Vent - inappropriate gift

kmc217 · August 2013

My aunt asked my advice for birthday gifts for DD1 (turned 5) and I said a couple of craft/art kits that she can do by herself -- perfect for while I nurse the baby (5 weeks now). She is craft crazy and is very self directed if the activity is age appropriate. So my aunt goes way overboard and gets her 12 different kits (too much, but whatever if that's what she wants to do) but seriously all but about 2 of them are way too old for her. Like ages 8+ or even 10+. DD1 is an older 5 and is very responsible but um, one of them actually calls for using the oven. Several have complicated directions/patterns to follow and cut that I had to read several times to understand so how is a 5 year old with a few site words going to figure it out? Whatever happened to the old bead kits or simple glue projects? So now we have a closet full of projects that she is constantly begging to do and I have to be the bad guy constantly saying not now because they require 2 of my hands and a lot of my concentration--- that is split between 3 kids, 1 of whom wants to nurse/be held constantly. UGH.

bridein08 · August 2013

I know I'm the pot calling the kettle black but... 8-| First world problems at their best...

kmc217 · August 2013

My DD1 is WAY too smart for either of those. She knows exactly what she was given and specifically asks "when can I bake those shrink dink earrings" etc. I tend to tell her to "ask Daddy" and make him do them.

Arnegard · August 2013

Exchange or buy new & save those.

Louiej · August 2013

Hire a mothers helper. My new answer for first world problems!

Tigger & pooh · August 2013

If one of them is shrinks dinks let her do the tracing and coloring then just cut them out and cook them later when the kids are in bed or at least the little one is sleeping. We just did them and they are much easier than I thought they would be. What are the other projects?

kmc217 · August 2013

Louiej said:

Hire a mothers helper. My new answer for first world problems!

Would that I could afford it... ill timed pre-delivery hospitalization bills are piling up (and STD check for maternity leave is no where in sight) and $12/hour to paint with my kids is not happening. And I never once said this was a crisis or even more than just one more thing to make me feel like a crappy mom to my older kids this summer because I constantly have to tell them no, not now, etc.

jensriot · August 2013

I ended up getting Carolyn a few crafty things this year that, once I opened, seemed beyond her skill level. I was shocked when she was able to make her own beads from modeling clay, start to finish, by herself. Maybe let her have a go at some of them (obviously not the oven)? You may be surprised.

you could also let her get as far as she can by herself, then step in to help her finish, like bake the shrinky things. I imagine this isn't possible with all of them, but you never know.

Also, our kids are so close in age.

>-

Louiej · August 2013

Louiej said:

Hire a mothers helper. My new answer for first world problems!

Would that I could afford it... ill timed pre-delivery hospitalization bills are piling up (and STD check for maternity leave is no where in sight) and $12/hour to paint with my kids is not happening. And I never once said this was a crisis or even more than just one more thing to make me feel like a crappy mom to my older kids this summer because I constantly have to tell them no, not now, etc.

I didn't mean to make you feel bad, I promise. I'm sorry you're struggling with the new baby fitting in, I know how hard it is. I pay my sitter $12-15 an hour, but my 12 year old mothers helper gets $5. I'm home, and all she does is play. It helps, and it is the best $ I have ever spent. Hope you feel better soon!

bridein08 · August 2013

+1 on the mother's helper. Find a young neighborhood girl- I use my SIL occasionally and also pay $5 an hour. So nice to get some stuff done for a few hours without having a toddler attached to my leg!

notkateanymore · August 2013

Sounds like some of the projects will just have to be done when DH is home. She can do everything but bake the shrink a dinks until it's time to bake them.

LatteLady5 · August 2013

Yeah, I'd just let her do what she can with the projects and save the harder parts for when your H is home or you have time to help.

Louiej · August 2013

And fwiw...shrink a dink is a totally inappropriate name for a kids toy. Lol.

Love My Lil Princess 509 · August 2013

Exchange the stuff.

CalBears · August 2013

This is off topic but I have three girls (5 years and 2 months, 2 years and 10 months, and 2 months). It looks like you have kids in a similar age range.The last 2 months have been busy! How are you holding up? It is hard to find things to entertain the older two while managing the needs of a baby!

kmc217 · August 2013

CalBears said:

This is off topic but I have three girls (5 years and 2 months, 2 years and 10 months, and 2 months). It looks like you have kids in a similar age range.The last 2 months have been busy! How are you holding up? It is hard to find things to entertain the older two while managing the needs of a baby!

My kids are the same ages-- 5 years and 1 month, 3 this weekend and 5 weeks. Things are up and down-- hectic, very tiring and crazy but fun to see the girls interact with their brother. It was a very physically hard pregnancy for me and recovery was slow so keeping the girls occupied and not fighting while tending to DS is a challenge. I'm sure we will find some sort of routine... probably just in time for me to return to work part time in Oct!

CalBears · August 2013

kmc217, good luck with your recovery! And, send me a message if you ever want to vent since we're in the same boat. It is definitely as you described - joyful and crazy and very tiring!

Want a personalized experience?

Vent - inappropriate gift

Re: Vent - inappropriate gift

Choose Another Board

Search Boards