DS's birthday party is on Friday and I have been stressing because his grandmothers always go way overboard with gifts. My mom is currently the worst since MIL suddenly has 3 other grandchildren and my kids aren't their only grandkids anymore and don't get as spoiled as much (thank goodness!!!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> ).<br><br>
Mom had mentioned that she hadn't bought anything for DS yet and I said not to worry about getting much. I got thinking about it and to her that means nothing. So I composed a nicely worded email explaining how we're getting rid of all the things we don't use and are trying to keep things simple. I said that a couple of nice presents DS wants would be so much more appreciated than a lot of little things (I worded it different though). I gave a short list of things he wants and or needs and told her not to feel guilty if she doesn't spend much. I know that where's it's close to his birthday she would run out and buy twice as much as normal so I had to take action.<br><br>
It's not that we don't appreciate her gifts but he literally does not play with 90% of the toys she buys him either because it's something he has no intrest in, he already has it, and the big one, he has so many toys he literally does not have room to play with them. PLus she gives the kids at least a shopping bag full of cheap toys each week from second hand stores, which drives me crazy. That stuff is easy to get rid of though, lol!!<br><br>
I can't believe I did it! I have always been too scared to say anything in the past. She uses her guilt to make me feel bad about everything. The reason she buys so much in the first place is because she's guilty that she is so emotionally detached. My kids would rather get a hug or have her say "I love you" than get a big bag of cheap junk, but she doesn't get it. I just hope that she doesn't rebell and get him twice as much as she would of normally gotten, lol!<br><br>
I'm also feeling proud that DS helped me pick out things we could give away and we got rid of much more than I would of on my own. The bags of stuff we're getting rid of are piling up!! I'm so happy that we are freeing ourselves from the bondage of too much stuff <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">
Mom had mentioned that she hadn't bought anything for DS yet and I said not to worry about getting much. I got thinking about it and to her that means nothing. So I composed a nicely worded email explaining how we're getting rid of all the things we don't use and are trying to keep things simple. I said that a couple of nice presents DS wants would be so much more appreciated than a lot of little things (I worded it different though). I gave a short list of things he wants and or needs and told her not to feel guilty if she doesn't spend much. I know that where's it's close to his birthday she would run out and buy twice as much as normal so I had to take action.<br><br>
It's not that we don't appreciate her gifts but he literally does not play with 90% of the toys she buys him either because it's something he has no intrest in, he already has it, and the big one, he has so many toys he literally does not have room to play with them. PLus she gives the kids at least a shopping bag full of cheap toys each week from second hand stores, which drives me crazy. That stuff is easy to get rid of though, lol!!<br><br>
I can't believe I did it! I have always been too scared to say anything in the past. She uses her guilt to make me feel bad about everything. The reason she buys so much in the first place is because she's guilty that she is so emotionally detached. My kids would rather get a hug or have her say "I love you" than get a big bag of cheap junk, but she doesn't get it. I just hope that she doesn't rebell and get him twice as much as she would of normally gotten, lol!<br><br>
I'm also feeling proud that DS helped me pick out things we could give away and we got rid of much more than I would of on my own. The bags of stuff we're getting rid of are piling up!! I'm so happy that we are freeing ourselves from the bondage of too much stuff <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">
