Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do you buy birthday presents for your adult children?

54 replies

nancy75 · 13/02/2019 21:16

Just wondering really, if you have adult children do you still buy them a birthday present?
My family do, my Dp was 40 recently & in all the years I’ve know him his parents have never given him a birthday or Christmas present - is that odd?

OP posts:
MrsDeanWinchester75 · 13/02/2019 21:17

I'm 43 and have always had gifts from my parents for birthdays and Christmas, it tends to be cash nowadays though unless I ask for something specific.

Walnutwhipster · 13/02/2019 21:17

My parents don't. It makes me sad. I'll never stop buying for mine, eldest is now 23.

lastqueenofscotland · 13/02/2019 21:17

We all still do presents in my family Smile

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Christmas General shopping
Disfordarkchocolate · 13/02/2019 21:19

Cash only now for the older ones, can't imagine stopping it until I'm old and broke.

Pascha · 13/02/2019 21:19

I've not had a birthday or Christmas present from my parents since I was a teenager. I realise this isn't the norm for most people but I'm fine with it because it's the way it's always been.

FlagFish · 13/02/2019 21:20

I don’t think it’s particularly odd. I still get presents from my parents (I’m in my 40s), but usually a very small token gift. They are generous in other ways (eg helping us out with house deposit) but not really into present giving.

Does your DH give them birthday and Christmas presents? If he does, then yes that is odd!

Original poster
nancy75 · 13/02/2019 21:21

To clarify I would include cash as giving a present (should have said that first) when I say they don’t give anything, it is literally nothing - didn’t even manage a phone call this year Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
nancy75 · 13/02/2019 21:24

FlagFish he has stopped sending them gifts in the last couple of years & I know he feels guilty about it. They don’t live in this country & I can’t think of any other help they’ve ever given

OP posts:
StellaMorris · 13/02/2019 21:24

We still get birthday presents, but our family don’t do Christmas presents for adults.

Sukochicha · 13/02/2019 21:24

Mine do

Laska2Meryls · 13/02/2019 21:24

Of course ! Mine are 27 and 29 I buy them presents . Why wouldn't I ?

Having said that my parents went down to decade birthdays for actual presents after 30 (mostly) but sometimes they would give me something extra special they had found for me ,but they would always buy a lovely meal out on my birthday or nearest weekend date, and that was fine, what I wanted really, and we still do that for all family birthdays I still do for my DF and DB (and did for my DM while she was still with us ) and they for me/us.

mydogisthebest · 13/02/2019 21:28

I am in my 60's and my parents still buy me birthday and Christmas presents

DramaAlpaca · 13/02/2019 21:29

I always give my young adult children cash for their birthdays. Which reminds me, DS2's is next week.

My own elderly parents still give me birthday money & I'm in my 50s. They are quite well off & they insist on giving, which is very generous of them & much appreciated.

I only remember DH's family giving gifts for big birthdays, he was lucky to get a card usually.

TonTonMacoute · 13/02/2019 21:30

Yes, but he's only twenties. DF and MIL still buy presents for me and DH, but sometimes it's a bit of a hassle trying to think of stuff we want. MIL gets huffy if we can't think of something nice Confused

Original poster
nancy75 · 13/02/2019 21:35

Yes, my mum gets annoyed when I can’t think if things for her to buy Dp ( she forgets I have to think if stuff to get him too)
Interesting to hear all your answers, it seems most parents do carry on with gift giving in some form (be it present, money or posh dinner)

OP posts:
grumiosmum · 13/02/2019 21:37

Yes, and I still buy them for my parents too.

CallMeSirShotsFired · 13/02/2019 21:41

I'm mid-40s, the youngest of my siblings and we all give and receive presents and cards between us and parents. We have birthday cake as well!

And the various nieces and nephews also get the same treatment (all 20+ years old now)

What a mean world if you can't stop to celebrate 1 day a year per person.

AdaColeman · 13/02/2019 21:42

Yes, I send birthday & Christmas gifts to DS and to my lovely DiL, I want them to know that Im thinking of them.
My parents always sent me presents too.

You're never too old to be reminded that someone loves you. Smile

Original poster
nancy75 · 13/02/2019 21:44

AdaColeman do you want to be my mil? Dp doesn’t get a present, I don’t even get a card!

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 13/02/2019 21:46

Yes i buy mine presents eldest is nearly 26 i couldn"t not buy a birthday present ,

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 13/02/2019 21:47

mil buys for 40yo dh, and for me too, which is very kind.

MrsJayy · 13/02/2019 21:48

My mum gets us too.

BackforGood · 13/02/2019 21:48

Yes, I do, but mine are only just tipping into their 20s. Not sure when they are hopefully earning big money and I'm on my pension ??

We've stopped giving to nieces and nephews after their 21st Birthdays.

AdaColeman · 13/02/2019 21:54

nancy That's incredibly mean spirited of her I think.

I'll put you on my reserve list for extra Daughters in Law! Wink

Original poster
nancy75 · 13/02/2019 21:58

AdaColeman yes, have me as an extra daughter in law, I’m very well behaved Grin

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread