Odd kids' birthday gifts, is it just us? (LH)

[JacobeanWilson]

Light hearted, I need cheering up.

My DC's birthday this weekend. Turned 9, average size for age. Gift from one of the BFF's... clothing age 7! She has not been in that size for over 2 years! The bff's parents would know this won't fit, as their DC is the same size (not a money issue, parents in good jobs, nice house etc.) so it's just weird!

But it reminded me of a couple of years ago when another of my DC got one of those messenger bags you colour in yourself. Except the pens were missing. And the tags keeping the bag in place had all been removed with the bag slid loosely back in place ie it had obviously been opened & toyed with but decided against keeping & palmed it off with vital bits missing! (again a well off family, not a money issue).

Maybe a symptom of birthdays after Christmas & people getting rid of things they received but didn't want! So is it just us?

Note: this is about inappropriate / dubious gifting kids in any form and not about complaining re cheap gifts (the clothing example wasn't cheap so it's nothing to do with value of the item but the actual item itself). I personally spend more time than I should getting nice / appropriate gifts for people I know & my kids friends, therefore I notice blatantly inappropriate gifts at 100 paces, yin to my yang.

So... has anyone else's DC had equally random, surprising & amusing gifting experiences you care to share..?

Also, meant to say that they never actually got her anything else lol

It’s interesting what you say about birthdays after Christmas. DS had a birthday in early January and he got some very nice gifts (which were assumed were duplicates), as well as some things that were clearly passed forward!

Equi my dad's birthday was early Jan too but I always saw it as a good thing because I could get him more for the same budget if I got lucky in the sales. I guess it's different with kids, more chance of people getting away with palming off tat than on adults! Some of these are hilarious though. How can the giver ever look the recipient in the eye again!

I can cope with gifts kids grow into to a degree, but ones that are too young / small will only ever get younger / smaller!

Some people bulk buy in the sales for birthdays/future Christmases or regift presents and obviously they occasionally will miss the mark.

I was a goth as a teenager and when I was 15 received a pink nightgown size 10-11 years from my very tight-fisted Uncle. We always opened his presents on Christmas Eve to basically have a laugh . He wasn’t poor, just a Scrooge.

My mum gave her only grandchild (at the time), my DS a tea towel for his 6th birthday with a Shakespeare quote on it. It wasn't wrapped and he didn't get a card, just the tea towel but she was explicit it was for his birthday.
We didn't pass it on to him. She has form though so it wasn't too much of a surprise.

4 year old was given a set of chafing dishes for Xmas (will attach similar pic!) He was extremely confused! The givers were from Ghana who apparently gift useful presents for the future! Extremely generous but very unexpected