Feel like the coolest aunt in the world!

Pesky

Most of my nieces and nephew are on the younger side, the oldest being 7, with the exception of my brother's (step)daughter who is 15.  I haven't seen her since I married as we haven't made a visit due to other family obligations and they don't have the money to come see us.  I was stressing about what to get her for Christmas because I just sent her a check for her birthday and didn't want to send her another for Christmas, felt like a cop out.  Her parents were useless in terms of suggesting things.

So I talked to her yesterday for her birthday and we had such a great talk.  I asked her point blank what she would like, she did the usual teenage "I don't know" and I told her answers like that are just a guaranty she gets crap she doesn't want so to think of something or at least suggest giving donations to a cause she cares about if she truly doesn't want anything.  She's on her swim team and said she'd like some more swim caps, funky ones.  And she liked the donation idea.  So I got her two really fun caps (one is a thought bubble on it and the other a shark fin on one side and YIKES! on the other) that aren't available where she lives unless you buy online and a t-shirt from Heifer International.  That plus a sleep mask (she was complaining about how light it was in her room) and some bath gel from B&B and I am the coolest aunt EVER!! 

::strains a muscle patting self on the back:: 

lynnshey

  You are the coolest aunt!  And good for teaching her to speak up.  I know kids should be greedy, but they need to know it is okay to give ideas/suggestions.  She will be the hit of the pool in those new swim caps!

superaunt

oops- dupe

superaunt

: ) are you asking if you could steal my screen name? ; )

M.Amy

I love adding in the donation part of it. That is a wonderful idea!

daisydana

Yeah you are!

stever

Daisiesinmygarden

Those are great gifts. I think girls love to get bath things from BB&B and Bath& Body works because its so....grown up. I bet she also appreciated you being so frank with her, also very grown up.