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As I sit here on what the media is calling “Super Saturday” (?!?), I can’t help but wonder, am I the boring aunt? My husband and I are childfree by choice but we are blessed with five awesome nieces and nephews, consisting of 21 month old twins through 7 years old. I love the Christmas season but as a society, we’ve lost something with all the commercialism and commoditization of this great holiday. Thus, we give the kids money for birthdays and holidays. I remember as a kid getting a card with money in it or even worse, a package with clothes (yikes!), and even though I was grateful to get a gift I preferred the fun stuff like toys.
Of course, as I grew up, I realized the gift of “the future” these generous relatives and friends were sharing with me. They were fine with being the “boring ones” because they knew I would appreciate their gifts as time went on.
I’m going to continue playing the long game with my little people and sticking with the cash. I did decide to give each of them a special book to read but I also want to instill in them my love of reading so I’m ok with those purchases.
I had a dear aunt and uncle that always sent a check for Christmas. My mother would make me put it into a savings account at the bank earning 5.14%. This started me on a lifetime of saving and investing. So I really got two gifts.
I can only remember any gift was welcome, and overall I think I liked cash! Also I was thought to say thank you and give a hug for any gift, and if the giver was not present, then write a thank you note. Thanks Mom & Dad
Did you give your nieces and nephews gift cards or real cash? A stack of dollar bills is more impressive than a card. When my nieces and nephews were little I gave them cash equal to their age. They didn’t seem to consider gift cards money. Having actual cash money in their hand seemed to make them feel important. I remember one birthday my niece proudly announced to everyone, “My Uncle gave me money for my birthday”.
I think the cash and books are great gifts, but small children definitely like brightly wrapped presents. The gift doesn’t need to be expensive — maybe just a coloring book — but something for now as well as the future.
As an older friend of ours used to say, “Cash may not always be the right size, but it’s always the right color!”