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

[Andy B]

No it was not.

As posted in another thread. My child is slowly being exposed to things that were important in my Yewt. Schoolhouse rock, Electric Company, and now Pee Wee Herman.

My child has never been exposed to a professional baseball game because DP and I will never go to one.

My child has never been exposed to Houston's restaurant because we boycott it.

Some people choose to see filth when there is nothing there. There are people in the world who do not think like that.

And then there are sick sick now ignored people in the world who think there is some kind of double entendre in a child's first sleepover.

What is a Yewt?

 

[Liberty Belle]

OMG-I think she's a wiccan......probably scared to write the actual religious word down-huh?

Is this tongue-in-cheek or do you really have that big of a problem with Wiccans?

 

[Liberty Belle]

What is a Yewt?

The two yewts...

 

[Mouse House Mama]

What is a Yewt?

Maybe she meant to write Newt? Like Eye of Newt?

 

[JerseyJanice]

Dare I ask why you're boycotting Houston's, ToC?

 

[Andy B]

The two yewts...

I get that but nothing comes up when I google Yewt

 

[NikitaZee]

I've been laughing my way through this thread. OP - if you're still around in a couple of months posting about regular issues, then I apologize in advance.
However, from all the posts you've written so far - I think you're getting a great big laugh over all of us. (That's okay - I'm getting one too). I think you post about wacky things to get a response - and keep the threads going with some semi-reasonable replies scattered throughout.

I guess only time will tell!

 

[robinb]

Maybe she meant to wrote Newt?

No, I think she meant eft, which is a newt "youth".

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Dare I ask why you're boycotting Houston's, ToC?

Maybe because Houston's are in different states than Texas and it is misleading their clients from the true experience of eating in Houston, Texas?

 

[kidshop]

Never once did I say my life was better. I just pointed out FACTS again how my child is not for want and despite what one poster assumes, is just not going to happen because DP and I requested no gifts.

well, you kind of did...from page 5 or 6.

"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."

My kids don't want either and I bet 95% of the kids here have everything they need.so why keep bringing it up. Do you know how many cruises my kids have been on? I'm not sure why anyone here would care. Generally, if you have to keep saying a thing, it's to convince yourself. People who are content don't point out facts (ie brag) ad nauseam. It's simply not a concern.

 

[testifyoncruises]

That wasn't a yes/no question.

You got a yes answer because there are several holidays we celebrate in December because we are a blended family and DP and I believe in exposing our child to them all including Saturnalia, Christmas, Hanukkah and the Solstice.

 

[testifyoncruises]

Dare I ask why you're boycotting Houston's, ToC?

You asked so you get an answer.

Because 15 years ago DP and I ordered a Roasted Chicken and it came out and was raw and cold in the middle which we only noticing after several bites.

We called the waiter over who very uncaringly said, "Oh well...I will try to get it off your bill."

The manager then came over to say he was going to take it off our bill this ONE TIME and never once apologized for potentially exposing us to salmonella poisoning.

We wrote to corporate and never heard a word from them and set forth to never darken their doorstep again. We didn't stage a protest or get others to join us, we just made a personal decision to boycott their restaurants. That is why we will never expose our daughter to Houston's.

 

[Liberty Belle]

You got a yes answer because there are several holidays we celebrate in December because we are a blended family and DP and I believe in exposing our child to them all including Saturnalia, Christmas, Hanukkah and the Solstice.

Interesting. Saturnalia? I didn't think that was celebrated any more.

 

[Andy B]

You got a yes answer because there are several holidays we celebrate in December because we are a blended family and DP and I believe in exposing our child to them all including Saturnalia, Christmas, Hanukkah and the Solstice.

A blended family?

 

[testifyoncruises]

well, you kind of did...from page 5 or 6.

"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."

Again I never said my life was better than anyone else's as in superior.

We have a blessed life and feel no issues because of it. It does not make us superior to anyone else, it is just facts.

 

[BelleWDW]

35 posts today

OP-when exactly do you "Homeschool"????

 

[crashbb]

Maybe because Houston's are in different states than Texas and it is misleading their clients from the true experience of eating in Houston, Texas?

I know you are teasing. But, wasn't there a poster who (in a trip report or dinning report) insisted that you can only get authentic Mexican food (I think, it could have been a different county) in Mexico or the Mexican place in World Showcase? Something about them importing in Mexican meats and vegetables.

Your post just reminded me of that.

 

[lillygator]

OP, you can put on the invite no gifts but I would prepare yourself ahead of time that someone will show up with a gift.

