A problem which will feature in a forthcoming Parenting Cafe column in The Daily Telegraph (Weekend Section) comes from a Grandmother worried about her daughter:
“ Elizabeth emails: “My daughter has one son aged almost two. She was nearly 40 when he was born. Inevitably many of her friends started their families earlier and have two or more children. My daughter is now buying Christmas and birthday presents for a dozen or so children. She is finding this increasingly difficult. How do other cash-strapped parents cope with this challenge?” "
If you have any ideas that might help please post them here or email karen@parentingcafe.co.uk Parenting Cafe Editor) in confidence using the contact us button, top right on this page. Many thanks.
Oh boy do I sympathise. I have bought over 30 children Christmas and birthday presents in the last year. You start off by buying a cute baby a small teddy and 8 years later the small baby has 3 siblings and you feel unable to call a halt to the exchange of presents. I set a strict budget. £8 for Christmas gift and £10 for birthday - but that still amounted to over £500 this year. I have negotiated a discount with my local independent book store for next Christmas. They are giving me 20% off if I spend over £200 in one go. It means a long afternoon with a list in the bookshop and doing this well in advance so they can order what they don't have in stock. My mother suggested making things but what? I can't sew or paint and what 3 years old wants a box of mishappen truffles? Good luck.
I never had any money when my children were young and I remember feeling like a second class citizen when my children were invited to birthday parties.
Although poor I was good at making cakes so I got the idea to offer to make the birthdya cake. I probably made 70 in 10 years but it got my children lots of party invites.
A gift too far? (Daily Telegraph Question)
Posted - 07/04/2008 : 07:49:47
