https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:55:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2795161 Thu, 04 Jan 2018 22:47:54 +0000 missyoori 2795161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@starchild We keep reiterating rules, and they have NEVER worked for us *sigh*</p> <p>Case in point this year: Since my 2 girls have everything they could possibly want (they couldn't even come up with a list for Santa!) we asked our family to pay for various lessons throughout next year--ice skating, gymnastics, cooking, dance, soccer, it gets expensive with 2 kids! We also provided ideas for a related 'tangible' gift they could wrap for the kids (ie. ice skates). Each family member was on board, and we were thrilled that our idea was a success!</p> <p>Then my MIL relentlessly badgered my husband for a few "supplementary" gift ideas, so we sent her a list of options. Not only did she buy the ENTIRE list, we're pretty sure she bought the entire doll aisle at Target and like 10 hideous outfits for each kid. On Christmas Day, 2 large laundry baskets HEAPING with these gifts showed up at my house. And unfortunately other family members also purchased extra gifts, just not as bad as my MIL, but our "give lessons not toys" idea totally did not accomplish what we wanted. Our local Salvation Army will benefit from this in a couple months though lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794947 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 18:50:22 +0000 Mommy Finger 2794947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mentioned to my FIL's GF that DS2 likes Paw Patrol now and EVERYTHING she got him was Paw Patrol. He got a blanket, bath towel, jammies, 2 outfits, one of the playsets and some other toys. All effing Paw Patrol! </p> <p>We celebrate with my immediate family in a few weeks. My SIL who drew DS2's name in the cousin pool mentioned to me that she'll need to bring his gift by early b/c even though she only spent the $25 limit we set, it's huge and apparently loud. WTF can you buy for $25 that's huge and make loud noises??? I don't want it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794905 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 15:34:14 +0000 catlady 2794905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dad gifted DS a shirt with a dinosaur spinning a dreidel. Not only are we not Jewish (it was a Christmas gift!), but he won't fit in that size until the spring. </p> <p>The best was when I asked him what he was thinking, he said, "I was trying to get him something from when I visited Atlanta, and they don't have much down there!." The brand is Cat &amp; Jack, so he obviously just bought it at Target. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794821 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 12:02:22 +0000 avivoca 2794821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: Well, it's their son and they generally do okay with stuff like that. He tells his mom that she isn't allowed to smoke in her own house when we are there and she's okay with that, so I don't think it will be a big deal. It's just annoying when they buy duplicates of something we already have (and they've seen before). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794819 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 12:01:01 +0000 PinkElephant 2794819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: How do you think this will be received by your in-laws? Similar things happen to us, but I don't think my in-laws would like to be asked to clear gifts through us.</p> <p>Mine really like gifting, and thus, want their gifts to be surprises (but of course, want them to be huge hits...you can see where this is going). Whereas, my family ASKS me what they should buy, or clears their ideas with me. So there are never duplicates, and the things they get the kids knock the kids socks off because they've been wanting them (for example, my sister got the girls their own hard-side suitcases with cute patterns this year- they were thrilled). My MIL bought them flannel sheets (which they actually HAD asked for after feeling mine) - unfortunately, so did Santa, and Santa choose much cuter, kid-friendlier patterns, and his got opened first....MIL was disappointed and I felt bad, b/c she could have had a big win - but didn't want to tell me what she was buying so that I could plan accordingly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794809 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 11:52:13 +0000 avivoca 2794809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My inlaws got A a push walker that helps toddlers learn to walk. She's been walking for almost three months now.</p> <p>They also got H a Belle dress...which she already has. My husband told them that they need to clear all gifts with us from now on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794799 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 11:06:07 +0000 MrsLonghorn 2794799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>eyeroll: after talking with my MIL for the hundredth time about how we are pretty minimalist with toys and to please stop buying dollar store junk but consider gifting experiences instead or come to visit, she asked if she could ship down a wooden train set. We were under the impression that it was DH's old one, and they wanted to free up space in their house, so we reluctantly agreed. Nope! We just found out that it is a random hand-me down from her friend's grandchild, and a jumble of 3 different sets that don't really fit together. She wanted to keep DH's for the 2 times a year we visit... so now i'm writing a thank you note to a lady I've never met, for junk that doesn't work, and that we don't want in our house.