Grandma present to teenage grandson for his birthday

[wobblywinelover]

My parents have given my son £50, an unwrapped options hot chocolate she got from the supermarket on the way to my place, some mince pies (wrapped as a gift) and some fudge also wrapped. He's 15. She said she didn't want to get him too much food as she knows he struggles with his weight (why buy him food items at all then) I can't help but think that apart from the money this is a strange present for a 15 year old boy. She hasn't even wrapped the hot chocolate and it was shoved in the gift bag at the last minute. I know they weren't sure what to get him but I think just giving him the money or an xbox voucher would have been better. Mince pies?!! The other grandparents have bought him thoughtful gifts they know he will like, which are tailored to his interests. I'm prepared to be flamed for this but I'm just thinking 🧐 how odd. For added context they are not hard up for cash and I know its the thought that counts but I'm not sure what to make of this. What do others think?

it doesnt seem very thoughtful op

@waternfire

Sorry op but what a pointless thread you've created. The gave money. Other random bits is fine. Who cares if it's not wrapped. I don't half the time wrap anything as it's a waste of paper going in the bin. It's not the end of the world. They don't need to put so much thought into giving a gift. Also buying for boys is way harder so I really don't blame them

How is it a pointless thread? I've asked for opinions and lots of people have replied. Isn't that what this board is for?

Some people see gift giving as a test…

One that you can fail, for not being “thoughtful” or generous enough

I find that “thoughtful” gift givers are often very hard to please gift-receivers

Mince pies are for Christmas.

Agree with the poster who said it’s a generational thing; my aunt was aghast at the thought of giving money or vouchers. They’ve probably accepted that your son would prefer the cash, but wanted him to have something “to open” and just bought some food bits that he likes/they thought he’d like. If it’d been his only gift, you may have had a point. But £50 is a generous birthday present and would’ve been fine just as cash in a card (zero effort). They’ve gone and got some other bits for him too.

Sounds good to me! £50 is very generous, and the food items are just extra treats

I think their gift is perfectly fine. I'd rather have £50 cash to buy exactly what I would wat than people assuming I want an Xbox voucher. The extras (food and hot chocolate) are just trinket gifts to open on the day. If they are in a gift bag they don't need individually wrapping

£50 sounds generous to me and the food things are a bit of fun. Whether the grandparents are well off or not is none of your business.

@wobblywinelover

What would you have preferred them to give?

You said money would be better but they gave that! £50 is pretty generous too!

Would you have rather had just money with nothing else? Or more money? Or something else?

Your son needs to be reminded to be grateful?

I think most teenagers would be very happy with the 50 quid alone! I get what you mean though ,some carefully chosen items would be welcome .Many teenagers want to choose their own stuff though .I have a friend who is GP to 2 teens and they are pleased with cash and Nan is pleased too as going round the shops in your 70s isnt much fun!

Mince pies and hot chocolate are quite frankly weird as a gift unless they really really love them?

I would have stopped at the cash

YABVU

Just because your DS struggles with his weight doesn't mean that he has to eat lettuce and nibble on celery all day. My 2 DS's and my DH all have had weight concerns and the way to deal with it is to exercise, not exclude all treats. Also, as he gets older he may get taller and burn it all off.

Also, £50 is a good amount of money to give a 15-year-old.

Most GPs haven't a clue what to get a teenage boy and I think they have done alright.

I agree the food presents are kind of random but I don't think you should totally avoid giving a teenager food presents just because they have a weight issue. Let them have a normal Christmas and enjoy it. There's plenty of time to lose weight outside the celebrations.

What teenager wouldn't appreciate food and money on their birthday?!

YABU.

God well I’m assuming I’m not thoughtful and just plain mad now. This is the sort of thing I’d give. I’d have seen the food items and thought they were fun and treat-y.

OP I have a grandmother in law who does this. She gives very generously and I always get a card with money in but I know she feels like money in a card feels impersonal so she’ll grab a gift bag and normally pops a few often quite random things in there. Mixture of something she’s found in the house and at the corner shop. The thought isn’t in the bits it’s in the generosity of the money in the card but she likes to give something that ‘looks’ more like a gift iyswim?
I think maybe you’re overthinking it. Your son will be happy with the money and probably won’t give the other bits a second thought.

They’ve give your DS quite a generous amount of money plus a bit of treat food. I really don’t see the problem with that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sounds like she had a panic that the £50 wasn't enough for a grandchild with a slightly critical parent! She thought she ought to pad up the pressie and got it wrong in your eyes.
I bet the recipient is dead chuffed with his cash

@Walkingalot

Mince pies are for Christmas.

Have you been shopping lately? It’s Christmas in the shops. Christmas songs in Dobbies seven weeks before Christmas. How do the staff bear it? Mariah Carey et al all day for seven weeks ☹️

I wouldn't dream of giving a box of mince pies to a 15 year old as a birthday gift, but clearly I've been doing it wrong as the majority of replies are saying their teens would love it

This is the sort of random gift my MiL gives! We just have a giggle over the bonkers present has Granny given this time, and then ring her up to say thank you.

Its not really a big deal. Mostly I think its because MiL is a bit lost with knowing what teenagers would like and just gets it a bit wrong.

My son would love mince pies. Tabu and really grabby
He had £50, the rest were just token gifts

@ballsdeep

My son would love mince pies. Tabu and really grabby He had £50, the rest were just token gifts

Can you not just...buy a box of mince pies?

There is no need to wrap a hot chocolate, the mince pies were probably for sharing.
I can't see the issue here other than criticising DS weight.