Blended Families

Do you get cards/present for BF from DC?

Our DD is 2, and we divocred on amazingly good terms and have a great co parenting relationship. I've since remarried and am pregnant with #2.  BF's B-day is sunday, and I'm wondering if I should get him a card "from" DD. I did this for fathers day 2 yrs ago as it was his first dads day, we had just divorced and I didn't want him to go w/o on his first dads day....last year he was deployed during his B-day and holidays so I didn't do anything...

  BUT I'm wondering if I should, and if anyone else does this....he is not remarried or in a relationship with anyone, if that matters.

Re: Do you get cards/present for BF from DC?

  • DD's BF has since passed away, but what I always did was have her make him a picture to give him for his birthday.  They started as just scribbled pictures, but progressed throughout the years. That way it wasn't like *I* was buying him a birthday card.  It was genuinely from DD. 

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  • Hell yes! And for a couple of reasons.

    1) What a great way of instilling maturity and being the "bigger/better" person in your child.  Watching her parents put forth the effort is the best teaching tool in the world.

    2) What a great way of teaching your child to remember and celebrate other people's accomplishments.  If you include her, even at this young of an age, in the build up, purchase and send off of the gift, she will make this a habit for a lifetime.

    I can tell you that SS never remembers birthdays or holidays for the parent he is not with.  And that is because his mother never instilled the maturity or basic know-how to do these things. 

    On the other hand, my SD (who grew up with DH) will always remember to acknowledge these events, even for me, with no prompting.  And that is because DH worked with her. 

    Congrats on having a great divorce. 

    file:///Users/Ilumine/Desktop/Family%20Portrait%20for%20gift.jpg
  • BM obviously had SD make cards for DH after they were seperated and divorced. DH has them all - or I'm sure, most of them - and I find them very sweet.  He still looks at them and smiles at how cute and special they are to him.

    I suggest at any age you support this and encourage them to do so on their own as they grow up and mature to an age they can do this themselves.

    For now, at such a young age, I'd keep it simple, make sure it's from them - not you or you pretending to speak for them.  Just make sure that for every appropriate occassions, they remember their dad in some way. Even if it is a scribble on the paper. 

  • Have your LO make a hand made card.  They are the sweetest and it means so much more than a store bought generic card.
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  • If you have a good relationship with him, then I say yes. As PP's suggested, have your LO color (scribble!) something for him. It is a nice gesture and a good way to keep the relationship you guys have on good terms.
  • If he's a good dad, yes!
    Stay at home mom to a house of boys: two amazing stepsons, 12 and 9, and our 4 year old.
  • Yes, I do. DD is too young to know what special occasions are and I do it because if she did know I am sure she would want to do something for her dad.  When she is older I will remind her and let her pick out a gift/card for her dad.
  • I actually feel kind of bad about the fact that we don't do this. In our defense, last year was the first time that the ex sent DS a birthday card, and I had to ask him several times to do it.

    The ex and his family also just aren't really big on cards and birthday gifts. Most years I was married to him, he didn't get me either a card or a gift. It was just how he was raised. 

    If I can get the ex to regularly send a card to DS, I think I would have him make/pick out a card for his father. But, it's not going to be just a one-sided thing.

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  • I think if you are on good terms yes.  I do not.  DS does draw him pictures and give them to him.  But I'm sure my situation is a lot different from most.
  • I did this when we first separated/divorced.  DD was 3, so I either had her make something or she would 'sign' a card for him.  Now that he's re-married, I usually leave it up to his wife.  I will sometimes frame school pictures.
  • The boys see BF a lot now (50%) and I imagine the SM helps get gifts for him.

    When they were little I'd save photos and they'd make things for him.  Regardless about how much I didn't like him, he's still their dad, ya know?

    PHOTOS REMOVED

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  •  I can't stand BF but I still get something from DS. My thinking is that I'm not giving him anything since it's from DS. I keep it under $10 and it's usually either something that DS made or something they can do together. In a few years I'll take DS shopping and let him pick something out.
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  • Nope.  BM never did it for DH and we have never done it for her.  However, last Christmas I showed SD how to make Christmas cards and so she made one for BM.
  • a little reversed here but we do this for SD's mom on Mother's Day and Christmas, typically have done a Starbucks card (both love this) and some home-made craft, nothing huge.
  • Yes, I think it's a great idea to do something for BF - I agree with other people that it can be just something simple such as making a card, drawing, painting etc.  You can even take a picture of DD and then have her "paint" a frame to put around the picture.  Something homemade from DD is what people appreciate the most and will cherish.  I don't believe it's necessary for you to go and purchase anything for BF.

  • We always get a gift for BM from SS for Christmas, BM never returns the favor so SS and I go shopping to get something for DH from him.
    image

    Lilypie - (fjc0)

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