First Christmas with baby: Questions....

mamathompson7 · November 2012

I am SO excited for Christmas, I really just can't stand it! I have a question, and mayeb those with other kids or who have already thought this far in advance can help...

My MIL has 3 grandchildren who are older (8,14,16), and since my and hubby have been together I have spent Christmas evening with them since that is when they do gifts, dinner, etc (my fam does it in the morn and has a big Christmas Eve dinner so it works out that we can do both). I have always hated how they do gifts- the kids give her a list and she gets exactly that and then they tear through them, adding up gift card totals basically. There is not much appreciation on their part and hubby and I have agreed that our kids will NEVER act like that. I still do NOT like the fact that they basically just tell her what to get.

She is already asking for a list for Hunter which I said that I don't want to do (I don't even want to start that even though he will only be 7 months old). It would pretty much just be me telling her what to buy for him, and to me Christmas is about the thought behind the gift (I saw this and thought it would be perfect for you.... kinda thing).

BUT- since I haven't gotten her a list telling her what to buy, I feel like she is trying to take all the 'good' gifts that my and hubby could be/are buying. For example, we live in Houston with this HUGE shopping thing called the Nutcracker Market. Last year I didn't know what I was having and it was pretty early so I didn't get much but made it clear that there were a couple of BIG things there that I wanted to get him from there for Christmas. He is young, but hey, I am excited for his first Christmas morning! She went the day before I could go, and bought every single one of my 'big' things that I was so excited about.

She also has a closet full of pretty much all of the 'age appropriate toys' for him available in stores right now. I know that it really doesn't matter for a couple of years, but I am worried about how it will go down in a few years when we want to get him legitimately 'big' gifts and she steals our thunder.

I know I should be so greatful that she is generous, but I also know that she in credit card debt up to her eyeballs but likes to brag and show off her Louis Vuitton bags from her husband (that were obs not purchased from a legit store b/c they are wrapped in all sorts of plasic wrapping). So in a way I feel like she is trying to show up my parents (who are obviously and legitimately very well off), or to show up me and hubby.

Sorry- I don't necessarily have a question, more like a 'vent/rant' and an 'advice needed'....

Legallyshe · November 2012

Maybe you could give her a list of offlimits items, that you want to reserve for you your hubby to buy?

tjkdlhb · November 2012

Legallyshe:
Maybe you could give her a list of offlimits items, that you want to reserve for you your hubby to buy?

Good idea!

cagz · November 2012

I know you don't want to tell her what to get your little guy but what if you gave her a general idea? Instead of "Oh, we'd love this certain Tonka truck" you could just say "He is really into trucks right now maybe you could get him one." Obviously that idea doesn't work right now but you get the idea I hope. This way you can decide what presents you want to buy your son and maybe pick an area of interest that you aren't buying toys from and you won't have to worry about her stealing your thunder.

JerushaLyn · November 2012

For this year, she's already purchased the big things you wanted to buy. So buy him something small and save the money. In the future, don't tell her what YOU plan to buy!!! If she asks, tell her something else. And her credit card debt is not your problem and neither is her need to show people up. Just find a way to work around her

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First Christmas with baby: Questions....

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