Not by the e book: ‘My son will not get any presents for his birthday’

Lonneke (34): “My son can be 1 12 months outdated subsequent week. In fact we are going to throw a celebration to have fun this milestone. What not everybody understands is that one doesn’t have to purchase a present. In truth, now we have made it very clear that we actually don’t wish to obtain any presents.

Pointless amount of supplies

Even after I was pregnant, my associate and I acquired many presents for our unborn little one. Toys, garments, puzzles, books: we received all of it. We might by no means have chosen lots of this stuff ourselves, as a result of we do not suppose they’re good or essential. We’re not minimalists, however we choose to not purchase too many pointless issues. As a result of we acquired a lot from the folks round us, we hardly purchased something for ourselves. In fact that saved prices, however I additionally thought it was a disgrace, as a result of I assumed it will be enjoyable to pick these garments and toys myself.

The presents stored coming

Within the postpartum interval We received a lot of presents once more. After that we thought it will cease, nevertheless it continued. Loving sisters, enthusiastic grandmothers, attentive neighbors: they usually got here up with a present for no motive. “I got here throughout this and I could not cross it up,” we’d hear. Very candy certainly, however we reside in a small home and our home was already filled with stuff. After we had been once more inundated with Sinterklaas and Christmas, we determined to place a cease to it.

The primary birthday

So we mentioned on an invite for his first birthday that we did not have any presents wish to get He already has so many toys, greater than he can play with. This may final him for certain a 12 months. And I like garments an excessive amount of to purchase them myself. We have now indicated that if folks wish to contribute to this, they’ll donate cash. In the event that they pack this somewhat creatively, our son can have one thing to unpack too. That is fairly cool, is not it? As a result of let’s be trustworthy: a 1-year-old would not care if he will get presents or not. He doesn’t perceive that it’s a birthday and that it’s presents. This can be very completely different subsequent 12 months, however now that this isn’t the case but, we wish to reap the benefits of this.

Incomprehension

Not all members of our household responded equally intelligently to our request. My mother-in-law would not significantly perceive it. “You take the enjoyment out of shopping for a present,” she mentioned. And: ‘Why cannot I spoil my grandson if I wish to?’ I attempted to elucidate to her that one little one would not want so many issues, however that did not work. Let’s hope she nonetheless would not arrive with a gift on her birthday.”

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