A Great Idea (I Think)

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I have 7 children, many of them very young (16, 9, 8, 7, 5, 4, 1), and it always bothered me that on one child's birthday, the others (being too young) didn't understand why they weren't getting presents, too. But we're just not wealthy enough to have 8 Christmas's per year, where all the children get an equal amount of presents. Plus, that wouldn't be fair to the child who's day it actually is.

But we can afford 2 occasions like that.

My birthday is coming up in 2 weeks, and what do I need, really, that I don't already have? So I've told my wife, that instead of buying me something, that I probably don't need anyway, buy 2 gifts for each child instead. What a happy day it will be for them, and for me too.

I don't know where this idea came from, it just jumped into my mind last week, but I think this will be the happiest birthday I've had in years!

 

[HeatherJay]

That is a really sweet idea. I'm sure your kids will love the surprise.

I only have 2, but they don't really care that they don't get presents on the other's birthday (but I always get them 1 thing to open anyway)...but they REALLY love helping me shop for the other...wrapping presents...decorating for the party (even if it's just cake and ice cream after dinner...they still love to decorate). And after all that fun, I guess they just love to make the other happy.

LOL, when I asked my little one what presents she wanted for her third birthday this year, she told me, "Cake and ice cream." LOL, that's all she really cared about. And, my 5 year old went shopping with me, and she couldn't wait for her little sis to open up all the presents she'd picked out for her.

What a great example you're setting for your kids that it's more fun to give than receive.

 

[bliz]

When our kids were young and had a hard time with not getting presents on birthdays, we gave them one small present - often something they needed, or a small inexpensive toy. It didn't matter so much what it was, but that they felt included.