DawnM Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 It was easier when they were little. The excitement, the less expensive gifts, choosing it ourselves. Now our kids are older and want very specific things, and they all cost pretty much the entire budget I give them for gifts. It is ok.....I am just being nostalgic and a bit sad, which is really dumb overall since I am the kind of person who hates surprises. But I loved surprises FOR THEM! Sigh. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Mine want a surprise but have a specific list. haha I try and throw in a few little things for fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceful Isle Posted December 12, 2014 Share Posted December 12, 2014 My oldest has already "thanked" me for her gift she hasn't recieved yet. She just rolls her eyes and laughs when I say "maybe I didn't get you that and you got this instead" :( She did get what she thanked me for, of course. Just glad I get to enjoy my younger ones being surprised. Especially my 3year old. Can't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 When I asked my DD what she might like, she listed all the things I thought I could surprise her with. :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Herm...I don't think my thirteen year old is going to be surprised with the new DS since we were asking what new DS games she might like (Her old ds was stolen while I was donating blood, what is wrong with people? Some lady stole it with her kids while it was next to dh and ds who were playing in the kid room) and to put them on her Christmas list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I throw in a few things I find at the dollar store, like lego mini figs for older ds (who will never outgrow lego), nail polish or fuzzy socks for dd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I can totally relate. I started feeling this way when youngest dd was about 13. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storygirl Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I am rarely surprised by the gifts people give me. We don't exchange with my extended family, and DH's family always requests a list and gets something from it. MIL usually tells me ahead of time what she is getting for me, for some reason. I like to surprise my kids with a few things that I know they will like but that are not on their lists. I try to surprise others by listening throughout the year whenever they mention liking or needing something so that I know what to get for them at the holidays without asking and reminding them of what they wanted. But I agree it's tricky. I like surprising people, too. SIL always has a very specific list. This year she asked for muffin tins. So I'm getting them, but I'm also picking up some inexpensive things to hide in each section so that I have something to surprise her with. Maybe you could add something inexpensive but fun to their gifts. Card games, maybe? A giant candy bar? Something that would just cost a few dollars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 But y'know, there's also the fun of someone getting exactly what you want or need. Every couple of years, MIL replaces my favorite pair of shoes, after double checking size and color. Totally not a surprise, but man, I wear them 3/4 of the year and am really, really grateful that she cares enough to get what I really want. But I get you. My big kids love LEGO but have specific sets they want. It's hard to surprise them. The thing DD most wants, she had to help me pick out. She doesn't know that she's getting it, but I doubt it'll be a total surprise. The littles are indeed fun! 3yo DS wants LEGO like the big kids, so I picked out some that he will like, and that's fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I get it. My kids requested such expensive freaking items I couldn't get them much else. On the one hand hey it's easy on me. On the other hand it's kinda meh because then they have less to open. They don't know they are getting what they REALLY wanted at least, but still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 My teens gave me very small lists. I'm at a loss. Dd just asked for 3 books. Are they serious? I'm not a creative gift giver and I'm running out of time. I almost wish one of them HAD asked for a big ticket item so I'd have a reason to shop less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 It's like that too with my kids now that they're older. But I still like to get a couple of inexpensive, smaller gifts that are complete surprises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Same here. I think dh is more disappointed that no one will be surprised Christmas morning. But our boys are older and are more into "practical" now and dd wants specific things we probably wouldn't have guessed on our own. I still have a couple small items up my sleeve, though, so maybe there will be a tiny element of surprise to add to the fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I totally get what your saying....I now have grand-babies that I get to surprise! It's so fun and their expressions are awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 I bought them a few little things while out yesterday. But they found them.....not their fault.....I apparently didn't hide them well and they were cleaning up for me and saw them. I can't win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 My big kids aren't really surprised by the gifts which is why they like stockings with cheap junk, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Mine also know 99% of what their getting for Christmas. DD is getting a surprise, a bowl that you can put air popcorn in but then microwave it... If you knew DD you'd understand how amazing this is. She's only allowed microwave popcorn 1X per week because of the preservatives and never allowed the kind that has TBHQ in them :ack2: , but complains because the air popper takes too long. If they hadn't specifically told me what they wanted I would have had no idea what to get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfinlady Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 DD is 13 this year, and she knows pretty much everything she's getting. She picked out most of it. I do miss everything being a surprise a little bit, but I'd rather get her what she really wants. And shopping this year was a ton easier! DS is 18 and hard to buy for, so he knows most of his gifts as well. I do have a couple of surprises for each of them though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemom Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I was thinking earlier this week how I miss the younger days and being able to surprise them. It is especially hard now that Dd is always with me, knows when I go shopping without her, and knows exactly where stuff is hidden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celticmom Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I think that dd10 will probably be shocked that I actually got her a snare drum. She wants a drum set but that is out of the question financially and in terms of space. I will figure out how to make it work though if she works at learning how to PLAY the snare drum not just bang on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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