 

[C.Ann]

All these people who are throwing out what the "etiquette books say." lines should perhaps read what is written at the Emily Post Institute.

http://www.etiquettedaily.com/2009/06/no-gifts-please-what-to-say-on-an-invitation/

No it was mentioned as facts why she is not for want because we request no gifts. Not bragging...and again coming on a board where people "brag" all the time about their latest trip or WDW or DL adventure is pretty funny if you ask me.

Already explained the reason upthread for requesting no gifts. It is because she will receive enough already from her family, me and DP. It also is because there are presents that were never played with from Festivus 2008 and birthdays past. We would rather not see waste and just enjoy a special day with our DD.

You did attempt to explain why parents would bring a gift when the invite said no gifts and I do appreciate that, but it still does not make it right.

Was quite surprised to return today and find this thread still going strong, so I guess I'll try to get in a few comments and questions before it gets locked..

If an invitation specifically stated "no gifts" and I arrived with my "smallish or unique" gift of a musical, singing birthday card, would you still consider me "rude"?

Also, you keep mentioning all of these great, unwrapped, unused gifts that your DD still has from holidays and events now past, so my question would be - rather than cluttering up your house with them, why didn't you donate them to the toy drives in December? Or donate them to some other charitable organization? You've made it abundantly clear that your child will never be able to have access to these items so I can't help but wonder why you're hanging on to them..

Lastly - I'm one of the older posters here (not in the 30's-40's group) and I have never, ever heard of "leasing a cow in Switzerland" and then going to visit said cow.. Not that I don't believe you, but it's very odd to me - and something that I don't think is widely known..

I think before I leased a cow in Switzerland and went to visit, I would make sure my DD had the opportunity to visit every state here in our great country and visit every historical site that I could possibly find.. Foreign travel is good - but in my book learning about ones "own" country is a top priority..

 

[NHdisneylover]

No, we refer to that holiday in December as Festivus.

In our family we refer to the holidays in December by names otehr people recognize. Silly us. We celebrate three birthdays (gifts are allowed--except when we were moving the next month to Germany and only taking suitcases. I tried to be as gracious as I could, but felt like a total clod, while explaining that we know often people bring gifts but none are EVER expected at our hosue but pelase keep in mind that we are leaving soon with only suitcases and therefore perhpas the best thing to do is simply gift us with your presence. Our theatre group got together and made a photo album for us that we could bring on the airplane. We treasure it and accepted that gift at a no gifts party graciously and truly felt honored by all the love in it), Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Years Eve. WHich one is "that one" to you (presumaly not our birthdays)?

Yup. S/he was stirring up trouble on the Cruse Critic forums too. The thread where she says she was a TA was poofed but Google still has the cache.

No it was not.

As posted in another thread. My child is slowly being exposed to things that were important in my Yewt. Schoolhouse rock, Electric Company, and now Pee Wee Herman.

My child has never been exposed to a professional baseball game because DP and I will never go to one.

My child has never been exposed to Houston's restaurant because we boycott it.

Some people choose to see filth when there is nothing there. There are people in the world who do not think like that.

And then there are sick sick now ignored people in the world who think there is some kind of double entendre in a child's first sleepover.

See, this is hte kind of imposing will I think is wrong. DH and a abhor baseball. It is mind numbingly slow and boring to us. However, since we are not morrally opposed to it we wanted to let our kids make up their own minds about thi national pastime. We took them to a few Tigers Games and some minor leauge games in New Hampshire (in the end they hate it more than we do). We also took them to Hockey games and basketball games, soccer, swim meets, theatre, symphony, etc. We can't do everything (no one can) but we do make an effort to do things that otehrs do and at least give them the chance to make up their own minds about what shows they like, activites they enjoy etc.
If I only let my kids do and see what I liked from my youth then DS would not be a dancer (I hated the one year of dance class I took) and DD would not be a black belt (beyond Ralph Machio martial arts had never even been on my radar), DS would not love David Guetta (and have taught me it is good) nor DD love Buddy Holly (who I sort of knew, but not wel and now realize was also an amzing talent). Of course I love to share things i love with them to. We all loved the Electric Company together and they are bigger Trekkers than DH or I ever were (my kids are such geeks--I guess that is what happens when two nerds collide). We all love musical theatre and I show them shows I have loved, they find things online to share with me and we often all go together to soemthing new to all of us.
I guess I just don't want my kdis to be mini mes reliving my youth--I want them to be themselves.