Vent! Easter gift from neighbors

[LindsayDunn228]

Too late I guess. I had no idea I would get slammed like this. Oh well live and learn I guess.

I bet your neighbor had no idea she'd get slammed for her gift.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I didn't know all the restrictions on braces until I was 27 and got them. I didn't realize that you weren't supposed to chew gum or eat all those 'hard' foods because everyone I'd seen with braces was a kid and they ate all the no no foods. Of course, since I paid for my braces, I didn't dare do anything for fear of paying more to fix a bracket or something.

Get him some Reester eggs.

I paid for mine too, at 24, and I still wear my retainer at night!!! I had to bust my butt to pay for those things, I'm not going to let them go back crooked now!!!

 

[Thats_for_Shore]

You put a lot of thought into the gifts for the neighbors kids. You were hoping to get the same consideration.

You substitued the gum, had your kid thank her, you know it's not the end of the world.

But, you were probably left thinking, "Didn't she hear a word I've said for the last two weeks?"

 

[disneymom3]

I guess I am guilty of overanalyzing gifts I give. I constantly think about things like that but I guess not everyone is like that. Sorry I have a character flaw

You know what? I have the same problem. I put a ton of thought into my gifts especially for SILs for example. ANd without fail, I get a gift back that is nothing I would ever like. I wonder every holiday if these people have EVER met me! ANd DH and I have been married for 15 years.

Sounds like you now know the neighbor might not have realized the braces thing. I knew those were the rules when my sister had braces but I figured they must have changed the guidelines since all the middle school kids I know eat whatever the heck they want!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I know he will be bummed. He is already upset by his limitations.

You already said you replaced the gum and jellybeans with M&M's and chocolate. He will have a mini football and silly string. What will he be upset about?

 

[Mkrop]

You already said you replaced the gum and jellybeans with M&M's and chocolate. He will have a mini football and silly string. What will he be upset about?

I decided not to do the exchange bc I didnt want him to slip up. I just told them that I had this extra stuff so he could enjoy that since he couldnt have all the gum.

 

[gardenhoe]

I had braces but honestly, it was so long ago I can see myself doing something spacey like giving gum to someone with braces. Just not something I would have even thought about. Its the thought that counts.

Me, who also gave potpouri to my DMIL who has no sense of smell. She laughed!

 

[HelenePA]

I know next to nothing about braces (I'm sure I will my dd is going to need em) but in HS my one friend who did have braces HAD to chew gum, she actually had a dr's note (dentist) saying she needed to chew gum during school hours.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

A comment and a question.

I have NO CLUE about braces since I never had them. But I guess I'll be learning about them next month after my daughter sees the orthodontist.

I also try to put thought into gifts but honestly, if I'm remembering at all I'm doing ok. I try to respect that in others, too. One of my relatives gave DS10 a book on Titanic shortly before our cruise last summer (speaking of clueless).

I do think the neighborhood exchange is a nice thing as long as everyone's enjoying it.

Now - where do you buy these pooping chickens?

 

[HelenePA]

I searched pooping chickens and came across the weridest website I've ever seen

http://ilovechickenpoop.com/boutique.html

 

[Mkrop]

A comment and a question.

I have NO CLUE about braces since I never had them. But I guess I'll be learning about them next month after my daughter sees the orthodontist.

I also try to put thought into gifts but honestly, if I'm remembering at all I'm doing ok. I try to respect that in others, too. One of my relatives gave DD10 a book on Titanic shortly before our cruise last summer (speaking of clueless).

I do think the neighborhood exchange is a nice thing as long as everyone's enjoying it.

Now - where do you buy these pooping chickens?

I think I saw them at CVS.

And yes normally it is not an issue. We do enjoy the exchange. I was just surprised by the contents this time given what I thought was common knowledge

 

[disykat]

so are we safe to assume you wouldn't like a gum poopin chicken from your neighbor? J/K, but I would have never thought to be irritated at some of those things. I am totally truthful when I say I don't get irritated at people trying to be nice to me.

Nah - a gum pooping chicken from a neighbor wouldn't bother me a bit. (I would say thank you, but not give a return gift. I'm not about to start gift exchanging with all my neighbors.)

I simply question the notion that you can't be irritated about something if the intention was good.

 

[LaraK]

I think I saw them at CVS.

And yes normally it is not an issue. We do enjoy the exchange. I was just surprised by the contents this time given what I thought was common knowledge

And I think that's why you were a little hurt. You thought it was common knowledge that people with braces don't get to chew gum....you're close to your neighbor I assume (close enough to exchange presents) and she knows your son just got braces. I know (because I know you) that your son has had a hard adjustment, so I would assume (there's that word again) that someone close to you would also know there's been a tough adjustment. I do get it.

What some of the posters here don't seem to be getting is that you have not, at any time, said that you were going to give the gift back, yell at her, or complain to your son. We all get pissed at some things and the Dis is a safe place to say things you wouldn't say to the people involved for fear of hurting them.

I did also notice that the word "vent" was in the title, not "what should I do" or "what do you think". You the word "vent" indicates that you were letting off steam.

What can I say, some people have to give an oppinion, no matter what...heck, I'm one of them!

 

[Anne34]

Another person whos child has braces and is allowed to chew gum -- it must be sugarless so it doesn't stick to the braces. They also say no popcorn, but she has that all the time too.

My husband and I both had braces and we ate pretty much everything everybody else did -- even the gooey stuff - you just picked out the pieces later!

I wouldn't be angry at the neighbor.

 

[va32h]

What can I say, some people have to give an oppinion, no matter what...heck, I'm one of them!

Well what else are we supposed to do on a discussion board? Read the posts and say "hmmm" and then click on the next thread and say "hmmm" etc, etc.

 

[LaraK]

Well what else are we supposed to do on a discussion board? Read the posts and say "hmmm" and then click on the next thread and say "hmmm" etc, etc.

Never said that....in point of fact, I said I give unsolicited opinions as well.

 

[gardenhoe]

Sometimes you just need to laugh at things. Life is too short. She goofed. Let it go. Have a good laugh about it with her. Like I said, I gave potpourri to my DMIL who has no sense of smell. She laughed. I love that about her.

 

[LaraK]

Sometimes you just need to laugh at things. Life is too short. She goofed. Let it go. Have a good laugh about it with her. Like I said, I gave potpourri to my DMIL who has no sense of smell. She laughed. I love that about her.

I agree that there are some fantastically bad gifts out there...I still have a mug my mom got for her second wedding (I know, weird gift). But wait, it gets better...the mug is covered by a whole bunch of rabbits. The rabbits are...um..."enjoying" one another. The best part is that the woman who gave it to my mom got it in Paris and was like 75 years old...I know she couldn't have even looked at that thing.

 

[gardenhoe]

I agree that there are some fantastically bad gifts out there...I still have a mug my mom got for her second wedding (I know, weird gift). But wait, it gets better...the mug is covered by a whole bunch of rabbits. The rabbits are...um..."enjoying" one another. The best part is that the woman who gave it to my mom got it in Paris and was like 75 years old...I know she couldn't have even looked at that thing.

 

[luvdzny]

I had braces and so did both of my kids. I never knew that there was a list of "forbidden food." I ate whatever I wanted and so did my kids. It is rare to see DD without a piece gum in her mouth, she chewed it all the time with braces. Both kids love Jelly Bellies so they alway got them at Easter. Relax - it was a gift, I am sure she did not intentionally try to make you DS miserable.