To buy presents for my DC’s aunts and uncle.

[JKCR2017]

I have DD and DS with my partner. My partner has two sisters and a brother. Youngest is 19 the other 2 are in their later 20’s.

Last year and the year before I spent around £15-20 on each of them for Christmas but DC got nothing from two of them. The youngest aunt very kindly bought them a gift each.

Now, I don’t expect anyone to buy my children presents but is it normal for aunts and uncles who work and earn money not to buy their niece and nephew a gift for Christmas? Or even birthdays for that matter? We spent Christmas With them and Mil last year and are generally pretty close. I would never say anything as wouldn’t want to sound like I expect gifts or cause an argument.

I don’t have niece and nephews but I know that I probably will one day and I will love to spoil them.

Would it be okay to buy the aunts and uncles gifts this year?

But then I feel guilty because the youngest of the 3 actually does buy DC gifts but cannot buy her a gift and not my partners other brother and sister?

Confused 🤔

I always find this tricky, I spent years buying for my brother and sister in law and their kids and got nothing back, so last year I just bought for the kids, of course this was the first year they decided to buy me and my dc’s gifts so I felt a bit tight. This year I’m going to buy them a family gift but not spend a fortune.

I think it’s normal for aunties and uncles to buy their nieces and nephews a gift but If they don’t bother I wouldn’t bother with them TBH, or maybe just buy them a bottle of wine or some chocolates.

I’d buy a gift for anyone who buys my dc gifts, or if they have dc I’d buy their dc a gift.
If I buy a gift for someone who doesn’t reciprocate I wouldn’t buy another gift this year unless they buy me one first. Not out of meanness or a sense of entitlement but because I’d take it as an indication that they don’t want to engage in exchanging gifts which is fine.

I would let them know you are not doing adult gifts this year but give the youngest a gift voucher as 19 is still quite young. Are any of them still living at home? If you are spending Christmas with them then some sweets or wine (£5) would be nice.