Can you find cheap gifts for classmates in WDW?

[MickeyMomOfThree]

My kids start the school year with a plain folder, by the end of the year it is covered in stickers. Most of them are from teahers as rewards, some are from friends that brought them in, some are from field trips they went on. They love the stickers and I think it makes a boring folder pretty cute.

I said earlier I never thought about people not wanting a gift cause it may make a kid feel bad, but it never would have occoured to me that people would be down right angry about it. It's interesting, but in our limited experience has not been the case. Our school seems to have limited everything fun and they have not limited this, granted it doesn't happen often but I'd think if they saw it even once and didn't like it they'd ban it and they haven't. Food yes, trinkets, no.

In fact, this thread has me thinking. DD8's b-day is about 6 weeks after our trip. They are allowed to bring in a non-food treat to share with the class (decorative pencils and stickers are a few of the suggestions.) I think I will be buying the Mickey Straws for her to bring back and share as her b-day treat. It will be different then the normal stuff people bring at birthdays. We try to do something different, last year we brought silly bands and the year before chinese yoyos.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it's disgraceful when a simple gesture of giving a small gift has been so perverted and twisted that it is now a burden. Whatever happened to gratitude and accepting a gift graciously?

No kidding! I wonder if these people don't let their kids have birthday gifts unless they are form an approved list. Or don't let their kids accept those little valentine cards kids love to hand out, because it is too hard to throw them away.

Very sad that a simple gesture is being turned into something ugly. Some people need to learn that they can appreciate the thought, even if they don't like the gift. Geeze. If a sticker over-burdens your trash, give it to another child, or throw it away at Walmart.

OP--I think it is very sweet of you to consider classmates this way.

 

[iheartnmr's]

They are, thank you! But they are not encouraged to tolerate fools gladly. We don't believe in that in our house.

So now people who give gifts because they are thoughtful people are fools? Look in the mirror sweetheart. Good grief. It makes the giver feel good. If the recipient can't see it for what it is, then shame on you. You're not helping society by keeping stuff out of the garbage, your making it worse with such a negative attitude towards a child's gift to another child.

 

[MooGooGai]

My kids start the school year with a plain folder, by the end of the year it is covered in stickers. Most of them are from teahers as rewards, some are from friends that brought them in, some are from field trips they went on. They love the stickers and I think it makes a boring folder pretty cute.

I am amazed that a child has figured out something to do with stickers

I wonder if teachers are considered "fools" to some families if they give a child a sticker for a reward

 

[SaraJayne]

They are, thank you! But they are not encouraged to tolerate fools gladly. We don't believe in that in our house.

If being thoughtful and generous makes me a fool, I'm okay with that.

 

[acomasdiaz]

They are, thank you! But they are not encouraged to tolerate fools gladly. We don't believe in that in our house.

You consider "fools" people who think of others when they are on vacation. That is truly sad. If you don't like the OP's idea of giving a gift then don't respond or at the very least don't be so rude about it. I mean what happened to being polite?!

 

[crisi]

So now people who give gifts because they are thoughtful people are fools? Look in the mirror sweetheart. Good grief. It makes the giver feel good. If the recipient can't see it for what it is, then shame on you. You're not helping society by keeping stuff out of the garbage, your making it worse with such a negative attitude towards a child's gift to another child.

It is fascinating that you all expect me to be respectful of the idea of giving classroom gifts, but are unwilling to respect the fact that I DON'T WANT them.

Interesting mirror. Must be one way.

 

[MooGooGai]

It is fascinating that you all expect me to be respectful of the idea of giving classroom gifts, but are unwilling to respect the fact that I DON'T WANT them.

Interesting mirror. Must be one way.

Respect the fact that your children call gifts from classmates “stupid” Or that you call gift givers fools

Are you for real

 

[Dizfan4life]

Yes, really. I don't want the sticker. I don't want it in my trash. If you feel the need to contribute to the waste stream, get a hundred stickers and throw them in the trash yourself. Why should I throw your sticker into the trash for you?

Oh boy, and to think that there could be a parent like this at my DD's school frightens me ! Isn't it funny how so many people these days can be so fake but show their true personality behind a mystery username? My DD LOVES to bring back stuff to her class and I was there when the kids received the gifts and those kids showed no jealousy or anger about it..... in fact they all it and continued to thank my DD for thinking of them. Ahhh.... the innocence of youth .

 

[wtccheermom]

Respect the fact that your children call gifts from classmates “stupid” Or that you call gift givers fools

Are you for real

The scary part is I think she is serious!!!

 

[MooGooGai]

and those kids showed no jealousy or anger about it..... in fact they all it and continued to thank my DD for thinking of them. Ahhh.... the innocence of youth .

I do think many parents are jealous that other families go on vacation. Again, my story of teaching your children to be happy for others comes into play here.

To say a child gets depressed because her classmate brought a gift back from WDW is alarming. That is an emotion facilitated and taught by the parent.

 

[crisi]

Respect the fact that your children call gifts from classmates “stupid” Or that you call gift givers fools

Are you for real

No, I didn't call anyone a fool, I tried to imply that people who insult my children through compliments on a message board are foolish. I'm perfectly happy with my children and my life, thank you very much for being so concerned.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't see how getting a trinket like this is a burden. We just accepted these things graciously and then disposed them later if we needed to. It's meant well and that's what really matters.

 

[crisi]

And I'm still trying to wrap my mind around how a sticker or pencil is an inappropriate gift. An inappropriate gift would be say, a pack of princess panties. A sticker is not. I am also still having a hard time understanding how giving a gift is rude.

