Anyone noticed family/friends more demanding this Easter?

[Pissedoffcat]

I've been inundated with hints or requests for Easter.
I always do the children. And certain adults.

But it's all adults putting in requests now, too.

Lockdown Easter fever?

Normally, I'd not think too much about it. But we've been affected income wise and I get impression no one thinks about that, because I've never discussed it.

Our business, we will deal with it, is my approach.

But , suddenly, influx of hints, requests or just downright orders!

I thought you were going to tell us you're a baker or something and people are chancing their arm at you making them a cake or something for free to celebrate Easter which was cheeky enough, but they want you to buy them eggs?!

Reply "So have I" Obv YANBU just ignore them.

There's a few 'requests', I'm going to have to just accept as too awkward to get out of.

So, I'll have to accept those with good grace. Still confusing, though.

@Pissedoffcat

There's a few 'requests', I'm going to have to just accept as too awkward to get out of.

So, I'll have to accept those with good grace. Still confusing, though.

Noooooo!!! This is how you get stuck giving them for years.

Why is it awkward?

Just be honest and say you weren't expecting to buy them (or receive them) and just agree not to. If they send them anyway so what. Blame Covid/environmental reasons/dieting etc etc.

Even the people I usually buy for wouldn't do this, although I wouldn't mind if one of them tried to let me subtly know they didn't like white chocolate or whatever. A teen DC started dropping hints - but even then not sending links - a couple of years ago about their most hoped-for egg but still wouldn't 'expect' to get it.

Now that my parents have passed away, the only family members I buy for are my DC. Otherwise, I buy for a couple of close family friends - as a thank you really and something they can share with their family - and a couple of other people I'm aware are in need of a bit of a lift. Entirely my choices though - nobody would ask or tell me to include them.

@Pissedoffcat

There's a few 'requests', I'm going to have to just accept as too awkward to get out of.

So, I'll have to accept those with good grace. Still confusing, though.

Why would you do that? That's just silly, Easter presents aren't a thing, you'd be mad to start a tradition of buying them.

Tell people that as in previous years, and in line with the whole world, you don't do Easter gifts

This is definitely weird OP! It’s actually made me laugh reading this thread that everyone’s been like “no that’s literally just you!”. Do you get on well with your family? Cos honestly if this happened in mine I would call up the person I’m closest to and say “Ok what’s going on! Why is everyone sending me these weird hints about Easter presents when it’s not a thing we’ve ever done?! Did I miss a family memo somewhere?”.

I’m honestly thinking maybe the rest of your family have had a conversation at some point like maybe a family Zoom call you couldn’t make or something, where everyone has talked about oh it would be a nice idea to exchange small gifts at Easter this year to cheer us up” or something, and they’ve totally forgotten you weren’t there for that conversation 😂

There's a few 'requests', I'm going to have to just accept as too awkward to get out of.

Why, just why? You can say no to anyone and anything, however awkward they make you feel.

I buy my adult kids (still at home) a small egg and they get some money, also send a card and money to my cousin’s grandson (cousin always bought Easter eggs for my kids when they were younger and staying with my mum nearby). DH and I also exchange an egg each.

If anyone else started sending ‘requests’ I would just ignore, but then I am at an age where I don’t give 2 cents if people think I am awkward!

This has weirdly reminded me of the year that my parents and siblings decided we were all going to celebrate Star Wars Day (4th may for anybody wondering) because we’d missed christmas and are all Star Wars fans, but they forgot i hadn’t been in that conversation, and then one random day all kinds of Star Wars tat arrived in the post and I was very confused. Is it possible something similar has happened here? Weird they’d all be hinting at the same time.

Apologies for my ranty post earlier OP, I'm afraid I'm struggling mightily at the moment and was probably letting off steam. It does sound, from your posts, as though celebrating Easter is something you do in your family, what with you saying you'd usually send cards to the grown ups. So again, sorry for questioning your post/traditions. It must be quite nice actually, you're obviously a warm, caring person. Happy Easter, anyway 🌈

Of you agree to it, you’ll end up doing it forever more as it will become a tradition.

