Can you find cheap gifts for classmates in WDW?

[tlens]

What "culture" are you referring to because it appears it's clearly in the American minority.

 

[Disneyadore]

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?

Then why are you spending so much time on the Internet? Making electricity is also a very polluting system that creates a big pile of waste. Be consequent

 

[tlens]

I guess my kids are weird. They use the stickers they get.

 

[crisi]

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.

And I feel sorry for you.

 

[tink1969]

There is a store in Downtown Disney where everything is under $10.
I buys all kinds of stuff there for my kids' classmates.

In my Canadian province of Ontario, we are not allowed to bring in items to classmates that 'may contain' traces of peanuts. So the Disney chocolate coins are not an option for us.

To be honest, I'm quite surprised that schools in the U.S. still allow peanut butter sandwiches in schools. Surely the deadly allergy to peanuts is not geographically specific and limited to children north of the border!

 

[crisi]

What "culture" are you referring to because it appears it's clearly in the American minority.

That's a question I'm not comfortable answering here.

 

[MooGooGai]

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

Still. You are teaching your children to call "anything they bring home from school" stupid It seems so wrong.

Most people would teach their children the idea of being thankful for the thought. It is the thought that counts. Quietly rid yourself of the clutter, but remember the value of friendship and kind thoughts. Stupid? I would be so sad if that word even came out of the mouth of my child, let alone EVERY time they brought a gift into the house.

I find it hard to believe that someone that is so ungrateful would have her house overly cluttered with gifts. Someone will one day catch on that your children call EVERY gift they get from peers “stupid” and your wish will one day come true

 

[crisi]

Then why are you spending so much time on the Internet? Making electricity is also a very polluting system that creates a big pile of waste. Be consequent

That is waste I choose, which is different, I think, than the waste you choose for me. I'm comfortable choosing my own waste. I am not comfortable with someone else choosing my waste for me.

 

[crisi]

Still. You are teaching your children to call "anything they bring home from school" stupid It seems so wrong.

Most people would teach their children the idea of being thankful for the thought. It is the thought that counts. Quietly rid yourself of the clutter, but remember the value of friendship and kind thoughts. Stupid? I would be so sad if that word even came out of the mouth of my child, let alone EVERY time they brought a gift into the house.

I find it hard to believe that someone that is so ungrateful would have her house overly cluttered with gifts. Someone will one day catch on that your children call EVERY gift they get from peers “stupid” and your wish will one day come true

But the "thought" I get from this is that you find me only worth a "token" gift. That you didn't bother to choose a gift for me that values me as a person. What sort of "thought" goes into "stickers or suckers or pencils for an entire classroom." Is that really a thought worth counting? I'd rather my children receive real friendship.

 

[Nancyg56]

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

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.

I guess I am having a hard time deciding how to respect your wish. I get that you do not want the little gifts that you deem are trash and that your children find them stupid. My question is how do the other parents and the kids in the class that enjoy giving and receiving little tokens address your wishes? Do you send a notice to the teacher asking that your child be left out of these little activities? Do you want the parents to just stop treating all of the children in order to accomodate your child? How does one respect without upsetting anyone else, especially when parents do not know your feelings.

And for the record, I bellieve that your children call the gifts stupid in your presence but I wonder if they would happy campers if when the gifts were distributed they were left out in order to make sure they were not burdened with a sticker that could be tossed in the school trash or offered to another child who might appreciate the gift.

Personally, if I felt the way that you do I would teach my children to offer the gift to a child who liked 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?

I guess that if you really are placing all of this heavy thought into a sticker...is it a gift? is it an obligation? is it a little token? then it would be best if you send a note to the teacher asking that your children opt out of any gift....token....burden.....whatever, and when kids pass out little things the teacher can accept the burden for your child. Just do not get peeved if the entire school does not take part in your philosophy and they continue to burden each other while your kid is sticker free.

That is waste I choose, which is different, I think, than the waste you choose for me. I'm comfortable choosing my own waste. I am not comfortable with someone else choosing my waste for me.

But then you need to address it and stop trying to rebuke those of us who do not share your view. I understand (well I really do not but I respect it) that you seem to be offended byt this activity but the way you have presented your viewppoint deminishes the good intentions of those folks who just want to be nice. Tell teh teacher how you feel and then you and your kids are not paarticipating in being wasteful.

 

[MosMom]

Wow! After reading this thread I think I'll save myself $20 and not bring anything back for my kids' class. I always thought it was nice. I didn't realize I was polluting minds and homes with a small gift from DisneyWorld. I really had no idea there were so many bitter people out there. This thread is definitely an eye opener. When my kids bring home something from school, I think it is great. It never occurred to me that they should be jealous or angry to receive a gift.

 

[tink1969]

They sound lovely.

 

[MooGooGai]

I'd rather my children receive real friendship.

Good luck with that.

And I mean that very sincerely. Children don’t take fondly to other children that call their little token gifts “Stupid”.

Your children can be fake and pretend to be sweet when they accept gifts they don’t approve of. They can then come home and throw their hurtful words around in private with mommy cheering them on.

But one day, that very ugly attitude will slip out in public. And your children will lose, all because they were taught it was ok to act like an ungrateful brat due to a make believe culture. Because you and I both know that there is no culture in the world that teaches children it is fine and dandy to come home and call every token gift “stupid”. Unless, of course, it is the Culture of Rude Little Children.

 

[okeydokey]

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?

Too bad for you. The world does not revolve around you and your family and your wants.

 

[crisi]

Good luck with that.

And I mean that very sincerely. Children don’t take fondly to other children that call their little token gifts “Stupid”.

Your children can be fake and pretend to be sweet when they accept gifts they don’t approve of. They can then come home and throw their hurtful words around in private with mommy cheering them on.

But one day, that very ugly attitude will slip out in public. And your children will lose, all because they were taught it was ok to act like an ungrateful brat due to a make believe culture. Because you and I both know that there is no culture in the world that teaches children it is fine and dandy to come home and call every token gift “stupid”. Unless, of course, it is the Culture of Rude Little Children.

My kids have plenty of friends. I have plenty of friends. We are very content, but thank you for your concern. And I've had my friends for three decades, I'm not too worried about them figuring out who I am now. Not when I've been honest with them for over a quarter of a century.

An attitude that is not yours is not ugly - it is just not one you share. But I'd like to remind you that you started out insulting my kids. Which is generally, not considered polite in most people's cultures. My kids at least know better than to insult someone else's children. But maybe rude kids are wrong, but rude grownups are ok?

 

[crisi]

Too bad for you. The world does not revolve around you and your family and your wants.

Nope, it doesn't. But isn't the idea of you giving me a gift supposed to be about me?

 

[SaraJayne]

That's a question I'm not comfortable answering here.

You have in the past.

 

[okeydokey]

Nope, it doesn't. But isn't the idea of you giving me a gift supposed to be about me?

It's about the entire class, not just the spoiled, rude parts of it.

 

[crisi]

Apparently rude grownups are ok. Really guys, insulting someone else's kids? Is this who you want to be?

 

[crisi]

It's about the entire class, not just the spoiled, rude parts of it.

So it isn't about individuals? Why do it then? I'm afraid I don't understand a gift that can be given to 20 some children and will be appreciated by all. Gifts require more thought than that.