If you have more than one child...gift question.

warriormomerin

Do you try to make sure each child has the same amount of Christmas gifts so that no one feels left out while opening presents?

I imagine it will be hard to explain to younger kids why they only got 1 or 2 really expensive gifts vs. 5-6 inexpensive ones. KWIM?

 

Klmorgan83

I don't have more than one yet, but there are 4 kids in my family.  I know my Mom always made sure we all had the same amount of things to open.  She usually spent around the same amount total as well...I remember hearing a few stories about how somebody cried because someone else had more to open than they did.  The big gifts were usually something all of us could use...like a group gift.

kel716

Same here as kimorgan- I'm the oldest of 4.  For many years, my mom made sure we had the same # of things to open but also approximately the same $$ amount.  If we had a big ticket item (eg, nintendo), it was balanced out with smaller gifts instead of a few medium items.  For example, we'd wind up with a book under the christmas tree instead of a $20 toy.  She also bought a few things that were really "family gifts" like board games that she'd give to anyone just to even the piles out.  I played "Santa's helper" for many years to keep my mouth shut about Santa, so I used to watch my mom sort out everyone's pile and count boxes. 

It was extremely important to my mom that we each unwrap stuff in age order.  As we got older, it didn't always even out, but by that point we understood things about cost.  I hope that all makes sense. 

Jscaggs

Although I only have 1, we have dealt with this problem with my nieces and nephews(3 of them).  One year my nephew broke down and cried b/c his sister received more presets than he did (by 1 or 2).  I guess in a way it may come across as being spoiled, but I think in his case he is just overly sensitive about it.  He's the middle child, and I swear there is such a thing as middle child syndrome.  Even something cheap from the dollar store can balance it out and cause much less drama. 

Jscaggs

Although I only have 1, we have dealt with this problem with my nieces and nephews(3 of them).  One year my nephew broke down and cried b/c his sister received more presents than he did (by 1 or 2).  I guess in a way it may come across as being spoiled, but I think in his case he is just overly sensitive about it.  He's the middle child, and I swear there is such a thing as middle child syndrome.  Even something cheap from the dollar store can balance it out and cause much less drama. 

linzpinz14

I'm the oldest of 3 and it was the same in my family as Klmorgan.  We all got a pretty equal number and often got family gifts for all 3 of us.

I think little things from the dollar store could balance it out just fine. 

MrsMandaK

Our girls get 3 gifts each - just like Jesus did! That way, we keep things in line with the real meaning of Christmas and we don't go broke.

adamsbabble

At Ava and Charlotte's age, I don't think they would notice... they definitely didn't last year and were more interested in playing with what had already been opened.  At A & O's age, I'm thinking A might catch on though.   Is she the one who would be getting the 1-2 more expensive gifts?  What about wrapping up some really cheap thing?  Lip glosses, hair things, stickers, etc. just so she has a couple more things to open.

Brougham7-15-06

I think it was last year at christmas, but we had this issue with my nephews.  At the time the oldest was 7 and the younger 5.  I think the younger one got maybe 1 or 2 more presents but that is because the older one had more expensive things he wanted and in an effort to balance out cost the younger got more.  He did throw a big fit about it and whined, but then again he is like that if he doesn't get his way or thinks he is getting "ripped off".  You try to explain the cost factor to him, but he doesn't care.

I will always try to have the same number of gifts for each child as they get older.  Jacob is very in to presents these days, so I am hoping to he doesn't get upset when he sees that Audrey gets "more" things, but that is because I bought a bunch of little toys that were like $2.99 where as he got a train table, legos, dinosuars etc.

mcmann05

We have 6 nieces and I'm anal about keeping the number of gifts and the amount of money the same. We do have a 13 year old niece that if she wants something expensive then we just make sure she knows beforehand that she will only have that 1 thing to open. However, she's old enough to understand that vs. the 4 year old might freak a little.