Bestest Friend and I are doing a blog project. Every day we will write a blog post on a pre-determined topic chosen by a random noun generator. The theme for the twenty-fourth day of the month is "Family."
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My sister-in-law and her husband have three children who have birthdays within the same month of one another. Most years they hold a party and we go with all our nieces and nephews to a gym and they goof off and then there's pizza and it's all very civilized. But most years the invitation to the party comes after the first one's birthday and I've already sent off a card and a check in the mail, so we never bring presents, but just continue to send off checks because I think it would be weird to bring a present for two of the kids, but not the other. This year my SIL was on the ball because we got an invitation to the party before the first birthday, so I asked her if she or the kids had a preference for whether or not they got presents at the party OR a card in the mail.
(I am an oh, so indulgent aunt and made it clear that I would even personalize the experience for each child so if they each wanted different arrangements, I would be happy to do it for them.)
My SIL polled them and they said whatever was easiest for us, but with a slight preference for at the time of the party. Well, the party is tomorrow, the presents have been procured, and I am quite pleased with myself.
SHASHIBO shape-shifting cube that is apparently really fun to play with
Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley
Paint Your Own Unicorn & Friends kit
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Why, yes, I did buy them all fantasy books written by women. You wouldn't know who I was if I didn't give them excellent books, would you? Getting a book from Aunt NGS and Uncle Dr. BB is a given for our nieces and nephews. What's your signature gift?
Sue tends to give books to newborns. It used to be those Beatrix Potter books, but I think they eventually got too dated.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE to give bath books and Sandra Boynton books for babies. It's one of my favorite things.
DeleteAlways at least one book. Retired English and Creative Writing teacher, so I feel obligated, you know? I also refuse to give anything Disney and hyper-branded or commercial. I'm a big fan of craft stuff, art stuff, creative stuff in general if the recipient is into that sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteI am glad we're not the only ones handing out books like they're candy. I always give an additional gift to the book, but they can always count on a book from me.
DeleteThose cubes ARE fun, and we have had that Tetris game-- also a winner. My Father's Dragon has been a big hit here, too
ReplyDeleteOh, this comment made me feel so relieved! At least three of these things got your stamp of approval, so that's giving me a confidence boost going into the party.
DeleteI have nieces with birthdays on December 5, December 7, and January 14. My signature gift is only books for Christmas, and then fun/requested stuff for their birthdays. I started doing it when they were all babies (14, 13, and 1 now) and I love it, although it was definitely easier when everyone was as little as the youngest...
ReplyDeleteOh, that's nice that they know you'll get them books for Christmas. I actually really like doing it more as they get older because I can give them books that were favorites of mine. I had an aunt who introduced me to so many great books with her gifts (Black Beauty, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) and I'm so excited to be able to do that for my nieces and nephews, too.
DeleteI have a LOT of nieces and nephews, and a great-niece! Because of the sheer volume and the very wide age ranges, I have been over the last few years sending money. To be honest, most of them have so much stuff that I just don't know what to get anymore! I did, however, put together a "starter pack" of makeup and nail polish when one of my nieces turned 11. That was a lot of fun. Another niece often gets craft kits. Generally though I think they prefer getting money.
ReplyDeleteI asked! I would happily have sent money - it many ways it IS a lot easier. If they don't have a party, though, I just send a check because we live too far for me to just drop off a present and I am not organized enough to buy presents AND get them in the mail in a timely manner. Anyway, I think sending a present or money is wonderful either way and shows you care and have thought about them.
DeleteWe always give Legos, which is a bit hypocritical of me because I *hate* having Legos in my house - the kids leave them all over and they hurt when you step on them and I hate having all the different shapes and colours mixed up. But kids like them and they're easy to find at Target at the last minute.
ReplyDeleteLately, for kids aged10+, I've just been sticking a $20 bill in a card.
My son received a Shasibo for his birthday last year and at first I was skeptical, but it has been surprisingly popular with him. His favorite thing is to fold it a certain way and pretend it's a plane and fly it around the house.
I highly approve of your gifting a Grace Lin book. Aside from loving her art and writing, I love how she is such an eloquent advocate for diversity in children's books. (I might be biased because my mother is friends with her mother.)
These are all great presents! You're niblings are so lucky to have you!
