two things were followed. Its not us being controlling but preventing friends and family from wasting money on crap the kids dont want or need for a better word.
Last year the MIL got us a massive Panettone, we don't like it and we told her. This year we didn't get one. Fantastic, she listened. Toiletries gift sets, we said don't get us any as we don't use them as we get deodorant , shampoo, gels etc that we like when we need them, we said it just a waste of money, we all got some, the wife got 3 sets. Colouring books, craft sets etc, last year they got loads. We told people not to get any this year as things like that, we get when it suits. We now have a cupboard full. Probably go to waste unfortunately as there is only so many dinosaurs they can colour in before they get board.
You may think this is controlling but its not. Its there to help with peoples money, especially, in this current time. It is also to stop the kids expecting a **** load of gifts every year. There will come a time where they will only get a handful of gifts as those with older kids will know, consoles, games, trainers are not cheap. We will talk to the kids about expectations this year regarding birthdays and xmas in the future.
I think the inlaws are worried that if they don't get lots of gifts the kids will be upset, nope, in fact its the opposite. Too many and they become stressed out as they have too much to play with or make use of. The MIL asked my wife what to get me for xmas earlier this year, I told my wife I would like some tree armatures from my wargaming terrain tables. The MIL refused to get any because thats not a gift and sounds silly. I would have been over the moon if I got some.
People don't listen anymore.
Sorry for the rant.
Oh yeah, don't even ask me about xmas dinner and the plans we had that went **** up.
Anyway, kids are waking, probably woke them slamming down the keys on the keyboard as I typed.
Maybe gripe is the wrong word.
I have 3 boys and we limited the number of gifts to them this year as 2 of them are at that age where they can ask for something during the year and if we consider it appropriate, we will get it for them. So with that in mind they had just a smallish stack of presents to open. Now, the mother in law and their Uncle and aunties got a **** ton of gifts, many small silly pointless ones and a few fairly reasonable ones. The wrapping on the kids presents from us half filled a black bin bag. From the others, 3 more bin bags worth. The cardboard and plastic packing was a joke. One full recycle bin (we have two full size ones so not much of an issue until collection day, general waste on the other hand).
I mentioned to the wife, next year how about just getting a few of those big massive gift bags instead, or some hessian sacks. Just have the gifts in those. I did think, would it ruin the magic not actually opening presents, but my 2 eldest know about climate change, how bad plastic are (yeah, toys are made of plastic but the issue is packaging mainly), they know how to reuse, recycle etc. Maybe just have the presents that 'Santa' drops off wrapped up. They all had 2 Santa presents each this year, the rest were from us, which they knew. The mother in law said that might be a good idea, probably because it saves her wrapping 100 stupid pointless things.
What do you guys think? Maybe a poll?
Is it a fair point about waste, and if the kids feel they are ok with not ripping open gifts, do it?
No, it ruins the magic of xmas.
Pancake
To note, our suggestions list was mainly to prevent our eldest from being too overwhelmed on Xmas day (he has ADHD and ASD) this has no effect on the 4 year old or the 2 year old, they go with the flow.
One thing that did make it from our xmas suggestions list this year was the amount of chocolate/sweets the kids got. Last year on boxing day we emptied every selection box, chocolate santa/reindeer, tub, you name it, all into a bag for life and it was rammed to the top. We ended up binning the contents at the start of Feb this year as we would still be eating them now. This year we had a list of things we are ok for people to get and things not ok. On that list two things were followed. Its not us being controlling but preventing friends and family from wasting money on crap the kids dont want or need for a better word.
Last year the MIL got us a massive Panettone, we don't like it and we told her. This year we didn't get one. Fantastic, she listened. Toiletries gift sets, we said don't get us any as we don't use them as we get deodorant , shampoo, gels etc that we like when we need them, we said it just a waste of money, we all got some, the wife got 3 sets. Colouring books, craft sets etc, last year they got loads. We told people not to get any this year as things like that, we get when it suits. We now have a cupboard full. Probably go to waste unfortunately as there is only so many dinosaurs they can colour in before they get board.
You may think this is controlling but its not. Its there to help with peoples money, especially, in this current time. It is also to stop the kids expecting a **** load of gifts every year. There will come a time where they will only get a handful of gifts as those with older kids will know, consoles, games, trainers are not cheap. We will talk to the kids about expectations this year regarding birthdays and xmas in the future.
I think the inlaws are worried that if they don't get lots of gifts the kids will be upset, nope, in fact its the opposite. Too many and they become stressed out as they have too much to play with or make use of. The MIL asked my wife what to get me for xmas earlier this year, I told my wife I would like some tree armatures from my wargaming terrain tables. The MIL refused to get any because thats not a gift and sounds silly. I would have been over the moon if I got some.
People don't listen anymore.
Sorry for the rant.
Oh yeah, don't even ask me about xmas dinner and the plans we had that went **** up.
Anyway, kids are waking, probably woke them slamming down the keys on the keyboard as I typed.
.