</p> <p>Not me, but my good friend's MIL gifted 3 big gifts they don't have space for: a table and chairs, an art easel, and then the week after Christmas, a 7' diameter trampoline arrived in the mail with no warning! It went straight into their attic and they never even told the kids :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794782 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:24:29 +0000 periwinklebee 2794782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@starchild: I think especially with family you know well, you have to be polite but blunt about your preferences. My mom used to own a small pre-school and has saved all the stuff for a decade for her grandchild. We live in a small apartment now and just had to be blunt that we really appreciate the thought but cannot take the stuff now, there is just no way....Hopefully by the time our kid is pre-school age we'll have more space, but we'll just have to see. It can also help if you have other family that can intervene on your behalf. My brother has been good about emphasizing to my mom that we just do not have space for all the stuff she's been storing up for us... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794768 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 10:03:05 +0000 josina 2794768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Laugh: DS got this silly fuzzy yellow worm thing that is meant for an older child to do 'tricks' with. He was terrified of it for the first four days, so it was hilarious. Now he actually loves it and calls it his wiggly wormy. The dumbest thing becomes his most played with gift.</p> <p>Cry: No gifts did, but I got a little sad putting away the tree thinking there will be so few years with the kids being little!</p> <p>Roll Eyes: DH and I had actually said how we needed to de-clutter, DS has so many BIG toys in our basement that take up so much room. DH's sister came later that day with a GIANT box (matchbox car track/table). It's 5 ft x 3 ft. We do NOT have a toy room either. And then mentioned she got DD a play kitchen, that we decided not to get because we don't have room for it. Sigh. The kids will love it, me not so much. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794762 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 09:48:30 +0000 starchild 2794762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To the moms who have rules/approval, how did you work that out? First time parents, LO arrived 12/10. His mom is a shopper and has gotten lots of stuff throughout pregnancy, but Christmas was the first real gift occasion. They got her a large playmat. We had already gotten her (a smaller!) one, so we're going to return it and they're cool with that. But we have tiptoed around gifts from the minute we announced we were pregnant emphasizing how small our house is and to not buy lots of stuff. I am thrilled they're so excited for her, but I want to establish boundaries sooner rather than later. Or do we just let her go and keep those presents at grandma's house? Some stuff I just would rather we pick out ourselves, like she said she had been looking at a crib mobile but we were very intentional about decorating her room and the only reason she doesn't have one yet is because I am being picky about choosing one. I don't want to hurt her feelings or be ungrateful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794750 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 09:24:41 +0000 snowjewelz 2794750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: Haha that's a good rule! My family is totally fine with my dictatorship over gifts... But I don't feel comfortable saying anything to my SIL. Just glad presents only happen twice a year :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794728 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 06:04:39 +0000 ElbieKay 2794728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: I have a rule for my family: Any gift larger than a cubic foot requires pre-approval by me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794727 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 06:03:55 +0000 ElbieKay 2794727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tinyperson: I just found out that I am pregnant with twins. We live in an apartment. Part of my pregnancy announcement will include a request to stop buying so much crap. We are going to need the space! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794606 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 14:23:14 +0000 wrkbrk 2794606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: This is the one we have - DS feeds her from her "juice box" (water that makes tears come out of her eyes :P).</p> <p><a href="https://www.target.com/p/baby-alive-sweet-tears-baby/-/A-52182113" rel="nofollow">https://www.target.com/p/baby-alive-sweet-tears-baby/-/A-52182113</a></p> <p>PS I definitely got it on sale! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794605 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 14:22:05 +0000 wrkbrk 2794605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: WTH?? I think you win! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes/page/2#post-2794563 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 12:47:33 +0000 snowjewelz 2794563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SIL got both kids big toys for their birthdays and Christmas (both are Dec babies) and I wanted to cry! They were great toys but take up so much space and not something I would've gotten! