To think it's odd to give other people's children advent calendar?

[Vijac]

I know this is a first world problem. My 3yo (just 3) has received advent calendars from both the neighbours and my mil. I have already got one too. Whilst obviously these are kind gifts, aibu to think that it's a bit of a strange gift. I don't really want my son to have multiple pieces of chocolate every day for the whole of December. But what am I meant to do with the calendars?!

[carlywurly]

Eh? I think it's a really kind thought and I'd be touched if anyone bought my two a calendar. If I felt we had too many, I'd pass them on or take them into work to share.

Maybe I'm weird

[PenelopeChipShop]

I know what you mean. My DS has 3 and he's only 2.5! MiL bought him one for his first Christmas when he was 6 months and not yet weaned!! Funnily enough he didn't get any of the chocolate that year!

[naty1]

bogeyface im not fat (8st7). Its an observation overweight people eating lots of cakes at work when they wouldnt have bought them - similar to being offered cigs when trying to give up.
People like to feed others up. My PIL do it always giving DD cakes when shes just had 1.
Yes its up to the individual to say no - noone else . But it increasingly looks like most people cant say no.

[bubalou]

I haven't read all the replies but is I agree!!!!

My husbands fucking annoying family always do it - every year, after we tell them not to!!!! They are all feeders and everything they do with food is in excess!

Mil and Fil bought DS - aged six - 2
Advent calendars!!!

Sister in law bought him - 2 advent calendars!!!!!

DH cousin bought him a calendar - all after we have bought him one!!!!!

So he has 6! I'm aware I sound ungrateful but I hate waste and I won't let DS have more than 1 so I have 5 sat in the cupboard.

Grrrrrrrr

[heronsfly]

I'm in the clear , checked today and dd said I could buy as many chocolate calendars as I wished for her dcs because they will get one chocolate a day and she will eat the rest.
ddil said pleeeeease don't stop buying them because I always forget.
tucks into Feckless's spare chocs

[UsedtobeFeckless]

Hands over spare chocs in a spirit of festive solidarity ...

[ToffeeCaramel]

Oldest starting high school next year and I've got all that worrying to come. Gahhh!

[Sits in corner and comfort eats advent chocs.]

[PeachandBlack]

I bought chocolate advent calenders for my nephews. I had to read this thread in case my SIL was the OP!

[UsedtobeFeckless]

Because I was pissed - Sorry.

Thing is - I was Dazzler 10 years ago, but they get big and go out with their mates and you start worrying about mugging and drugs and drunk driving and being murdered by people they've met online and getting het up over a teeny bit of chocolate seems such a waste of energy! ( I should probably have typed that instead the first time ... )

[ToffeeCaramel]

We're not all joyless tightly clenched control freaks

Why do you need to resort to bitchy name calling to make your point?

[Bogeyface]

I think this is why dieters fail. Presents of chocolates, cakes at work, meals out. We eat to the level others are, like we will miss out.

Dont blame other people for your inability to say no.

And I say this as someone who is overweight. I am fat because I eat too much crap, that is my decision. I dont blame the person who offered me the chocolate or brought in the cake or suggested the takeaway or built the fast food drive through next to my supermarket of choice.

I ate it, it is my fault I am fat. If you ate it then it is your fault. I am so sick of people saying "Its so hard to eat healthily!" No it isnt. And 4 teeny chocolates a day for 24 days of the year will not make your child obese, stop projecting.

[magso]

I use the non Christmassy advent calendars to count down to birthdays, or to reward a certain target.

[UsedtobeFeckless]

Don't worry Heron ... I loved the idea that DP's Nan ( Who had 22 great grandchildren! ) would go out and get a little something to make them smile we're not all joyless tightly clenched control freaks

[heronsfly]

Oh dear, another gm here who bought all her gc an advent calendar

[naty1]

I agree with dazzler.
Too much obsession with sweets treats all the time. It shouldnt be handed out at school. Parents can refuse it from relatives.
If kids are fat how could you possibly reduce it when its thrust from all directions. I think this is why dieters fail. Presents of chocolates, cakes at work, meals out. We eat to the level others are, like we will miss out.
Yes they might gorge at uni (i did anyway). At least they are healthier to start with.
The more you eat the more you want. So 4 advent chocs a day youll want to continue that amount of sugar.
I have pre-diabetes despite being thin.
Though a bigger issue is getting lots of selection boxes.

[MissBattleaxe]

Indeed Bogeyface. I know someone at Uni who gorged on junk food because it had been forbidden for 18 years!

[Bogeyface]

MissBattleaxe never let the facts stand in the way of a good self important lecture though eh?!

dazzler the health issues you mention are caused by many things, a diet too heavy in sugar can contribute to them but is not solely responsible. Other things such as general fitness levels, other dietary issues, genetic predisposition, smoking (or not), drinking (or not)......the list of possible contributory factors goes on and on.

But as I say, dont let the facts stand in the way of being a smug controlling nightmare super mum.

[Aherdofmims]

You've obviously got more than you need so yeah, donate so as not to have too much chocolate!

But not weird as such.

[UptheChimney]

Only on MN would a kindness from the community and family be seen as "odd."

I despair sometimes ...

[MissBattleaxe]

Sugar is responsible for diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and many other related illnesses That's a sweeping statement that contains a teeny bit of skewed fact and a large amount of ignorance.

[Bogeyface]

When we were teens you could sneak into a pub and usually get some underage drinking in. Because you had to behave otherwise you would be chucked out you learned your limits, what you liked and didnt like and learned how to behave in a pub. Now kids hit 18 and go completely bloody bonkers because its the first time they have been allowed to have alcohol.

Now, I am not saying that a child who has been denied a small but regular amount of "bad" foods will start gorging on them when they have their own supply of money but.........

[UsedtobeFeckless]

Wow. Let the good times roll, eh?

[dazzler22]

In small quantities, only one of his seven a day maximum

[Alisvolatpropiis]

How do you feel about fruit?

[dazzler22]

Sugar is responsible for diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and many other related illnesses, giving sweets and chocolate at "special times" christmas, birthdays, "treats" rewards etc all tell the child that eat these to reward or treat yourself if you are down or things haven't gone too well and then eventually they eat them for comfort, slippery slope and we see people going down it all the time, then they are addicted - game over