When my eldest son was 5 years old last year, we invited his class to his birthday party. We welcomed a rowdy group of 30 children who disappear from the ball wells, whistling the slides and climbing padded ladders for two hours. It was definitely a kind of carnage. The other type of carnage that we have known later in the day crossed the birthday gifts He received – almost 40 years old, when you included those of your family.
We have suffered from a serious case of current fatigue. It was then that I decided that I would never buy birthday gifts For children’s holidays again.
Unpacking the gifts is pure chaos
Tearing the brightly colored packaging paper and watching my son’s eyes light up while each gift was revealed was a joy, for five minutes. About three gifts, it ended up being more a chore than pleasure, especially for my husband and me. My son wanted to play immediately with those he loved, forgetting the still very large battery. Keeping the cards with enthusiasm with their legitimate gift to thank the right child later has also become a losing match. Throwing a 1 -year -old brother in the mixture of a tornado of throwing packaging paper, and it was a total disaster recipe.
We decided to make the call to unpack the rest gifts In the coming days rather than continuing, because we had the impression that we were strength to feed our son and suck the happiness of the occasion. Over the course of each gift opening session, the current overload is firmly installed. Everyone felt less special than that before, like a chore that we had to pass. There were many that my son would not use realistically, like craft kits for which he has shown little interest. We ended up remedying it and hiding some in its closet to remove on a later date so that they feel new, but even now, a year later, many still feel forgotten.
Parents spend a lot of money on gifts
I feel bad for the parents who spent their money hard earned in gifts that received such Little gratitude and appreciation. I want my son to appreciate the time and the efforts that may have made gifts he receives, but I also know that many of them were probably picked up in a pharmacy or redesigned After being rejected by their own child.
I am not comfortable either with the message that the reception of so many gifts sends. He has wired in my son’s brain to have a successful birthday, you have to receive a mountain of gifts, whatever they are or if you even want some. It strengthens the overconsumption I believe that Western society is struggling with, where we assimilate more things to our happy.
Money is always a good choice
Do not get me wrong, I love giving gifts to my children and receive them too. Less and think rather than something that someone has chosen at the last minute while doing other races is always something that will be significant for me.
Presenting yourself at a children’s birthday party with an impressive gift that is difficult to transport and laps on other gift tables can be considered by some as a declaration of generosity. Admittedly, I sometimes feel outdone when we present ourselves with an envelope with money, but I urge my son to write his own personal message in the card.
I sometimes wonder if some people consider the gift to be lazy or at the last minute, but I hope that the parents are secretly relieved that there is less present so that their child opens and finally ends. After the party, many sent me a message to say what their child wants to spend it on. To be honest, that wouldn’t even bother me if the parents surround him themselves. They deserve it for all the efforts they have moved not only in the party, but also to raise their child.
This year, for the 6th anniversary of my son, we opted for a simpler case, inviting three friends with us for an afternoon of games, the manufacture of pizzas and the sundae-cream garnish. Three gifts felt much more special and manageable. For a second, my husband and I thought that we should reconsider our position on giving money, but when the next party arrived, we headed directly to the automatic counter. Giving money rather than a gift is empowering and liberating, both for the donor and the receiver.
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