How long is it polite to keep unwanted gifts for? My child continues to be showered in gifts that fit one or more of the following:
Inappropriate
Junk/trashy
Pointless/space waster
The complicating factor is that the person who gives these gifts visits our house several times a week.
Currently I have been "storing" as many of the gifts that fit these categories but space just doesn't permit it anymore. My child is not yet of an age that they can rationally decide whether they want these gifts or not.
I have tried to point the gift giver in the right direction and just can't be bothered anymore as it seems to fall on deaf ears.
So please tell me mummas how long should i keep these gifts before I can donate these items?
Unwanted gift etiquette...
Unwanted gift etiquette...
Posted in:
Parenthood Guilt, Baby & Toddler, Kids
3 Replies
I would have a very forward and direct conversation with this person. I assume it's family which is hard but it will be okay. I had the same now my kids get mostly experiences. So a small gift, and tickets to the movies, performances, activities, and are mostly taken by the gift giver (grandparents). For the stuff you have sell it on a local buy swap an sell page and put the money in your child's bank account. Our other thing is a small gift and money in our kids accounts, I am pretty sure at 18/21 they will appreciate money not the news that they had so many toys we gave them away. Good luck but it's worth the effort
I have this same problem with my in laws who I don't speak to. For my daughter bdays and Christmas they just give her a whole lot of pointless junk that she doesn't need and just clutters my house. I just wished they would get her one or 2 decent presents instead of loads of junk. Because I don't talk to them it's great cause she goes over there and brings all the crap home and I just throw it out or get rid of it. I know it sounds mean but what else am I meant to do with it. And this Xmas the one decent present she did get she wouldn't let my daughter bring it home she wanted to keep it at her house so she can play with it there. Wish she would have kept the other crap to lol.
Xmas just gone, I put the word out that that a $10 deposit into miss 5's Dollarmite account would be appreciated the most. She has enough clothes, books, toys etc.