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794498 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 09:21:42 +0000 tinyperson 2794498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: Weird. My MIL sent gifts for my two kids at the end of November...when my oldest's birthday is December 5 and Christmas is 3 weeks later. I thought the parcel was for Christmas or birthday, but no, no, it's "for right now." Why?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794484 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 08:27:46 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2794484@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: that pic is super cute. @Silva: @crazydoglady: @erinbaderin: thanks for sharing your favs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794431 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:10:57 +0000 IRunForFun 2794431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing really made me cry or laugh, but my MIL gave DD a "God's Princess Devotional Bible Stories" book. It's a little beat up because it's used, and was inscribed to someone else in 2008...Oh and DH and I are pretty staunch atheists and my ILs aren't religious either. Sooooo. I have no idea what she was thinking!? </p> <p>I guess watching DD pound on the Melissa and Doug mini piano does make me laugh though...also she won't let us touch the keys, she pushes our hands away or bites when we try! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794430 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 13:57:56 +0000 skinnycow 2794430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No crazy gifts but we received a pink tricycle from all three sets of grandparents. Three tricycles! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794423 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 13:11:37 +0000 Ajsmommy 2794423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: @kiddosc: my sil got one for dd and then on top of that she also got ds a ball pit. Wtf </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794422 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 13:09:44 +0000 Ajsmommy 2794422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fil bought dd a ton of dollar tree items including candy canes, bubbles, pens....and "wrapped" them into a giant ball of cling wrap...... It was a nightmare!!! Dd got annoyed with it after three minutes of unraveling it and nothing had come out yet.... Once things started coming out they were all smashed and broken :bummed: </p> [attach=4974/18/p1w2g8.450x600.DA560D86-F51D-4770-9810-15C37A281D3C.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794421 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:54:13 +0000 kiddosc 2794421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: @yoursilverlining: We got one of those this year too... for my 22 month old :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794420 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 12:41:12 +0000 yoursilverlining 2794420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: my mom got my little one of those last year. It “ran out of batteries” quickly :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794394 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 09:58:42 +0000 Silva 2794394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: my son (17 months) LOVES his baby doll. I give my kids dolls for their first birthdays. Its one of the first toys both my children began doing imaginative play with (feeding the baby, putting a blanket on it, etc).<br /> a dog with a bottle is just weird. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794393 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 09:55:08 +0000 ElbieKay 2794393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents showed up for dinner during Hanukkah and brought my 3yo eight presents. Because there are eight nights of Hanukkah. Even though they only celebrated one night with us.</p> <p>He was glassy-eyed after the first three. It was pretty annoying. My mom literally said she got eight bc there are eight nights. I am going to tell her to limit it to one gift per holiday next year...</p> <p>... because then she also got him two Christmas gifts. My husband's family celebrates Christmas, and my MIL invited my parents to her Christmas dinner. He got another six gifts that night. Then he started asking for more presents because he expected them to keep coming. It was way too much.</p> <p>I have no idea why my mother felt the need to get him gifts for both holidays. My family is Jewish. We don't celebrate Christmas on my side of the family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794391 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 09:33:56 +0000 WinterBee 2794391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snarkybiochemist: Laugh- LO received 3 pink ride on airplane toys... which she is also terrified of. 😂😂<br /> Cry- Nothing, the only one who got something sentimental for LO was me.<br /> Roll eyes- one gift LO got was a size M youth tshirt and some hand soap... she’s 11 months old... 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794361 Sun, 31 Dec 2017 19:51:05 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2794361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: oh god that sounds awful </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794343 Sun, 31 Dec 2017 15:52:34 +0000 Truth Bombs 2794343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My in laws got my kids one of those giant floor pianos like in the movie big. Thanks for the migraines! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/christmas-presents-that-made-you-laugh-cry-or-roll-your-eyes#post-2794324 Sun, 31 Dec 2017 11:54:22 +0000 GoGoSnoGirl 2794324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snarkybiochemist: I know! I mean, they probably intended us all to enjoy it, but still... </p>