Too many presents?

Question

Looks like I'm not the first to ask...
My in-laws sent 27 wrapped presents for our 2 kids. I want to pare down and have less boxes, or open the clothes and just put out the toys...but the mister is opposed. The overkill has me pretty bummed out! In my family, we've only exchanged between 1 and 3 presents - less mess - more focus on the true meaning of Christmas!

Answer 1

They really want to spoil them.Trust me the kids don't care and won't remember who got them those gifts.

Answer 2

I understand your point of view.
It's also difficult to broach the subject with in-laws especially if your husand is against it.
I would say that you and your husband have to reach a comprimise first for this year.
Try explaining that it not an issue of what your family did verses his but more to your desire not to create a feeding frenzy expectation for the kids.
I've been through the same thing with my sister and brother in-law and his mother buying lots of big expensive gifts.
Then my brother in-law started buying the kids lots of expensive things.
Whether he realized it or not it created a problem.
The kids then began to expect that kind of treatment from everybody. Our side of the family did not reciprocate.
My niece was quite a pill at the time and actually said to my mother on one occassion that she liked my brother in-laws mother best because she bought her things. My niece being only about 6 at the time knew even then that what she had just said was unkind and that it was just wrong. I could tell this by the "God I wish I hadn't just said that", expression on her face.
It took a long time for her to get the picture that just because someone has a lot of money doesn't make them better or the most fun person in the room.
Now my niece dotes on my mother.
Anyway, After you and your husband reach an agreement I recommend that you not your husband talk with your in-laws. Ask them to put all the clothes in one box (kids don't care about clothes that much) and to keep the toys limited to two or something or what ever you and your husband can agree on. They probably won't love the idea but In a kind and gentle way explain this is the way you need to have it for your kids and it's your decision and you've made it.
Then if they don't comply next year go through the boxes and cull them to fit you and your husbands format.
Give any excess to charity. What's more have the kids do the donating.
It will help if you bring the kids in on the game once you and your husband have reached and agreement.
You go through the bounty so you can separate things into two piles, toys & clothes. Then let the kids decides what packages to donate to charity. If you can get the kids to do this willingly it will really send a message home tot he in-laws that even the kids are not desiring the exstravegance. Then when the in-laws ask how did you like such-and-so a gift the kids can say "Oh, I gave that one to charity."Good luck because that one will take some practice on the part of the kids. But once they see that they feel good by doing something nice for people who have less than they do the true message of Christmas will finally be received.
the other thing you might consider is to let the kids open the gifts understanding that they can keep only so many and donate the others to charity after Christmas. That way the kids can look them over and choose judiciously.
Forgive any spelling errors the spell check isn't working.
good luck finding a middle ground with your husband.

Answer 3

oh my goodness! yep... a little on the overkill, and they won't remember it a year from now! But... that's what grandparents do.
You might want to stagger them maybe? Open a few on christmas eve? Or hold off a few til after the big dinner?

Somehow, make sure the gifts from your family are noted somewhere so the kids know the difference if they're old enough.

Writing those thank you notes afterwards should keep them busy too for a day or two!

It is over kill but if you're instilling the meaning of Christmas in your children any way through charity, kindness helping others, they'll be okay on the grandma's overkill.

You never know how long grandparents will be around, let her spoil them. It's their job. It's your job to instill your values so the kids know what's what in the world.

Answer 4

Wow! my goodness thats alot of presents.. My family only gets around 8 each, and thats with a family of 6 giving eachother stuff, but wow 27.. I think that is a bit much, especially if your focus is on Christmas's true meaning, and if they're young, that many presents will distract them and they may start to reject Christ because all they know are the toys, not the story of God and Christmas.. Its nice thought by the in-laws, maybe save some for their Birthdays haha I dont know, but what I do know is that they will enjoy the gifts they recieve and the quantity, just make sure that the meaning of Christmas isnt forgotten

Answer 5

That is great that you want the kids to focus on the real meaning of christmas and that is something that should be discussed before the gifts are even unwrapped. Christmas is a day for giving and not receiving and that is what should be instilled in the kids, but I would not necessarily take away opening presents away from the kids. I am sorry, but I would have to side with the mister. I love to see my childrens faces when they open up their presents. Good Luck and Merry Christmas

Answer 6

You are SO lucky to have such generous relatives!! Many families [or single parents especially] would love to be in your shoes.

That said, for every toy they receive they have to give one away. If they don't want to, pack up the toys and donate them next year to a gifts for children program. Turn your "misfortune" into someone else's gain! So many kids have a room full of toys so they don't have room to play with the 3 they love!! Let them have the joy of opening all the gifts - but have the talk with them a week before Christmas - that for every new toy one has to go. And the used ones that go, donate as well.

Answer 7

What if you compromise and keep some of the presents for your own kids and donate the rest to a charity that will give them to kids who otherwise wouldn't get much?

It was really thoughtful of your in-laws, but twenty-seven gifts is a lot for just two kids!

Answer 8

Too many presents - the kids wont know (or get to care) who gave it to them because they lost count. AND they'll get to expect that many in the future - every year. Tell your mister that when his parents get older and may run into hard financial times and cant spoil them as much.

Answer 9

wow that's a lot of gifts, but you can still explain to your children the true meaning of christmas...you may not get through to them the first time, but it will sink in eventually...

Answer 10

They want to win the popularity race (if there is one).