To despair of children’s Christmas presents

[Yura]

I just packed a huge charity bag with unusable Christmas presents - why oh why do people not ask? And why do they not listen to the answers?
Loads of Lego - child likes the bricks, but not cars. It’s all cars (5 boxes)
Clothes with polyester - both kids have eczema that is triggered by polyester. Everybody around us know that as it took us ages to get wearable school uniform for the oldest. A bag full going to the charity shop with labels attached.
Warm winter clothes 9-12 months size up for the baby. He is in 3-6 months now, they would fit in summer (Polyester anyway, so can’t use them)
2 part pyjamas for the baby? Polyester anyway so he can’t wear them, but 2 parters for a 7 month old?
A book on “ scary dinosaurs” for a very sensitive 6 year old suffering from nightmares (we’ll keep that actually, maybe the baby will like it when he’s older)
I’m thankful that people give us presents, but we end up giving 90% unopened/labels attached to the charity shop, it’s such a waste.

There are 47 pieces in the lego car linked to so there is definitely building play potential there. I really don't think it is bad gift, ok, your DS doesn't like it but it is not a 'stupid' gift to be passed on. I know my DS would've loved it at 6.

The Lego set you linked to states it's suitable for ages 4-7, op? It's not "addressed" to 4 year old's, as you so quaintly put it
You don't appear to have an average six year old anyway; given he appears to be terrified of dinosaurs...

I haven't RTFT but - can't they wear the polyester things over the top of a cotton bodysuit? Assuming the polyester is a 'top clothes' kind of thing, but even a polyester shirt can be worn over a long-sleeved cotton T shirt.

YABU. Lucky to have so many people in your life who want to give your children little presents. Why not say to people upfront about allergies and mention when you see them what your children are interested in, I'm sure they'd rather that than by the wrong present. Give the lego to charity for children who don't get presents

Wow, aren't you a gem?

And by the sounds of it your 6 year old is growing up just as lovely. You must be so proud.

I feel a little sorry for the 6 year old who has lost 90% of his presents, because his mum doesn’t deem them suitable.

One of my DC got the Lego Cars set OP linked to for Christmas. I agree with OP, it’s not a versatile set of Lego. I’ve (hopefully) attached photos of the set and of the car disassembled. There may be 47 bricks (wow ), but unless you have more Lego already lying around, you don’t have enough bricks to build anything other than the picture on the box. Not an issue for us though, my DC like cars and we have plenty other Lego.

Having said that, if you really think re-gifting is no good, it might be worth your while seeing if you can sell the unopened sets and use the money to buy a box of Lego blocks instead.

I’d also be trying to exchange the clothes at the shops. Most people wouldn’t take offence at being asked for gift receipts if you explained about the issues with eczema.

You sound very ungrateful. Posts like this make me angry at how some people are so entitled nowadays. I hope the people who took time and trouble to buy your child gifts don't bother in future.

@mOtherofdragons. I agree with you there. I can’t imagine all the kids not liking lego either. And a 6yo isn’t going to have very much of an idea what their friends really don’t like.

can't they wear the polyester things over the top of a cotton bodysuit? Assuming the polyester is a 'top clothes' kind of thing, but even a polyester shirt can be worn over a long-sleeved cotton T shirt

Not if the eczema is bad: the polyester will block the air circulation. It isn't about contact as it might be for e.g. wool allergy where a cotton shirt blocking actual touch would make it ok.

Just ask for money next Christmas, then you're able to buy what you want.

I would be so grateful if we had friends and family that bought gifts for our son. So grateful. You sound grabby and entitled. The clothes can be exchanged and Lego gifts regifted.

6yrs who does not like cars, will never like cars and none of his friends do or will ever do?? Seriously?? What a weird world you live in! I can't think of a single thing my 6year old definitely does not like or will not ever like or play with!
Surely you can use some for re-gifting and your son does not have to know it. It makes sense to avoid wasting money really. For the book - he may enjoy it, even if he is sensitive!
You do sound v ungrateful!
For the clothes however I can understand your frustration but I'd talk to the people in question, they can exchange the clothes and avoid the same mistake again!

NannyR Sun 07-Jan-18 09:43:52
The set you link to above states it has 47 Lego pieces in it, not "about 5 bricks".

There are 5 bricks and 42 pieces (including wheels, etc) that can make the car depicted on the box. Not 47 bricks. There is a difference between bricks and car parts.

Not rtft but is the very sensitive one the same one who called the Lego stupid? I’d be having a really harsh word with any child of mine who used that word about a kind gift. You let that pass, you’ll have massive disrespect later OP!

I’d be impressed if anyone apart from my mum, dad or sister remembered that I have a serious nut allergy.

Before eBay there was a bit of room to moan but really now you’ve no excuse.

In fairness, none of my three children were ever all that into Lego either but most shops would exchange it for something else. Just because your son isn't into cars doesn't mean that his friends aren't, or indeed that your younger child might be.

I would seriously instigate 'no present' deals - I have done that with family, not just children either. Saves all of the above.

There is a difference between bricks and car parts.

I don't see the distinction. It's all lego and can all be used with other Lego sets.

Dont think the specifics of what blocks there are is the issue tbh

I know Lego quite well - I look after a five year old Lego addict and have helped him to build many sets.
Just at a quick look at sparklefizz photo, I can see about 25 Lego bricks/pieces in the pit stop (?) part alone.
I agree that the junior sets are a bit crap if a child is used to building normal sets - the little boy I look after was given two junior police helicopter sets, he found them very easy to build but enjoyed playing with the finished article and used the bits quite creatively in his own models (the helicopter 'body' became the central part of a transformer robot he built)
But fair enough, not every child likes Lego, so just exchange it for something they do like rather than complaining, quite rudely, on a public forum about it.

I don't see the distinction. It's all lego and can all be used with other Lego sets.

But he doesn't have any other Lego sets. It would slot in neatly into our extensive collection but is apparently as much use to OP's children as a set of Barbie clothes would be.

Lego does not contain pre-built cars. It may contain the parts to build cars, such as wheels, but there are no single piece cars in genuine Lego. You do sound unreasonable, and ungrateful, and saying your child wouldn't re-gift as they're "stupid" sounds like you're raising him the same way sadly.

But I thought the OP said early on he liked Lego bricks?

So he likes them, but doesn't have any?

Unless I'm muddled, he has Meccano but not Lego. I'm afraid I'm far too lazy to check back now the thread is so long.

If only there were an "OP's posts only" toggle.