to not want to have to think up every birthday/christmas present ever

[Sugarmagnolia]

Ok, so at first i thought it was really thoughtful that all the DC's grandparents (and great-grandparents) asked me if I had any suggestions for birthday/christmas presents etc. I thought, how nice, now we won't be stuck with a load of rubbish I really don't want in my house. But it's gotten to the point now that no one else even bothers to think of or shop for their own presents. So now, not only do I have to figure out what to get for DD & DS from myself and DH but I have to choose and shop for every present from both sets of grandparents and great-grandparents for every occassion. Am I right to be a bit pissed off or did I just bring this on myself? It's not like I've ever turned around and said to them - ?I can't believe you got DD that for her birthday!?

Perhaps you could get more general each year?
Next time say 'oh ds loves thomas at the moment' or 'he's into car and trucks right now'
and get them into the habit of thinking for themselves? They are most likely just used to you doing it and think you will be put out if they chose something else!

No advice, just to say that I find myself in much the same position! It gets to the point that you give away all your "best" ideas to the rest of the family and then have no idea what to get them myself.

I solve my own present dilemmas by having a long-standing amazon wishlist where everything I see that I am tempted to buy I stick on the wishlist instead (saves me SOOOO much money ) and gives people lots of choice when it comes to presents for me. Think I may take 2point's advice next year regards the kids. Dh is just a lost cause as anything he really wants is WAY more expensive than any of our budgets!!

How old are the DCs ? Old enough to set them up with an Amazon wishlist and let them add stuff to it ? Or just add things yourself - I'll be doing that for Ds this year.

DH and I both have wishlists as it works so well for the family - we have a buying stuff embargo for 3 months before Christmas/birthday and everything we fancy or think 'ooh that'd be good' goes on the wishlist. Family can choose what they like, we get a suprise, and even my mum can cope with Amazon (and Dhs mum can't substitute things for almost the same thing, which drives him insane)

I am in same position. Every birthday and christmas have to come up with 7 different options x 2 children, have even bought stuff on their behalf in previous years. Find it infuriating that they can't think for themselves, so have gone on strike for DS birthday this weekend. Told them all to buy want they want but please provide receipts as well. Am either going to be pleasantly surprised or spend all of next week in returns queues

I suppose the Amazon wishlist is a good idea but as DS's birthday is only 2 weeks away and I haven't started one it means me trawling through Amazon for hours this week to put stuff on it. I had this conversation with my dad yesterday:

Dad - what should we get DS for his birthday?
Me - I really don't know - isn't there anything you and mom would LIKE to get for him?
Dad - No.
Me - silence
Dad - um, well, anything we can order him off Amazon, you just tell me exactly what.

I don't mind the 'order off Amazon' bit as they do live overseas but why can't he think up something himself! nd it's not as if my dad is normally lazy or insensitive.