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Bad Manners and Brimstone
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#Post#: 50434--------------------------------------------------
a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: TootsNYC Date: April 16, 2020, 10:48 am
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I have a first cousin once removed with whom I am friends on
Facebook and whose company I greatly enjoy. She and her husband
have three little kids.
A couple of years ago, we were visiting (when she had 2 kids),
and her son was really big into wooden trains. I told him I'd
send him a train car that came from the NYC subway.
And...I blew it. But last night I was decluttering my dresser,
and I found the train car (and some little tracks intended to
let you join peg-to-peg or hole-to-hole, for when you end up
with a layout where the pieces aren't meshing in one spot).
So I decided to send it to him with a note.
But...he has two siblings. Johnny is very young and might not
notice, but his sister absolutely will.
The problem: I am not leaving the house, and I don't want to
order things that aren't truly necessary. Hmmmm....
I went looking in the house.
I found this battery-powered lantern that I'd bought two of from
Home Depot. (like this but MUCH less robust and not as
bright--more like a glorified flashlight)
HTML https://www.homedepot.com/p/Defiant-300-Lumen-Handy-Lantern-in-Tiffany-Blue-99645/301857711
I sent it to 4yo Emily, along with a note that it might be
useful in a blanket tent.
And then for little 18-month-old Johnny, I found this penguin
timer that I've been meaning to donate because I was already
given 2 (It's still in the package).
HTML https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/kikkerland-reg-penguin-kitchen-timer/1040498393?keyword=penguin-timer
So I sent him that with a note that maybe he could use it to
make the big kids take turns, or to tell when to get out of the
bath.
I'm pretty sure this cousin is going to think that's totally
fine, and maybe even a little fun. I pinged her last night and
warned her that these weird, scrounged-up gifts were coming, and
she said, "I'm sure it'll make their day just to get some mail.
I'll be sure to send you pinkies." (and then, "**pictures." I
told her we should start a new custom of raising a pinkie to
people to say "thank you" the way we do thumbs-up to say "I
approve.")
I did make sure to mail each gift in its own envelope, so
they will all get mail. And if they don't arrive on the same
day, I said, she should reassure the others that yes, they are
getting one too.
My hope is that the lantern/flashlight will be the biggest hit.
I wish I'd written in there that maybe she could use it to
taking a bath in the dark. (it flashes on one of its settings).
Wouldn't that be fun, at age 4 or 5, to have your very own
light you can carry around with you?
I also fear that the trains will be the biggest letdown, and
they're the ones that cost money.
#Post#: 50437--------------------------------------------------
Re: a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: kckgirl Date: April 16, 2020, 11:08 am
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I think the light will be the biggest hit. I actually put
flashlights in birthday gift bags for kids and they're always
well received.
I also give band aids that have kid prints and are intended to
be used on the invisible scratches that all kids use to try to
get a band aid. They come with instructions to the parents that
these are not meant to be kept for actual bandage needs but I
intended them to be "toys."
#Post#: 50451--------------------------------------------------
Re: a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: TootsNYC Date: April 16, 2020, 12:17 pm
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This lantern is so cool to me that I might have to put it on the
list of "odd things I give kids."
One year, we were cleaning out our offices at work, and there
was a box of 12 clicker counters that we were just going to
toss. I snagged it and gave one to several kids that year, and
they all apparently had a ball.
And then, I used to collect all the samples and promotional
stuff my office was sent, and I'd divide it up between relatives
(trying to make good matches). It was hard to get stuff for
kids. But for one family with several kids, I collected a TON of
bubble wrap and gave it them all to share. Their grandfather was
the one to take it over to them, and he was really puzzled.
The next time I saw him, he said, "I was so wrong--they were
thrilled with all that bubble wrap." (My daughter's college
dorm had a "stocking" thing for the end of the semester, and
people would drop off small trinkets as presents--a candy bar, a
hair tie, etc. DD went to the dollar store nearby and bought a
roll of bubble wrap and wore off a sheet for everyone, rolled
them up, and tied with a little red curling ribbon. They
apparently were the favorite trinket)
#Post#: 50463--------------------------------------------------
Re: a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: chigger Date: April 16, 2020, 2:05 pm
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Anything resembling a flashlight is an absolute favorite with
kids!
#Post#: 50480--------------------------------------------------
Re: a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: Rose Red Date: April 16, 2020, 4:39 pm
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[quote author=chigger link=topic=1684.msg50463#msg50463
date=1587063913]
Anything resembling a flashlight is an absolute favorite with
kids!
[/quote]
Big kids too :D. I always grab flashlights when it's time for
company swag. Very handy when you need to go to the bathroom or
downstairs in the middle of the night.
#Post#: 50494--------------------------------------------------
Re: a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: Rho Date: April 16, 2020, 9:15 pm
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Probably the timer will be the fought over gift.
Flashlights? My go-to gift for preschool age. Not at all an
odd item to give.
You are thoughtful. I would have wrapped up the tracks for
Emily and the caboose for Johnny.
#Post#: 50500--------------------------------------------------
Re: a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: guest24 Date: April 17, 2020, 3:47 am
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What lovely presents! Especially for an un-birthday!
#Post#: 50501--------------------------------------------------
Re: a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: TootsNYC Date: April 17, 2020, 7:59 am
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[quote author=Rho link=topic=1684.msg50494#msg50494
date=1587089739]
Probably the timer will the fought over gift.
Flashlights? My go-to gift for preschool age. Not at all an
odd item to give.
You are thoughtful. I would have wrapped up the tracks for
Emily and the caboose for Johnny.
[/quote]
I didn't have a caboose--just the one train car, and the tracks.
The reason I didn't give the tracks to Emily is: (1) it's not
her train set; it's Thomas's. She plays with him, but they're
not hers. I think that would muddy the waters. (2) they are
really unimpressive as a gift; too utilitarian. They'll be
useful, but I really don't think a 4- or 5-year-old would be
that thrilled. Even for Thomas, I don't think he'd find them
that thrilling.
#Post#: 50502--------------------------------------------------
Re: a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: Soop Date: April 17, 2020, 8:11 am
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The flashlight makes me think of our family annual corn roast.
Every year at the start of September, from before I can
remember, my parents had a corn roast for friends and family. In
later years, the favourite thing for the kids was, once it got
dark, they would all have a flashlight and take off into the
dark and play some sort of game that they made up. I was never
sure of the rules. Only rule from a parenting perspective, was
don't leave the property (10 acres fenced) and the bigger kids
had to keep track of the littlest ones. Every so often they
would appear by the fire, all sweaty and asking for drinks. We
could see the lights bobbing through the trees and the yells and
screams of kids having fun.
Sadly, my parents stopped having these parties about 10 years
ago, because it was too much for them (and my Dad is a control
freak, so there was no way we kids were allowed to take on his
hosting duties).
#Post#: 50503--------------------------------------------------
Re: a gift for every sibling--a no-shopping approach
By: TootsNYC Date: April 17, 2020, 8:18 am
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I found the lantern. I sent her one of these (they're sold in a
2-pack; I only sent her one lantern)
HTML https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/333561737520_/Defiant-150-Lumens-Camping-Thin-LED-Lantern-2-pack.jpg
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