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Can Hardly Believe it's Really Going to Happen!

November 19th, 2008 at 06:02 pm

My in-law family has decided this year to forgo a gift exchange! WHEE! I have always wanted to go this route because they are a fairly big family, and getting bigger every year.

Starting with my husband's parents (there actually are 2 households already: his mom, and his dad and spouse) the count was

- 1st Brother/Wife and 3 Grown Up Kids
- 2nd Brother/Wife and 4 Kids

For an immediate family count of 11 recipients. For the past 6-8 years we all went to my husbands mother's house for a big Christmas Eve family night.

Additional folks would visit including, an aunt on the dad's side (no spouse or kids), a cousin on the mom's side (one spouse and 2 more kids), assorted girlfriends of the brother's teen boys.

Ummmm, I usually tried to bring a few little things for these extended family folks, just happy inexpensive gifts like small bag with hair stuff for the girls, candles for the women, etc.

I was able to be creative and provide for all without straining the bank. But the older folks on retirement were being stressed undoubtedly.

Now most of these kids are all grown up, out of college and a few are married themselves, with little kids!

In fact, the gathering has greatly reduced, only a couple of the grown kids are in state anymore, and (sadly) one of my husbands brother passed away from cancer two years ago.

The party has moved to the oldest brother's house (he is fairly well off and goes all out usually on expenses). He and his wife want to shift the emphasis on a dinner/song singing/boating (he lives on the water) and nix the gifts. YAY! (did I say that already?).

Except for the kids. Now you think, what kids? Well funny, but my kids are the only ones left under age 18 (except the little baby ones not in state).

I'm excited but feel funny that my kids are the only ones going to receive gifts from all these adults! HaHa! Oh well, it's what I've always dreamed of Smile

5 Responses to “Can Hardly Believe it's Really Going to Happen!”

  1. M E 2 Says:
    1227118345



    Still trying to grasp the reasoning behind gifting ADULT members (well at least those who are not siblings) of a/the extended family???? W T H?!!!?


    I gift my mom, 3 siblings, (only 1 has a spouse, yay!)
    3 nephews, 2 co-workers and my boss. That is it!

    Anyone/everyone else is : S O L ;-)

    And gee, I haven't been kicked out of the family nor have my friends forsaken me. Wow, what a concept!!





  2. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1227118589

    Not sure I would even want my children getting gifts all at once from so many people. Has that been overwhelming in the past?

  3. miclason Says:
    1227119568

    Wow!...that in itself is a Xmas gift! LOL!
    It's not only the $$$$, but all the stress of buying all those gifts that is gone!
    I think my DD already gets too many gifts as it is (she, of course, wouldn't agree.... particularly since she has classmates that get LOADED with gifts!)...
    She IS spoiled... she gets 2 toys, 1 book, 1 pajama set every Xmas... and that is just from ME!!! (she used to get 1 toy from me and 1 from my parents-- which I bought anyway, as they really didn't have the $$$)...oh, and she gets a Santa gift... And she's so lucky with gifts, sometimes she even gets gifts from strangers!

  4. pretty cheap jewelry Says:
    1227134309

    Some of the oldsters in this big Italian family had few immediate family and it was nice to gift them (the great aunt, for example).

    And when the kids were under age 5 they were overwhelmed, but that is when the grandparents spoiled them most (my parents included!). The kids are pretty savvy about the whole thing and look forward to the presents. That is what Christmas is all about, the kids, right?? D*O* N*O*T A*N*S*W*E*R T*H*A*T !!!

  5. creditcardfree Says:
    1227545130

    So nice for you to get a break from the gift obligations! Enjoy your time together.

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