Need help.... Christening Gift dilemma!

[tinkarooni]

DH and I can't decide what to do. He has a 40 y/o male cousin who now has a new baby. Said baby belongs to a woman I have met once, at her baby shower, which I did attend with my DSIL and spent $50.00 on a gift. I don't think the mother would know me if she ran me over.

This cousin is an immature guy, everybody's drinking buddy kind of guy. Everybody knows he an immature jerk and everybody just says "oh, that's just the way he is" He created this child while still married, his divorce isn't final yet, and now this.

So we get invited by DH Aunt to a Christening party at her home next week. We like her, and that's why I went to the shower. However I will point out that last year when my DD had her communion, we invited this cousin and his wife at the time. Never heard from them, four weeks after the event than wife called and said, so sorry we misplaced the invitation, we're sending a card, they never did.

So now we are in the predicament of what to do about this Christening. We are not going because I have been sick for a month, now have pneuomonia. I will say that if the family finds out we didn't send a gift they will talk about us for months behind our backs. So what do you think? Should we send a gift? Ideas? I know for certain I don't want to spend a lot of $$$. Quite honestly I don't want to spend any $$$ . But we're open to opinions.

Help us settle this dilemma.

 

[blackforest]

Get a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament and call it a day!

 

[tinkarooni]

Get a "Baby's First Christmas" ornament and call it a day!

This is a wonderful idea......I think we have a winner. DH liked it too. Thank you so much. I knew somebody would have a great idea!

 

[prncess674]

Send a check for a $20 and forget the gas money and time for shop for such a gift.

 

[blackforest]

This is a wonderful idea......I think we have a winner. DH liked it too. Thank you so much. I knew somebody would have a great idea!

Glad to help. Truthfully, these are the ones I cherish each year when we decorate the tree. If there is time, you could get it personalized with the baby's name and date of birth!

 

[mysumi]

That is a bit of a dilemma actually but it looks like you have a good solution. I love the idea of the first ornament, it also works for first homes and first married years too. Of course, it makes all the difference in the world when you actually really like the couple and send it! Sometimes I feel bad sending an ornament when my feelings are just so so but, it works.

 

[scrapquitler]

So now we are in the predicament of what to do about this Christening. We are not going because I have been sick for a month, now have pneuomonia. I will say that if the family finds out we didn't send a gift they will talk about us for months behind our backs. So what do you think? Should we send a gift? Ideas? I know for certain I don't want to spend a lot of $$$. Quite honestly I don't want to spend any $$$ . But we're open to opinions.

Help us settle this dilemma.

If you don't go, you don't need to send a gift.

If you want to keep peace and avoid being gossiped about, then send a VERY modest gift. A nice card and picture frame, a small baby toy of some sort or a little outfit. I wouldn't spend more than $15 or $20, tops.

 

[Mrs D]

The gift my DD received at her baptism that I cherish the most is a cross which hangs on her wall. It's little girl looking and goes with her room.

I found this one at Family Christian store online. I know my friends got her's at a Family Christian locally.

HTH!

 

[3mickeymom]

Just remember that you are giving your gift to the precious new baby and not her parents or family. Send a card with your best wishes on the Christening and whatever gift you can afford to give. My sons received a Guardian Angel Prayer plaque that was not expensive and two are college age now and it still hangs in their room. It was their bedtime prayer each night. Everyone needs a guardian angel!

 

[mjkacmom]

Get a small savings bond, and call it a day. We're Catholic, so 99.9% of gifts are bonds, cash, or checks. I don't like to give religious items that need to be displayed - that is like giving art, IMHO.

 

[tinkarooni]

Thanks everybody for your thoughts and input. The part of me who is stubborn and difficult has put my foot down and doesn't want to give cash or a bond even though that's what I do with my nieces and nephews. But this is DH side of the family and it's important that he's happy with what we do. He feels pretty much the same way as me about this. DH is on board with a Baby's First Christmas Ornament, if it's a nice one. He wants to keep the peace with his mother and his aunt. So that's what we'll do.

Sometimes I have little dilemmas rolling around in my mind and just can't come up with a simple solution...it's so nice to be able to come on here and get some valuable input. Thanks!