Why do parents insist on bringing gifts when the invite says "No Gifts!"

[Pigeon]

I don't think you should say this for someone else's birthday. Say it for yours but not for your DD. and if gifts are given they are given to her and you should not donate them away as they are not yours.

Remember the act of gift giving is a social function for both parties and many people feel good giving.

ITA. I think the "no gifts" thing for children is just plain vile. It's a freaking birthday party.

 

[NHdisneylover]

WOW!! Aren't there needy cows in the US that could be "leased"????? YOu know the old let's take care of our own before we take care of non US!!

I bet the folks in Switzerland are laughing like crazy at the Americans who have now proven will do anything to try and prove they have money to throw away.

Yes!

http://www.thethomasranch.com/thomas_ranch_017.htm

 

[hedgehog2owl]

everyone always brings gift to no gift parties here. That' why everyone does. They don't want to be the one w/o a gift. It is pretty useless to say no gifts/ at least here. I bet it is regional.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

everyone always brings gift to no gift parties here. That' why everyone does. They don't want to be the one w/o a gift. It is pretty useless to say no gifts/ at least here. I bet it is regional.

Probably.

"No gifts" is very common here and no one brings a gift. It would be insulting to bring one.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

WOW!! Aren't there needy cows in the US that could be "leased"????? YOu know the old let's take care of our own before we take care of non US!!

I bet the folks in Switzerland are laughing like crazy at the Americans who have now proven will do anything to try and prove they have money to throw away.

Yes but are the cows in America bilingual?

 

[testifyoncruises]

I bet the folks in Switzerland are laughing like crazy at the Americans who have now proven will do anything to try and prove they have money to throw away.

WOW!!! Could this post BE more insulting? I know several people who *GASP* think a vacation to WDW is throwing money away.

I applaud the entrepreneur who came up with the idea of leasing cows. It is quite a celebration in town when they move the cows up to the mountains for grazing for the season.

Culturally getting to experience another culture and life for us and our DD is certainly not throwing our money away. But to each their own.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

WOW!!! Could this post BE more insulting? I know several people who *GASP* think a vacation to WDW is throwing money away.

I applaud the entrepreneur who came up with the idea of leasing cows. It is quite a celebration in town when they move the cows up to the mountains for grazing for the season.

Culturally getting to experience another culture and life for us and our DD is certainly not throwing our money away. But to each their own.

Come on, really? Leasing a Swiss cow? Really?
I get doing things out of the norm and letting our kids experience everything in life and other cultures are part of that but you have to admit that it does sound way out there. It sounds interesting I suppose but I can't even imagine why one would even look into such a thing. Sort of like having an Ant Farm in Peru.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Well first, I think it's rude to put any mention of gifts on the invitation. If an invitation said "no gifts," I'd buy a children's book, or something similar, wrap it, and keep it in the car. Then if we see other brings gifts, I could "forget" it in the car and then go back out to get it so my child didn't feel bad.

 

[Liberty Belle]

No she is turning 7 and two weeks later we leave for Switzerland to visit the cow we are leasing for the season.

So our DD is definitely not for want.

Did your daughter request a party at The Melting Pot? She must be an interesting little girl.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Sorry but how is talking about a birthday party or a trip any more "showy" than posting about a trip to WDW. It is factual not "showy". It is our request that our child not receive gifts for reasons we have stated and felt no reason to respond to all of the reasons one feels a gift must be brought. We have been to other no gift parties and the only people out of place are the ones who brought gifts when none were requested and most people had honored the written request.

BTW, there were people here who didn't even realize it was possible to lease a cow for a season! That is not being showy either but factual.

Imagine! They must have been living under a rock!

 

[pearlieq]

I bring a gift because growing up it would be considered rude to go to a celebration such as a birthday empty handed. I also will bring cake or something when I come to your house for coffee. I would be very uncomfortable going to a party and not bringing a gift.

But it's not about you and what makes you feel good. It's about the honoree. You need to respect their wishes.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Well first, I think it's rude to put any mention of gifts on the invitation. If an invitation said "no gifts," I'd buy a children's book, or something similar, wrap it, and keep it in the car. Then if we see other brings gifts, I could "forget" it in the car and then go back out to get it so my child didn't feel bad.

