Gift-giving gets too much

I'm the official present-wrapper in our house. Over the week I've wrapped up DP's daughters gifts and I'm staggered by the amount of gifts she's getting from us. She'll also get a huge bundle of presents from his parents and then my parents will chip in a few gifts (my mother just went out and bought her a dress from from the trelise cooper range for kids ). And that's just on DP's side of the family.

On one level I think it's great that this child is so loved but on the other I can't help but wonder when the deluge of gifts does become too much for one little person. I'd estimate she'd have at least $2k spent on her at christmas presents just on our 'side' and to be honest it makes me feel sick. Especially when I read stories about child poverty in New Zealand.

I really want her to grow up to become a good person and realise that it is just as important to give as to recieve.

Making some cookies and delivering to people on Christmas eve.

Writing thank you notes to those who have given her gifts.

Anyone got any ideas to counter-balance the effects of this deluge of presents or am I just being a wicked step mother?

Actually her birthday is just before christmas and that gift pile is pretty big as well!

I know that the kiddo loves helping in the kitchen so thought cookies would be a good thing for us to do together as a 'positive' giving experience.

But I think I might get DP to take care of the 'good manners' aspects of christmas. He's got such a big generous heart but he needs to recognize how important it is to let her learn how to be generous.

I think it depends on the age .. I doubt telling Isabelle how lucky she is would mean much to her.

How about making and sending christmas cards to kids in hospital over Christmas? She might enjoy that, I'm sure the kids would appreciate it, and it would help her learn to think of others and realise how lucky she is.

We make christmas mince pies for their school teachers and kindy, neighbours etc and the kids each give a bit of their christmas shopping money to buy a gift to put under the kmart tree.

Perhaps for some of the new gifts she is getting, she can give some of her old things away to the Sallies or St Vincents??

My boys & I make sweets or cookies & take them to the old folks home. The oldies just love it & so do my kids. I also get them to clean out there toys they no longer play with before xmas & donate them to womens refuge or simillar local charities & gift drives
My big boy was born on xmas eve

Ugh i know exactly what you mean. My husband's family are such gift givers.

I always end up feeling like the grinch that stole xmas because it actually makes me feel unwell and really spoils xmas for me and so i can't help but grumble when we get home and have to unpack a carload of gifts. It literally is a mission to get the presents into the car - and that is just from their side, let alone my family, friends and his other baby friends etc. It takes us weeks to sort through and open them and then find out where to put them.

TBH some of them never even get opened and just go straight to charity, or on trademe. Naughty me i know but i just can't cope with so much stuff! The rest i put in his wardrobe and bring out a couple at a time over the next few months.

This xmas i have convinced the inlaws family to pick a name out of a hat for the adults so that means 8 less presents to find, and only Alex's grandparents will buy for him. Not the aunties and uncles and also no friends.   He's 18 mo for crying out loud, his fav toys are our tools, the kitchen cupboards and a $5 inflatable car! I'm having to physically restrain hubby from going OTT with presents for Alex but i'd rather wait and get him some things later in the year.

Don't get me wrong i love xmas, am making decorations at the moment, love getting the tree up etc etc but i just don't like the excess.

Thanks for some of the awesome ideas ladies!

kiwikid wrote: it would be an incredibly generous thing to donate some of her old things to the less fortunate - explain how women's refuge or the sallies work, get her to wrap them and talk about how happy she can make another child.

How would your child like to get all excited about a wrapped up Christmas present only to find something second hand and used. By all means donate used things if they are still in good condition but dont' wrap them up like they are new presents.