I am obsessed with making sure little boys read books written by women because I was forced to read so many books by male authors when I was a child. What a lovely connection to Grace Lin - I am not super familiar with her books, but I love the idea of fantasy AND cultural awareness at the same time.
DeleteI asked the kids if they wanted money and they said no, so they get what they get!
Adding that cube to my kid's birthday ideas list! You are such a fun aunt. So glad you got to give them all what they wanted this year (and I wold have totally done what you did previously, which is make sure they all got pretty much the same thing/experience).
ReplyDeleteI hope they think I'm a fun aunt! I guess I mostly just hope they think I'm not a neglectful aunt and they will remember me when I'm super old. Ha!
DeleteI always enjoyed receiving books as a child. Your choices look interesting... even to this adult child!
ReplyDeleteI LOVED getting books as a child, too, but I recognize that they might not all be like me and so I always get them an additional gift, too. Now that you mentioned it, I should have read those books before we wrapped them!
DeleteOoh, how fun! I love buying gifts for kids but haven't done it in a while. I love how you gave them each a cool activity and a cool book. Have fun at the party!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It will be a lot of driving for a short time at the actual party, but hopefully it will be fun.
DeleteThose look like awesome gifts!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a signature gift for everyone because I find the whole process to be overwhelming (not for family, more for "casual" acquaintances). I know this might seem sexist, but all my kids female teachers get my favourite candle for Christmas each year; all the male teachers get a gift card to a local coffee shop (I get my kids to subtly find out WHICH local coffee shop they prefer and make sure to get it to there; this year, my daughter discovered her teacher prefers to brew his own coffee at home so I bought a big bag of really nice coffee from said coffee shop).
I also am a big fan of giving the same gift (but different) every year. For example, every single Christmas my husband gets a different LEGO Star Wars set. Every single birthday one of my friends gets a new Christmas ornament. I actually find it extra fun to hunt for these gifts and they seem to be favourites for the recipients, too.
Yes! I wish I had regular gifts for everything. I do books for the niblings, but it would be easier if I could just do the same gifts (but different). I do have a handful of gifts for events:
DeleteBaby born: a wooden teether and burp cloths
Baptism: A wooden cube with details about the birth date, weight, etc. and a personalized storybook
Wedding: Something from the registry + "First Christmas" ornament + wedding invitation on a candle
Everything else: WHY IS GIFT GIVING SO HARD?!
We have the oldest grandchildren on my husband's side of the family, so I am also the book-giving aunt. Toys and books for the under-five set, funny t-shirt and book for the young adolescent set. My one nephew got asked if he got any books one year and said 'only from Auntie Allison. She's very reliable".
ReplyDeleteReliable! LOL. Can't tell if that's a compliment or not! Hilarious, though.
DeleteLucky niblings! Those are some seriously cool gifts and pairings. _Rad American Women_ was such a hit in our household ten years ago, I keep copies to give to anyone in the 5-15 age range. https://www.radgirlscan.com/rad-american-women-a-z/
ReplyDeleteOh, that's a great suggestion. I'll add to it the list for my youngest niece - she might enjoy that!
DeleteThese are great gifts; you are a sweet Aunt! One of my girls has one of those shape-shifting cubes and they're so cool!!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to hear that this shape-shifting cube is a good gift - it was recommended for his age, so I guess we'll see how he likes it!
DeleteYou are a very fun aunt! I always gave books + a check for their college account when the kids were, say, 10 and younger. As they've gotten older, I just send a check because it's hard to know what they might like to read/what they've read. And I let them/the parent decide how to use the check. Except my nephew/Godson - I just deposited money in his college savings account and wrote him a nice, big check when he graduate from high school. I'm all about the time value of money. :)
ReplyDeleteMost of the time they just get checks and a card from us, too! Most of them aren't having parties where they invite the whole family still because they do smaller parties with friends. What they do with the money is up to them, though. We haven't had one graduate from high school yet, so I guess we'll have to have a conversation about what gift we do for that!
DeleteI usually do gift cards at this point. It's just easier and I know they enjoy being able to spend their own money! My nephew just turned 8 and I added two books to his gift card, which my brother said he was really happy with. He's the nephew who loves to read and I hope I can continue buying him books for his birthday! With the older nephew, a gift card is preferred! I love buying books and/or puzzles, though, for kids.
ReplyDeleteYes, I really do usually just send money. But they preferred this and asked for it, so that's what they get!
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