Best idea I have seen

In the OPs defense our family did consider adopting s sheep once. I have been searching all day and finally found the link. I considered it when we lived near by and could attend all of the events and we were homeschooling and would have done a science unit around it. I thought it was an innovative way for a local farm to increase profits and educate all at the same time.
http://www.owensfarm.com/html/adopt-a-sheep.htm

 

[kidshop]

Imagine! They must have been living under a rock!

Well, I bought a herd of elephants on Mars and yeah, and we are visiting them this Tuesday...

I do apologize, I seem to be channeling that Kristin Wiig on SNL.

I would LOVE to have b-day parties for my kids and request no gifts. I do not need or want more stuff. I avoid this by not having parties, my ds had his first party at 7 and I invited 7 other kids.

I personally would not be offended by a no gifts request and I have attended a party where the child collected books for the children's hospital. I like it, but I would not request no gifts myself. I'll just have small parties or no parties.

 

[mum4jenn]

Best idea I have seen

In the OPs defense our family did consider adopting s sheep once. I have been searching all day and finally found the link. I considered it when we lived near by and could attend all of the events and we were homeschooling and would have done a science unit around it. I thought it was an innovative way for a local farm to increase profits and educate all at the same time.
http://www.owensfarm.com/html/adopt-a-sheep.htm

Locally I could probably see it... where you could travel once a month or so to help out. But all the way to another country when there are tons of farms in the US?? People will always amaze me.....never mind.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I think showing up at someone's house without a gift is rude, whether the invite mentioned it or not.

I also think it's rude to mock people for something they enjoy even if it's something I would never consider doing myself.


This get-together is only for seven kids. Please let them enjoy picking something out for your daughter. Accepting a gift from someone:
1. does not mean that you need it
2. does not mean you need to give one in return

People need to give and accept graciously. Don't take it away from them.

 

[testifyoncruises]

Did your daughter request a party at The Melting Pot? She must be an interesting little girl.

Yes she did. She had so much fun when she went that she asked if she could have her party there and have her first sleepover.

We looked into the price of just doing early dinner at our house, a limo to and from the Melting Pot and dessert there for seven girlies and was actually a little cheaper than renting out a bounce place or the indoor golfing place (which had been on her list).

 

[luvsJack]

I think showing up at someone's house without a gift is rude, whether the invite mentioned it or not.

I also think it's rude to mock people for something they enjoy even if it's something I would never consider doing myself.

True on both counts.

I also find it rude to continually allude to the amount of money one has. The OP has done that on at least a couple of threads, even to the point of repeating himself/herself in the same thread. (I do not usually mention other threads a poster posts on, but this one just screams for it)

Another poster asked about a 7 year old wanting her birthday party at the Melting Pot. I find that odd too. Most 7 year olds would prefer Build a Bear or even just a place to play with friends.

 

[testifyoncruises]

Locally I could probably see it... where you could travel once a month or so to help out. But all the way to another country when there are tons of farms in the US?? People will always amaze me.....never mind.

By your logic, why go to WDW when there are rides and parks closer to home?

Why go on cruises when you can just tool around in a rented boat in your local lake?

Why go out to eat or watch a movie when you can do the same at home?

Life is about the journey and not about the destination and Switzerland is fantastically beautiful in the summertime.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

^^ There is only one poster who seems to stand out to me in threads... normally I don't notice a pattern.


idk... some kids are just more into stuff like that. As for Build-a-Bear, I agree. BUT it probably wouldn't cost any less than what the OP is doing. My friend's daughter had a bday party there and my friend was really disappointed in it... and it was spendy.

 

[testifyoncruises]

I also find it rude to continually allude to the amount of money one has. The OP has done that on at least a couple of threads, even to the point of repeating himself/herself in the same thread.

I have never once mentioned how much money we have and as explained before the cost is quite similar to other options.

People will post how poor they are and how awful their life is. We go back to that double standard that somehow states that someone cannot post how good their life is.