Here we have an angel tree that you can pick names of people off of and you buy them some of the items they listed....i wanted to do this...til i seen what some of the kids had listed...a new tv...an xbox a bike, nike shocks...im not broke but i dont feel like ...thats a very good gift to ask for ?? what do you think?
2006-11-15 12:31:57 · 19 answers · asked by cutenwild1769 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
its supposed to be for the kids of the less fortunate..but....they seems pretty fortunate to me...i dont know maybe im just mean
2006-11-15 12:34:12 · update #1
its in the middle of our mall...they can ask for whatever they want.. but i dont want to get a kid that has 5 or 6 items listed at 300 dollers a peice...i thought it was for smaller items..and no im not trying to get anyone to bash anything..
2006-11-15 12:49:50 · update #2
I AGREE 100%.
I have been getting toys for kids on the Angel trees for 25 years. It has only been in the last ten years that kids have been given the total freedom to ask for what ever their wish was. Before kids were given four choices: clothes, jacket, small toy, necessity.
I was apalled when I saw what kids ask for: X-Box, televisions, new bike, $115 shoes, sports equipement, the latest expensive toy. That is the place of the parents to buy there kids these item. Some kids get one gift and our gift helps make it Christmas but it has to be something we can afford or feel is practical to buy.
Now the Seniors are doing it too. They have an Angel tree for Seniors that are shut-ins, in nursing homes, or in poverty. I agree with this and would buy them a gift too. The problem is look at what the Senors are asking for: $50 gift certificates to Walmart (I would say half the tree was that request), $100 Grocery Certificates (another 1/4th) and then the resonable ones like clothes or a toaster or something practical. I picked one last year that wanted a scarf (how sweet) I bought her two scarfs, one real fancy and one of wool for warmth then I threw in some nice perfume to surprise her. I felt she was being modest and I wanted to make it special for her.
For about 18 years my husband and I provided gifts (toys) for 50 headstart kids and their siblings a total of about 100 gifts. I would shop for sales all year long, spend so many hours wrapping them up, then my husband would be the Santa at the Christmas party and give them out and I would tend the food and WATCH. It got worse every year and we finally gave it up. Why?
It got to be a nighmare, kids crying because Sara got a Doll and they got a teddy bear or it was not what they wanted or they could care less about the toy and throw it into the Air or tear it up, right in front of ME. The parents just sit there not caring if our feelings were hurt. We put lots of time and money into it every year just to see total chois and selfishness. I was done. Let the parents buy the gifts. I will put my money and effort into something worthwhile.
2006-11-15 13:12:25 · answer #1 · answered by Nevada Pokerqueen 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I totally understand!I mean I wish every kid out there could have a dream Christmas and its sad that they all cant, but its not your place to buy them high ticket items such as an xbox or a tv.You could base their gifts around the things they liked.For a kid who wanted a x-box there are the plug and play controllers that plug right into the tv they cost around $15.A kid who wanted a bike maybe a basketball and/or football (something for outdoors).No matter what they get they will drop the thought of the high priced gifts when on Christmas morning they see someone was thinking of them.You obviously have the true spirit of Christmas!You should be very proud of that!Hope I helped!
2006-11-15 20:46:15 · answer #2 · answered by jill@doodle 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I dont think kids should put that but you have to remember that they are just kids. They might not even know where the gifts are coming from. Some might think that their parents or Santa is bringing them whatever they ask for. I usually look at what the kids are wanting and try to pick out one that I know I can afford. Every year that I do this there is always some people there actually dropping off gifts like that. (tv, Xbox, Nikes, Bike). Anyways I am sure the kids we be glad to get something during the holidays.
2006-11-15 20:38:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I don't think the children asking is really the issue, as much as whomever organized this should have given the children limitations on what people would "realistically spend". If you were a child and could ask for anything you want, you would ask for what you wanted the MOST.
So, I would attempt to find the more reasonable request from the tree at this point and maybe in the future you can participate in the "planning process" of this seasonal effort, so that no one will be offended by what can be mistaken as a greedy child; because I really don't think that is the intent of the children involved here.
2006-11-15 20:44:47 · answer #4 · answered by Lady Albritton 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
kids want what other kids have less fortunate kids are the same..they want what is on t.v. in the toy ad's. It's not there fault they want those things they don't understand a xbox 360 is 400.00 dollars. My kids ask for things way out of what we can afford. you just sound like you think they are spoiled and i think you are not the best person to be giving off the angel tree with that state of mind. tHOSE KIDS would like any heart felt gift I'm 100% some kid on that tree has something simple like a doll or doll stroller so don't feel like you have to spend 50.00 to help. Young kids don't get what is a good gift to ask for they don't know they have to have shoes and coats they ARE KIDS! I GREW up with a working single mom we were a family that got Christmas from charity it's a sad road to go down.
2006-11-15 20:41:04 · answer #5 · answered by ally'smom 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Wow maybe i should put my kids names on that tree.... Lol.... just joking I think that is insane and I have participated in this before But the kids asked for little things. I bought a little girl The piglet movie. See not that steep. Maybe these kids are not so unfortunate. Maybe Ungrateful is the word. I would think that there would be adults helping them with these lists that would coach them on what is acceptable. Are these kids from an orphanage? Because that is the type of kids our angel tree consisted of.
2006-11-15 21:02:54 · answer #6 · answered by Kari 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have such a hard time with things like that. I have a neighbor who is 28 years old with a 6 year old little girl. She is compeltely scamming the welfare system, getting every penny she can while having a live in boyfriend with a full time, well paying job. The little girl has everything she could possibly want and need, yet they have her name on SEVERAL trees like that around the valley here. It also killed me to see her bringing in a complete Thanksgiving meal from the Salvation Army last year.
I would really just love to help people who are less fortunate, but I always bring myself to think of my neighbor and how she is taking advantage of such caring people in this valley. I just wish there was some way to prevent this or know exactly where your gift was going.
2006-11-15 21:39:38 · answer #7 · answered by Mish B 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What the h*ll, we have a angel tree at our church & the (needy) kids ask for clothes , socks, coats, action figures, games etc. I can not believe that those requests would be allowed, I am not needy actually pretty well off but I would much rather help 10 kids have a decent christmas than 1 chid have a amazing one. I dont think you are being selfiesh at all, If I were you I would bring it to the attention of the organizer, there is something wrong with this picture!
2006-11-15 20:40:46 · answer #8 · answered by notAminiVANmama 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Look at the age of the children asking. The younger ones usually have smaller toys and developmental/educational toys listed.
But, as a struggling single mother to a teenager, I can tell you why the kids ask for those things. I can't afford to buy them, and they just want to be able to fit in with the other kids their age. So for some of those kids, they're hoping for 'Santa' to help them get what mom or dad can't. My teen loves clothes from Hot Topic, but I can't afford those, so it's a special treat when another family member buys them.
2006-11-15 20:38:51 · answer #9 · answered by Katasha 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I wonder how honest you're being. It sounds totally unlike any Angel Tree I have ever participated in.
Here, they have a one word, generic description from the child of what they'd like. It may be "toy" or "coat" or clothes". These things are preprinted, and I have never seen or heard of someone asking for the downpayment for a home in the Hollywood Hills.
I think you're trying to get people started bashing something that doesn't deserve it. Why would you do that? Life not exciting enough? Want a few kids to be empty-handed this holiday?
People...
2006-11-15 20:39:32 · answer #10 · answered by martino 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