Who's right? Me or Hubby???

[PineappleMama]

My b-day is the 13th and it SUCKED ROCKS that friends/family would give me a combo "Happy B-day/Xmas" gift...

But my sister (b-day in Oct.) got a separate b-day gift then, and then another for Christmas too.

Doesn't bother me now, I'm hoping no one remembers this coming one in particular (though my bro is making some scary noises) but that chapped me as a kid. My youngest brother's b-day is the 9th and I know it annoyed him too... then of course we've a cousin who's b-day is the 27th... I try to make sure I give for both as I'm celebrating both... b-day I'm showing that I'm happy he was born and glad he's my cousin (wrapped in regular paper and try to give it separately) and then a Christmas gift like everyone else gets too, wrapped Christmas-y... so that the kid knows his birth was just as important as his brother's to me... and that Christmas wise he is just as important to me as his brother (who's b-day is in Sept)... don't do much for those, being cousins not sibs or my kids, but I do make a point of doing something.

If you asked my sister (Oct) or my other sister (July) or my other brother (May) they'd say combo B-day/X-mas is totally okay... but then, they've never had to deal with it... one of those walk a mile things maybe?

Though, party wise... a suggestion? We did this one year... budget was tight... so we had a campout in the yard party... and he got one big gift... and then some small little trinket things... like a $5 set of checkers... but the FUN of it was that we made him hunt for them... he had to translate a note (hubby did it in runes) and then follow it to the right spot and there was one of the little gifts (under the bed - think the hint was something like 'where does Alex hide his dustbunnies?") and then another note to translate... eventually led to the garage where his big present was.... each note had a little bit in the corner and once he had them all you add the bits together and get the final clue... that's something that can make the gift opening last a bit longer even if it's a budgeted gift list.... AND all the other kids can help... so that was neat... with a younger crowd adults may have to help... or, maybe the final clue could be on the back... put the pieces together to form a picture... I donno but Alex (and friends) still talk about that hunt.... and the board game in the oven.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I think the party was a great gift, but, we were very poor and I never got a party. I would have accepted the party as gift, but you know kids these days, they want it all

I say buy her a small gift and call it good.

 

[FireTigeris]

Having a December birthday along with my hubby and my coming child will hae too- unless he comes today or late...

I hated combo gifts that weren't given twice as much thought / time / (or money- hey I was a kid...) then a regular C-gift.

The ONLY time I ever got a party=gift was when I planned it with my parents, I had a pony come out- that was my gift but I chose and I chose KNOWING that's what my gift was.

Otherwise my feelings would have been hurt if very young, or I'd have been worried about money for food and stuff if I was older... "well they couldn't even get me a gift... oh noes!... I should get the cheap food when I help shopping, and not ask for any snacks (although I'm hypoglycemic)"

 

[davidb]

Buy her a gift

 

[ILOVEFRIZZLES]

I guess I can not get in on this one My daughter has always had a big party with moon walk and everything spend about $200 in party part and a present or two, except for this year she turned nine we took her and one friend to florida for the weekend. So I would say yes she need a present

Edit to say there has been up to 25 kids

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

She needs a gift from Mama & Daddy. If the party is on her actual birthday, you can give it to her then, or if the party is on a weekend, but her birthday is a few days before or after, you should give it to her on her actual day, and you celebrate it as just family--her favourite foods and maybe a simple cake. The cost of the gift is not really important. WHat is important is that she be made to feel special. You can get her some fancy bubble bath or a pretty new outfit. Or you can get her a new chicken, or something for her chickens that she would enjoy.

 

[Brick243]

We would buy a gift also. I think it is great that your doing the party for your daughter.

 

[debilorrah]

Hen_House_Rocks! :

So, our oldest daughter is turning six next week. We decided to throw her her first big kids party. We've invited all her friends and some kids from her class will be there. (Around 18 kids total.) It's a star wars themed party and I have made up all kinds of games, bought masks and prizes for the kids, made star wars themed decorations and really done a lot to make this party exciting. I will have spent around $60 total to throw the party. This is way more than we usually spend on our kids' birthday gifts. We usually have a $30 limit on birthdays. I think that throwing the party for her should be her gift. (Especially with X-mas coming up so soon.) Hubby thinks we need to buy her an actual gift. What do ya'll think?

That child would never understand why she didn't get a gift to unwrap from her parents.​

 

[shawnkfl]

no matter what, a gift is in order. the bells and whistles are extra!

 

[MissPrissy]

Buy the child a gift.

To have classmates and friends over for a party did not have to be the expense you made it to be. A six year old will never understand the party is the gift and I promise you she will never forget she did not get a present on her birthday. Never. You made the choice to do all the extra stuff for the party not her. She has no real concept of money just the idea she was having a party.

My DD's birthday is the 17th of December. I know all about people giving combo gifts to save themselves a present. It really hurts a child's feelings to get one or the other but not both when other children int he family got a birthday gift and will get a Christmas gift. It is completely unfair to penalize a child's birthday gift as being 'too close to Christmas'. If that is the case every other child's gift should be scaled back as well when their birthday rolls around again..

I don't mean to be sound rude but wanting the gift to be the party and then slighting a gift because the birthday is close to Christmas is pretty cheap and rather harsh coming from a parent.