That's the problem with parenting today. Parents must overanalyze and tear apart every gesture looking for an ulterior motive. I mean, good grief, parents are saying that receiving a gift from WDW would hurt their child's feelings. It's no longer possible to just explain to your child that not every child can have a trip to Disney and to be thankful for that sweet gift. No, it's become rude and inappropriate.

In my world - and this is cultural - its inappropriate to give a gift as a token. A gift carries obligation. If your child brings back a gift for my child - even a token gift - my child is obligated to return that gift. A gift says "I'm thinking about you." It is more meaningful than "I brought a gift back for everyone in my class" - unless your child sincerely thought about each classmate as a unique individual and put that sort of thought into the gift. A gift has meaning. It has purpose. Its a BIG DEAL. You don't give gifts casually because in doing so, you place a burden of reciprocity on the receiver. You need to make sure that other person is willing to have a relationship that extends to gifts.

Because a gift was chosen for you, you keep it. That's the burden. That ugly sculpture from my mother in law - yep, she was thinking fondly of me when she bought them (actually, she was thinking fondly of my husband - its more to his taste than mine), I'm stuck with it. She put herself into choosing that gift - it would be insulting to her (and, its forever - eventually to her memory) to get rid of it.

Now, throw all that onto a sticker. Because why would you give me a sticker if you didn't want to communicate that you were thinking of me, and valued me, and wanted me to remember you through that sticker. It isn't "just a sticker" - its a gift. And if it isn't a gift, if its "just a sticker" - why are you bothering?

 

[tlens]

You always give gifts expecting they will give you something back? Really?
That's a pretty cynical and sad view of people. I doubt the OP would expect each child in her child's class to give her child something in return.

 

[mdsoccermom]

In my world - and this is cultural - its inappropriate to give a gift as a token. A gift carries obligation. If your child brings back a gift for my child - even a token gift - my child is obligated to return that gift. A gift says "I'm thinking about you." It is more meaningful than "I brought a gift back for everyone in my class" - unless your child sincerely thought about each classmate as a unique individual and put that sort of thought into the gift. A gift has meaning. It has purpose. Its a BIG DEAL. You don't give gifts casually because in doing so, you place a burden of reciprocity on the receiver. You need to make sure that other person is willing to have a relationship that extends to gifts.

Because a gift was chosen for you, you keep it. That's the burden. That ugly sculpture from my mother in law - yep, she was thinking fondly of me when she bought them (actually, she was thinking fondly of my husband - its more to his taste than mine), I'm stuck with it. She put herself into choosing that gift - it would be insulting to her (and, its forever - eventually to her memory) to get rid of it.

Now, throw all that onto a sticker. Because why would you give me a sticker if you didn't want to communicate that you were thinking of me, and valued me, and wanted me to remember you through that sticker. It isn't "just a sticker" - its a gift. And if it isn't a gift, if its "just a sticker" - why are you bothering?

That is your issue to work through and it's no one else's responsibility. If someone is giving your kid a gift after their vacation, it's your kid's responsibility to accept it graciously and move on, not take on your issues with gift giving.

Furthermore, I think it's kind of sad that your idea of gift giving always expects something in return. You've totally distorted the idea of a gift.

 

[MooGooGai]

Because a gift was chosen for you, you keep it. That's the burden.

But you said it yourself that you throw the gifts in the trash Do you pick and chose when you follow your culture?

And you think it is ok for your children to call gift givers “stupid” I really need to know what culture allows children to be raised to think being this rude is acceptable.

A sticker is just a sticker. Nothing more. Children like to give little gifts to each other, the teacher, their parents, etc. It is what kids do. It is sweet. Not stupid. Not earth shattering. A thesis does not need to be written to explain why a child might give your child a sticker. It's just a sticker.

Mine are now old enough that anything you bring back is "stupid."

I can't get over this. I find it sickening that a child would be raised like this. Again, what culture would be ok with this? ANYTHING given to your children by a classmate who has returned from a trip would be considered stupid!?!?! Ungrateful.

 

[crisi]

You always give gifts expecting they will give you something back? Really?
That's a pretty cynical and sad view of people. I doubt the OP would expect each child in her child's class to give her child something in return.

No, I always get gifts and assume the obligation for returning something to giver. Not necessarily a physical something, but something of value - time, thoughtfulness, caring - or a return physical gift. But it has to be of value - gifts are not casual things. A token is an insult to the idea of a gift, but carries the same obligation to me to return it - so you've burdened me with the obligation, and insulted me with the token - i.e. you are getting something of value by giving me something of no value. As I said, this, like many things about gifts, is cultural - but we live in a diverse culture, don't we.

 

[crisi]

But you said it yourself that you throw the gifts in the trash Do you pick and chose when you follow your culture?

And you think it is ok for your children to call gift givers “stupid” I really need to know what culture allows children to be raised to think being this rude is acceptable.

No, my kids call the gifts stupid. When they get home.

And yes, if I valued the gift the way I should, my house would be filled with crap. Meaningless crap because I live in a place where people feel its ok to burden me with this crap all the time. But then I get the guilt of tossing it. So I get the burden one way or another. A clean house wins out - I still have too much crap, much of it not to my taste.

 

[MooGooGai]

A token is an insult to the idea of a gift

A child picks a flower and hands it to you. A token. Nothing of value. But you are insulted, I am sure.

It takes a lot to please you. That is sad for the children that you are raising.