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Original poster

Is this a rubbish gift?

56 replies

Springtimeflowers · 25/12/2018 22:47

I have a young family, and have tried to gift to others fairly minimally but thoughtfully this year. Like many people, we are on a budget and don't like worrying about money over Christmas.

We don't live near parents (and I know my parents wish they could see their grandchildren more), so I thought it would be nice to make scrapbooks (filled with nice photos and my toddlers' artwork) for my parents and in laws. They took a long time to make, and I thought that they would make a really special gift.

But I called my mum, and I feel like she was really disappointed by the gift. She didn't say, but I know her well enough. I just feel a bit sad, and nervous to give the present to my in laws when we see them soon.

Would you think this gift wasn't very nice?

OP posts:
Original poster
Springtimeflowers · 25/12/2018 23:27

Thank you everyone :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Springtimeflowers · 25/12/2018 23:28

But the grandchildren were in every photo. I'm not explaining this very well!

OP posts:
giftsonthebrain · 25/12/2018 23:30

Grandkids and artwork sounds perfectly lovely!

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Christmas
EnidButton · 25/12/2018 23:30

I think it's a really nice idea.

Are you sure she was disappointed and you're not just overthinking things because you feel sad about not going and not having as much money as usual?

If she really is disappointed, she's being a bit of a spoilt brat tbh and I wouldn't take any notice or give it anymore thought. I'm sure your in-laws will love it.

Loopytiles · 25/12/2018 23:33

Lots of people dislike DCs’ / GCs’ artwork. For those people 40 pages of it, even alongside photos, will be way too much.

Photos are nice but would be nicer IMO just posted, alone or in a simple album, or shared by email / text (social media not necessary).

Original poster
Springtimeflowers · 25/12/2018 23:37

Thank you for your replies.

I don't wish to be rude, but don't think I'll post any more as I'm just being a bit stupid and over sensitive, and letting myself get all upset about it!

I just wanted to do something more creative than a photo album (which is a lovely gift too), so that she could see although we didn't have much money to spend, I still care and put lots of thought and time in.

Maybe she likes it, maybe not.

OP posts:
SushiMonster · 26/12/2018 00:12

This is a bit marmite. Some people would love a scrapbook, some people would think ‘just share the photos in the family WhatsApp group’

Amaaboutthis · 26/12/2018 00:14

Photo book would be lovely, artwork, not so much. Let’s be honest, the only place for toddler artwork is the bin so maybe just for a cover

llangennith · 26/12/2018 00:16

Sorry OP but I wouldn't be too thrilled if I received a scrapbook filled with photos and artwork of my grandchildren. If money's tight maybe agree on only buying presents for the children and don't do adult presents?

Helmlover · 26/12/2018 00:23

I agree with other posters, toddler ‘artwork’ belongs in the bin and if I received a scrapbook full of that, that is certainly where I would be putting it!

I appreciate money is tight but surely some nice framed photographs of your parents and children together would have been a better gift and slightly more meaningful.

BestZebbie · 26/12/2018 09:27

A couple of years ago we did a "DS book if dinosaurs" photobook for gifts and it went down fairly well. That was about 60:40 photos of him being a dinosaur/playing with dinosaur toys/visiting a dinosaur park etc and artwork he had done supposedly featuring dinosaurs with his explanations of what was happening in each picture as the captions.

CaptainMarvelDanvers · 26/12/2018 09:43

I think it’s a lovely gift OP, and normally I’m not a sentimental craft lover.

I miss looking at proper photographs. I never look back through old photos I posted on social media but I love flicking through photo albums. I think there is something lovely about choosing to keep a certain photograph in a world where people take a hundred pictures of their cat’s dinner.

taybert · 26/12/2018 10:08

Sorry you’re upset OP. I think people have been a bit harsh- it’s not a gift you’d give to a friend but my mum would love that. She has in fact laminated toddler artwork to keep before though so she might be a special case! I think if it were my mum I’d be giving her a ring and having a chat about it (in a nice way), otherwise you’re going to keep being upset about it.

helzapoppin2 · 26/12/2018 10:21

It’s a really lovely gift. Putting time and effort into a scrapbook like that is really thoughtful of you. You can easily buy “things”, but love and creativity are priceless.

ZenNudist · 26/12/2018 10:24

I know you said you're not posting anymore but I really want to know did you get a proper present from your parents? Lots of people get annoyed when gifts are given unequally. If you actually said I only want to exchange token gifts this year then at least they were forewarned. However if you were happy to accept gifts for you your husband and the children from her and then just got her scrapbook it would seem mean.

willyloman · 26/12/2018 10:25

This is my favourite kind of present! I would be over the moon at a gift like that. Who needs more random stuff? A bit of time, thought and effort. Well done you!

Vitalogy · 26/12/2018 10:26

It think it's a thoughtful and special gift. Shame she didn't appreciate it.

kinseymilhone · 26/12/2018 10:27

I can't believe some of these posts!!! I think the scrapbook sounds absolutely lovely and so much more meaningful and thoughtful than anything that could be bought in a shop. I would love to receive something like this myself and I know my mum would love it too (as she keeps and displays more of her GC artwork than I do Blush).

BarbaraRoyale · 26/12/2018 11:14

I think it's a lovely gift, one to treasure. I think your mum is just sad that she can't see your children more often

AfterSchoolWorry · 26/12/2018 11:23

She's probably had a lifetime of pretending to be thrilled with children's artwork, which to be honest after a few years most parents begin to view as litter. Xmas Blush

The first few things your children make probably feel like 'treasure' to you but maybe not to a woman who's had a lifetime of it!

EATmum · 26/12/2018 12:13

I think it’s a lovely gift and one that your DC will love to share with their grandparents in future years. I’m sure that your parents and ILs will really value them.

ItWasntMeItWasIm · 26/12/2018 12:20

I think it sounds like a lovely present and exactly what Christmas should be about.

RangeRider · 26/12/2018 12:23

I think it sounds like a lovely present and exactly what Christmas should be about.
This ^^. You put time and effort into it rather than buying something for the sake of it, and it's personal and memorable. I think it's a splendid idea.

MorningsEleven · 26/12/2018 12:35

I think it's really thoughtful. I have my kids' scrapbooks from nursery and I love being able to look back at that part of their lives. Christmas should be less about splashing cash and more about heartfelt gestures.

Maddy70 · 26/12/2018 12:39

I would love that as a gift. It's really thoughtful

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