Grandparent buying presents for dc

[poooooooop]

Does anyone feel like they don’t really have to buy dc much because the gp go crazy buying instead?

It used to really bother me, but now it bothers me less, but still a little bit.

I’ve tried over the years to give ideas of what they could buy, which works a little as in she’ll buy it alongside lots of other things too.

I tried restricting her to just 3 presents as I don’t think she realised (but she must have!) that other people including dh & I buy them stuff too. And it’s just so overwhelming for all of us.

Due to this I have restricted what I buy for dc and I hate it! We never went overboard, generally 3 gifts from us, one from FC and a stocking. But now we buy just 2 from us and just fill the stocking with chocolate, as gp will buy them socks, underwear, wash stuff and toothbrushes.... I wish they didn’t as dc don’t get a choice in what type of character, plus the body wash stuff is crap!

This year I have given her an experience idea, which she has bought and ds will love! But then she’s text me saying she needs other stuff for him to open. I’ve once again explained that he will have plenty to open, but she’s not getting it.

I’m not complaining (well not too much) as I know it’s great that she loves buying them stuff, and I can kind of manipulate it a bit.

But oh the amount of tat! I’m tempted not to buy dc anything just to level the amount out! But I too enjoy buying dc stuff, but generallly I buy better, thought out gifts.

The harm being we’ve already explained to her that the kids don’t need them. If she does get them the bikes they will be from Santa, not her. The two oldest have a bike and a trike that are not even a year old and we’ve got the youngest a ride on from Santa. It would be a colossal waste of money for her to buy them new bikes when the kids have neither asked for them or need them

bert I too wouldn’t be happy about gp* buying dc bikes as we’re a keen biking family and gp* are not, so unless I knew they wanted to buy them one, and I could give them the exact one I want them too have, then we’d end up with a very crap character bike from Halfords

I understand who it is lovely that the gp want to spoil the gc and we are lucky.

"we’re a keen biking family and gp** are not,"
Under those circumstance no bikes makes sense. But no bikes because I say so doesn't.

bert totally! A few years ago I would have hated gp to buy my dc something like their 1st bike, but now I’m a lot more relaxed as, as long as you approach them tactfully you can get them to buy exactly what you ask. I’m happy for them to buy the dc’s bike now if they wish, but it has to be the one I or dc pick out.