Send them links back of Easter eggs which you declare you love and same winking emojis.

Act like you’re just talking about Easter eggs. Don’t buy any. Unless you want to. Then I’d buy the cheapest ones I could.

They’re being grabby CF.

What adult doesn’t buy their own chocolate?

I’m Catholic but not had Easter gift as an adult (except occasional egg from DH) and never given one either. Maybe you live in a high chocolate micro-climate.

No one has every requested anything from me for Easter . Not even my own kids!

I hope being Catholic does mean I can put a request in, that would mean OH is on all the chocolate duties this year 👏🏼

Maybe they've all had a chat together and it's just a joke .

Sorry I didn't get back to this yesterday.
I wish we were a close knit family, but whilst we get on with each other on a one to one basis, we keep our distance as a group. I hope that makes sense - so no joint communication likely that I've inadvertently missed out on. Unless, it is a joke dreamt up at my expense and they are finally talking amongst themselves. I suppose that is a possibility.

It seems they've all acted independently of each other, including of course my friend

Oops. Posted too early.

My friend is one of the awkward ones I've referred to.
She's let me know she's baking me some Easter cookies and will drop off at the same time as 'collection'. Links sent for her, husband and 2 children.

For your friend
Say that you too have been inspired to bake, that you too are fed up of all this commercialisation, and that you can hand over your homemade Easter biscuits when she drops off her cookies.... tell her your family love the idea!

For everyone else
Send a message back saying their messages came at a good time, that after this awful year everyone has had, you had decided to do something this Easter but that actually you are going to get a charity gift on their behalf of chickens as you feel it is so important to be thinking of others even less fortunate. Tell them you are sure they would approve.
worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/products/chirpy-chickens

P.S.
@baroqueandblue - I had to scroll back to find your 'rant', as you put it! 🙂
No offense was taken. I too felt I was losing the will to live, I was so confused at my sudden role as the Easter Bunny, as another poster put it, which did make me laugh. 🤣

Or
Send them links to this and say you would have got them this but now sadly unavailable, so maybe better luck next year....

www.amazon.co.uk/Noodle-Chocolate-Easter-Ceramic-NOODLE/dp/B00SVB3M1E?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@farnworth - what a great link!! Love it and will store it away. It could be used for one. And certainly for other gifts in future. So, thanks for that!

My friend is an experienced baker, so unfortunately that won't work. My sis and sis in law are too, so can't use the home made swapping option for them either.

Everyone has been so precise as to what they want. 3 different companies named!

[quote Pissedoffcat]**@farnworth - what a great link!! Love it and will store it away. It could be used for one. And certainly for other gifts in future. So, thanks for that!

My friend is an experienced baker, so unfortunately that won't work. My sis and sis in law are too, so can't use the home made swapping option for them either.

Everyone has been so precise as to what they want. 3 different companies named![/quote]
They can be as precise as they want but if you decide to buy some eggs, I wouldn't be faffing with multiple shops. I would buy wanted suited me and to my budget.

This is really odd.

I think I’d reply to the friend along the lines of “Hi friend, I’m sure any of your biscuits would be delicious, but tbh we’ve never really exchanged Easter gifts - I don’t think I’ve ever bought eggs for anybody but my kids. I’d rather not get into the habit of lots of Easter gift exchanges, as I’m trying to be greener - more mindful of consumption and not was young so much packaging etc! Maybe once lockdown is over we could meet for a catch up, and I’ll do my best to bake something xx”

I’m paraphrasing from something I sent to a friend who wanted to exchange Christmas gifts suddenly and I didn’t want to get sucked in to that nonsense!

This is just weird OP and so are your responses. It all sounds made up.

The whole sending you links is astonishingly rude that you just have to answer back

Any of the suggestions above but I would be tempted to ask why they are sending you links when exchanging has never been your thing