Thinking that wrapped present giving should be on special occasions only?

[LittleMe03]

I was talking to a neighbour this morning and we had a conversation about 'January blues' and DC looking sad returning to school etc

She told me that when her DC were young she would buy and wrap a present for them and give it to them on the last day of each month. I asked if it was just a little something and she said, no not at all, it had to be something quite pricey or it wouldn't be appreciated.

This to me sounds crazy. Buying kids presents and little gifts during the year I think is fairly normal, but not wrapped and on a specific day each month?

I mean, that's up to her if that's what she wanted to do I just wondered if anybody did anything similar or has the same views as me?

Why do you cqre what your neighbour does?

Should have known there would be someone with a grumpy response to a lighthearted post

I specified that it's her choice to do that and just wondered if others did similar. Or have the same views as me.

The AIBU was about whether I am BU to think it's crazy!

She is a good neighbour and I will no doubt tell her what I've posted and people's thoughts on it and she will most likely laugh at the opinions

I think it's quite sweet really.

A bit 'hmm' about I asked if it was just a little something and she said, no not at all, it had to be something quite pricey or it wouldn't be appreciated.

I think the part about it needing to be of a certain value or it wouldn't be appreciated is a bit odd or at least shows something that isn't quite right.

Having a wrapped present is nice at any time I think

I think that sounds very cute actually. My dd gets a load of tat bought all year round so maybe making an event of one thing a month would be nicer

Wait, what??

You're going to tell her you posted a private conversation on a public forum inviting people to judge her?

Blimey

Yes. I know this women. She really wouldn't care and we've done similar things in the past.

She posted online once, not on MN. Asking for opinions on something that me and her could not agree on. We added up our 'points' together. It was just a bit of a laugh. No harm done.

I think it seems a bit extreme, buying something expensive every month 'just because' and a sure way to making your children spoilt. Surely she would run out of things to buy eventually

I think it's lovely. Wrapped presents feel much more like a gift, and we never get enough of them, do we?
Why do you think monthly boxes are so popular? (make-up, tea, cheese, craft, whatever they are?)

My guess is her kids are spoiled already hence why the gift needs to be expensive. But treats on the last day of the month is otherwise a good idea - something to look forward to, even if it’s just a milky bar!

But you don't need to 'agree on' what she gives her own children or how.

It's not like she's forcing you and yours to take part.

I think the idea of surprising your kids with something wrapped is nice, but not something expensive (or not regularly) and not on a set day each month either. Totally random is far better because then they don't expect it.

I don't wrap 'surprise' presents when I get them for people, but I kind of admire someone who does.

*WorraLiberty
*
You do not need to 'agree on' or take part in this thread either if it's concerning you so much.

As I said it's lighthearted and was just asking for opinions on the matter.

I know my neighbour will not mind and actually find it funny, as I mentioned in a previous post.

I will see her later so will check and let you know if you like

It's not something I would do with my own children, and I wouldn't say it's usual behaviour but it's normal for them. It doesn't bother me what other people do within their own families.

So? Lots of people treat their kids on pay day! I do but its usually out for cinema or pizza (which definitely counts as pricey these days!)
So what if your neighbour does it in a slightly more theatrical/festive way?

Yes, you are being unreasonable.

DD's birthday is very early in the year so it's a long wait til Christmas to open a present. I usually take her to the toy shop and let her choose a couple of new toys at the start of the summer hols as a reward for working hard in school that year.

When I worked full-time and had a terrible case of mum-guilt, I used to buy her a little treat every Friday night on my way home from work!

My MIL used to do everyone a wrapped "gift from the tree" on the 6th when she put all the Xmas stuff away. It was quite nice, broke the January blues.

Very strange goady thread

I will no doubt tell her what I've posted and people's thoughts on it and she will most likely laugh at the opinions

Well, you know your neighbour. She might be one of the few people who would think inviting a bunch of strangers to judge a snapshot of her parenting is hilarious.

She posted online once, not on MN. Asking for opinions on something that me and her could not agree on. We added up our 'points' together. It was just a bit of a laugh. No harm done.

Oh right. You have a somewhat unusual relationship then I guess.

I don't think buying presents is a biggie. She be rolling on the floor laughing at these responses, won't she?

I’m with you op. Wrapped presents, of a certain value, every month? That’s what makes birthdays special in this house.

I don't see why it being wrapped would make any difference to whether it was appropriate/a good idea etc. Is there some unwritten law that says only birthday and Christmas presents are allowed to have wrapping paper on them?

I agree with you op. She’ll quickly run out of ways of making it special, and it’ll just detract from birthdays and Christmas. What if she forgets one month? Or she ends up short of money?