Advent calendars aren’t gifts?

[pingoose]

MIL has just dropped off an advent calendar for DD (halfway through advent but never mind). I’d already bought her one weeks ago, so now she has two which seems unnecessary.

AIBU to think you don’t usually give them to other people as gifts? They’re the kind of thing I enjoy buying and was looking forward to doing once I had kids!

[Hooleywhipper]

I was given one as a birthday present in early November by friends. Caught myself feeling a bit disappointed, just can’t put my finger on why. I think I was BU. Obviously I showed appreciation.

[00100001]

I think they are presents.

Just a bit odd to give part way through advent

[Bluerussian]

We are only eight days in, she can open the eight days in one go. I think it's quite a nice thing to do, it doesn't hurt to have two Advent calendars.

[Reallynowdear]

I have bought then for my nieces and nephews.

They were a gift to them from me.

[Reallynowdear]

them fgs

[eddiemairswife]

My mother used to buy them for my children when they just had glitter and no chocolate; I now buy them for my own grandchildren and,
as they don't live near, the postage is more than the calendars!!

[doritosdip]

Considering the price of the beauty ones I think that they certainly are a gift.

[geekone]

We always buy advent calendars as gifts. Our DS gets one from us every year and we buy each other one too. Same with Easter eggs it’s not at all odd.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

I've just bought one for my Dad

[WoollyMollyMonkey]

She’ll have picked it up in the last few days from a supermarket at a reduced price - our local shop is selling some off half price. It was probably meant as an extra treat - who wouldn’t want more chocolate! My kids (when younger) usually had 2 or 3, I’d buy one, nan might get one and so might auntie. They were always delighted!

[rededucator]

They're half price at the moment so she probably just saw a bargain and thought your little one would enjoy it

[georgialondon]

It's a totally normal thing for grandparents to buy their grandchildren an advent calendar.

This isn't about an advent calendar

[2000lightyearsaway123]

I picked up my nephews a second advent calender each even though I knew they had one because I seen ones with their favorite characters on it and they were only £1. Would hate to think that I was stepping on any toes by doing so.

[fantasmasgoria1]

If they are expensive beauty, gin or jewellery ones they absolutely are gifts!

[pingoose]

Wow ok now I feel bad I haven’t been buying them for nieces etc! Also that I’ve never had an advent with more than one...
And sorry I mentioned it was my MIL. There really is no deep seated issues or resentment here.

[Cineraria]

Both grandmas bought refillable ones for DS1 who is allergic to milk on his second Christmas. I was really happy with that. I buy him and DS2 fillings to go in those each year (e.g. stickers in one and a twinpack of Lotus biscuits in the other) and DH buys them a moo free one.

[Sparklyring]

My DH bought me the John Lewis Beauty one and I absolutely thought of it as a gift.

[lau888]

I think YANBU because my kids like to choose their own calendars and would have them ready well in advance of Advent. (Heck, I have one too!) It's particularly weird if it's not even a modern calendar that contains special food/toys/items. No modern child needs to open multiple bits of paper to check the date - it's far easier to check their phone or ask Alexa/Google how many days till Xmas.

OTOH, if it's just "here's some extra chocolate because I noticed the advent calendars were on sale now" then YABU. I'd say thank you, open the whole calendar and eat the chocolates. In fact, if it's just a standard chocolate calendar then it's on par with a £1 or £2 chocolate selection box and completely suitable as a casual "token gift" from anyone.

[ChristmasCroissant]

You can never have too many advent calendars IMO, I bought an extra one that was reduced in price last Friday and we shared out the chocolate until we caught up to the right day We also have picture calendars as well as the many choc ones.

[dontalltalkatonce]

Of course, it's a gift! Some of those things cost a bomb! I had to stay up till midnight to score M&S ones for my sister and two nieces before they sold out. I did get them cinema concessions vouchers for Xmas as they all have cinema passes but can a) afford it and b) not expected.

[crispysausagerolls]

Can’t stand my MIL but when she bought DS an advent calendar I just thought “how nice” and then was quite pleased I didn’t have to go and choose one myself (I had actually forgotten about getting one anyway so it was particularly helpful).

They can have more than one!

[crispysausagerolls]

christmascroissant

I like your style

[adhdme2019]

My mum always buys the kids, don’t think I’ve ever bought them one.

[Lucylouxc]

I used to end up with three as a child. One from my parents, one from my grandparents and one from my godparents

[daisypond]

When I was a child it was aunts that bought them for their nephews and nieces. And I buy them for my nephews and nieces too now. Normal to give them as a gift. But we only ever had one. So, my aunt bought it, we didn’t get another from our parents.