Birthday Gift Demands

Have you ever been invited to a kids' birthday party or holiday celebration with rules as to what you could or couldn't get the child?

I have a relative that is extremely practical. So much so, that when we ask her what we can get her kids for their birthdays or Christmas, she provides a very detailed list, right down to the stock numbers, for exactly what her boys would like. She also usually asks us to include a gift receipt in case something doesn't fit right or in case there are duplicates. I appreciate this because I am detail-oriented and really do want to get something that her kids will like.

Between her kids and mine, we usually, for each child's birthday or around the holidays, usually send a group email out to anyone planning on seeing the kids as to general ideas of what our kids would like, and ask that whoever gets something off of the list should 'reply all' to avoid getting multiples of the same gift.

I also most often write in that email that these are only gift suggestions, and that no one should ever feel obligated to get my kids anything off of the list...or anything at all...and that my boys would be grateful for any birthday gift, should they receive one.

So I can understand how this letter circulating social media might seem a bit anal and ungrateful to some people, as these parents try to express EXACTLY what others should or should not get their child for his birthday.

In the email the parents have sent out to all of those who will be invited to their child's birthday party, they begin by saying (and I'll use the random name SMITHY because I don't know the name of the kid) "With Smithy's birthday coming up, we thought we'd ask for four items that he will really get a lot of use out of in the coming months. I provided my mom and sister-in-law with a list of four other items that Smithy would like for his birthday to avoid duplication."

The parents then go on to ask for gifts particularly from certain people, in certain amounts. And then they list the four specific items that they want for their child, along with links to those items.

But the demands keep on coming. The email goes on to list a few more 'important items':

-- "If you choose to get Smithy something that isn't on this list, anytime regardless of birthdays or holidays, please be sure to always include a receipt going forward. When we return items without receipts, we only get about 50% of the value, so it is like throwing money away. With formula costing us $80 a week, it is always nice to be able to return items that he doesn't need to get formula instead."

-- "We would suggest no more books beyond the one cited above. Right now, Smithy has 32 board books on his shelf, and 25 additional books waiting for him in storage once he is 3+ years of age."

-- "Please refrain from any personalized gifts that would be used outside of the house. Clothing with names is the #1 thing that leads to kidnapping, so we don't need to broadcast his name on clothing or toys."

And they end with this: "Please let us know if you have any questions about any items not on this list that you are considering purchasing and we can let you know if we already have it or if it is in storage waiting for him."

To see the actual letter, CLICK HERE.

Do you appreciate this kind of detailed request list, or does it make you angry that maybe these people are being a little too demanding and perhaps this letter turns you off from even wanting to get the kid a gift?

I will say that I laughed when I read the instruction about not getting anything with the child's name on it for fear of kidnapping...I laughed at that because I WAS ONCE THAT PARENT.....scared out of my mind after hearing every horrific news story about kidnappings. I have since calmed down about my boys....

...and if you believe that, I have a bridge for sale.