To feel obligated to reciprocate a gift

[Mill3nniel]

I bumped into a friend on the school run earlier and she mentioned popping in at the weekend as she has a gift for my DC. I now feel obligated to buy a gift for her DC but feel she may be offended I didn't say I had a gift for her DC too as I wouldn't have if she hadn't said she'd bought something. We don't usually see each other on school run as my child goes to breakfast club and hers doesn't so I just didn't expect to see each other before Christmas.

Do you feel obligated to buy gifts if someone is giving one to you?

We do look after her DC sometimes and they have never looked after ours (we've never asked) so I wonder if it's a sort of thank you for that but I'd feel so bad to not give her DD anything

Just interested if others think you must give a gift if you know you're getting one or your kids are getting one

I wouldn't buy a gift and in her position I would be disappointed if you thought you had to.

I agree with the above. Don’t feel obligated to buy a gift. It’s a nice gesture from her and she is unlikely wanting you to feel this way.

I would feel obligated to buy a gift. It’s for a child, of course you should. I wouldn’t go overboard, but I’d make sure I had something to give them just in case. I’d make it fairly generic in case you don’t end up seeing each other you can give to someone else.

I generally don't get into reciprocal gifting. If someone wants to give a gift, they should do it with no expectation of getting something in return.

From what you have said I would assume it was a thank you gift.

I don't give reciprocal gifts because once you start it never ends We agreed as a wider family last year that there would be no gifts for adults, just children. My SIL decided that she couldn't bear to abide by this agreement. She bought presents for everyone. She didn't get any in return. Hopefully this year she will have learned.

Another who would assume it is a way of saying thank you for the fact you've helped them out, so, no, I wouldn't get something.

I'd get something like a chocolate reindeer or something for her child

I'd gift something small, like a stocking filler just so the kid isn't sitting there empty handed