Joyofsixreboot Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 After dinner I asked the kids what they would like for Christmas. Argh! I need some direction here kids. I got 8 yo-silly string 12 yo- thread 14 yo- nothing really 17,19,21,23- money? Wow, what a fun Christmas this will be😠Anybody else have kids who do this? I'm a horrible gift giver. I need their help. Wah! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Mine are sometimes like that. Right now the big wish is a soft fuzzy pillow shaped like a sphere. One in Green and the other in any color other than green or purple. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Mine are like that. I already asked them to start on their "letters to Santa", and the younger boys listed about 8 different plush toys. I've been trying to cull plush toys, and I know they would wind up feeling bummed if they didn't have ANY variety on Christmas morning, so I'm only going to try to track down 1 or 2 each. I have been taking notes on my phone whenever any of the kids mentions something cool in conversation. They range from Legos to fuzzy jammy pants to book titles/series, and a bunch of neat things between. I think my younger ones just brain fart when put on the spot, and my older ones feel weird asking me for specific gifts. Sly note jotting for the win! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 DS9 has a long list pin (magnet) to the fridge door. DS10 has nothing and his birthday is next week :P 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Sagg I think felt virtuous for asking for "nothing"for gifts. His reasoning was that he had spending money and he could buy whatever he wanted, so there was no need for gifts. I had a chat with him about allowing others to give to you, and being a graceful recipient. I'm a bad gift , too, and he was stressing me out. I also explained that all those things he was saving up for ARE his wish list. He had never thought of it that way. Suddenly, he had lots of things he wanted. As much as I hate the greed and commercialism of our holidays, I encourage my boys to start thinking about gifts well in advance. It takes them quite a long time to come up with a few reasonable options. Aries tends to say that he likes to be surprised a and he will be happy with whatever we choose. Which is a lovely sentiment, but supremely unhelpful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Ours are 17 and 20. It's been quite a few years since their lists included much besides money. We do try to get a couple of little things to have under the tree, but neither DH nor I are good gift buyers. It almost (but not really) makes me wish we had a family culture of giving socks, pajamas or underwear. ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kristie in Florida Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 My daughter orinally just asked for thread too. I had to coax more out of her. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Same here. While I am glad my kids aren't greedy, it would be nice to have some idea what they would like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 One thing that has helped is explaining that a wishlist is not an order form. THey don't have to limit themselves. They can ask for anything, big or small. They likely won't get what they ask for, but they will get something they will like. THey often exclaim over the gifts they receive that they didn't even know were a thing. This year, they are asking for things like chocolate bars, Goldfish crackers, and Combos snack crackers, and candy coal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Same sort of thing here. Or they end up asking for stuff that I know they'll never really use. (Why oh why did I buy my 12 year old a didgeridoo last year for Christmas???) I have to keep asking and prodding until I eventually come up with something I can get them. I sent my oldest son onto thinkgeek.com and told him to pick stuff. He did and I'll think he'll be happy with some of the things he picked. The big gift for them is this pop bed tent. https://www.privacypop.com 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Mine usually have no list. This year the 15 year old actually wants something specific and DH is still out if work. Can't manage a $300 item right now. My kids aren't greedy, so I'm usually more than happy to honor the rare request. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 One child wants a book on animal tracks and signs, like scat. ("Would you like to go out in the woods and look at real animal tracks?" "No! Ewww."). 11 year old wants YouTube recording stuff. Even though she is too young for a YouTube account. The kitten may get the lion's share of gifts this year. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted November 27, 2015 Author Share Posted November 27, 2015 At least I am not alone. I guess I'll send them to Amazon or tell them the sky is the limit and see if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 I have my children maintain their own wish lists on Amazon. They visit them every so often and delete things they have gotten or no longer want and add things as they think of them. They have a lot of family that wants to give them gifts, having a list to refer to is a courtesy to these people. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Maybe you need to just troll pinterest for creative ways to give money gifts. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 Mine usually has an ongoing list of things he wants to buy, he moved some of that to his wish list this year. Generally $ is the best gift as he fluctuates on what he wants to buy. Food is always welcome though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingmama Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 DH has been unemployed the last six months so I asked my kids to make a wishlist of only 3 things they would be happy with if those where the only things they got. DD listed things that are all impossible to find...the only one I managed to find was $60... for a stuffed cat!!!!! Eek. I feel obligated to get it as its the only thing on her list I can find and the boys got all three of their wish list items. DS8 thank goodness has never been into stuff. He requested 3 small things I had already bought ...Yay for kids who never change their minds DS6 is super specific. it must be exactly right on every specification and I must not deviate from the list. Of course he managed to pick a hard to find ( which I fluked finding at a sale) and expensive things that dont usually go on sale much. He is my easiest to buy for because he always has a running list of things he wants and lets me know (every time we go to the shops...no substitutes accepted) and yet when we visited Santa and Santa asked him what he wanted he said "I don't know" LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted November 27, 2015 Author Share Posted November 27, 2015 Mine usually has an ongoing list of things he wants to buy, he moved some of that to his wish list this year. Generally $ is the best gift as he fluctuates on what he wants to buy. Food is always welcome though. My 11 & 14 yo worked this summer. I think they each spent about $20. I may resort to movie cards, laser tag, ice skating and sky zone groupons. They didn't ask but they would like all those things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matrips Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 That's why we do the something to read, something you need, something to wear, and something to share. Plus one want. It helps them focus and narrow it down. And still meep it not overbearing. My kids will be 11 just before Christmas. I just bought two really useful boxes at staples today for my 10yo for his need. He likes to keep his old magazines and the 9l containers are perfect for it. His current box is overflowing. Another one needs a water bottle, and another some bigger rollerblading pads that aren't falling apart. Their reads are An Animal Ark book, a Lego ninja go dictionary and a tbd. Wears are an Eeyore tshirt, minion pjs, and a tshirt with his favorite stuffed animals picture on it Shares are perplexed, seven wonders and pandemic Wants are an ugly doll each. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medawyn Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 We had a lot of work teaching my brother (now 31) to make lists. He was the want nothing/need nothing kid, and his hobbies were fairly inexpensive and "gift stuff" free. It took most if middle and high school to convince him that people were going to buy him Christmas gifts anyway, and we all appreciated some guidance. He definitely didn't get the joy of giving and being a graceful recipient part. I will say he is well trained now and makes awesome Christmas lists, which he even sends out well before the holidays so we can keep our eyes out for the more esoteric requests. Training works! :-) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El... Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Dd gave me a very specific, handwritten list today, titled "My Christmas List". She wants 2 cardboard boxes, each 5' tall, a roll of purple duct tape, and a pack of butterfly stickers. She plans to make a play house. The last four cardboard boxes that came into the house became a doll house. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Here we mostly email each other links to stuff we'd like from Amazon, Hot Topic, or Think Geek (my "kids" are 19 and up). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reign Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 (edited) My girls were asked at the family thanksgiving. They answered... Oldest- socks Middle-frozen baby mice (she received a snake this week) Youngest- fruity pebbles So I told the family there would be an Amazon wish list. Then I filled it with cool things my kids never see but would like. Mainly games, science activities, art kits, and new books. Legos are a good fall back. Edited November 28, 2015 by reign 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted November 28, 2015 Author Share Posted November 28, 2015 So I shared much of this list with the kids. They have added 8yo-refrigerator box( which she got 2 years ago, you can see this is a problem) 12yo-socks 14yo-case of Mt. Dew It's a start😳 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I generally hear one gigantically expensive gift and then this child cannot come up with anything else. Hmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I typically start with the guidelines - something to wear, something to read, and something to play with. Then I get stocking stuffers and new (coordinating) pajamas for everyone to open on Christmas Eve. Mostly for pretty pictures in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Dd gave me a very specific, handwritten list today, titled "My Christmas List". She wants 2 cardboard boxes, each 5' tall, a roll of purple duct tape, and a pack of butterfly stickers. She plans to make a play house. The last four cardboard boxes that came into the house became a doll house. That's so cute. I'd take her to Ana White's website and help make one out of wood! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Finally got mine to give me some ideas today. I always have them add things to a Pinterest board that is specifically for their list. It makes it easy when I shop because I can open the app and see exactly what they want and where it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 So I shared much of this list with the kids. They have added 8yo-refrigerator box( which she got 2 years ago, you can see this is a problem) 12yo-socks 14yo-case of Mt. Dew It's a start😳 Appliance stores will give you the boxes from the display items if you ask. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 My teen son has created a pinterest wishlist. My daughter has give it no thought at all. Dh never wants anything. I detest shopping. We're bad at this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingaway Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I have to hound mine to get them to give the grandparents a wish list. Some years they don't, so I step in, and that's how they end up with stuff like socks and poetry books and science kits. I assure the grandparents that it's just what they've always wanted. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 I have the opposite problem. My kids are CONSTANTLY saying (all year), "I want this for Christmas!!!" To which I reply, "Ok, I'll put it on the list!" and then immediately forget what it was. It's been working well for years to make them happy in the store at that moment. :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted November 28, 2015 Share Posted November 28, 2015 Anybody else have kids who do this? I'm a horrible gift giver. I need their help. Wah! My daughter does this! In fact, her birthday money is still sitting in my account. She doesn't want the money 'mixed in' with her own money, so I'm just holding on to it until she sees something she loves. Ds is the complete opposite. In fact, it's him I thought this thread was about: I use the non-existent wish list as a coping strategy when he starts to obsess about stuff he wants. I say, "I'll put it on your birthday list". And when he carries on, "I already put it on your birthday list". No such list actually exists, and he usually forgets in a week or so. If he remembers after a few months it might actually be in the running as a birthday gift. He's strongly swayed by advertisements still. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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