#Random sissy task giver how to

Unless it’s an heirloom item, store it away for a few months and then pass it on to someone that will use it.Īre you running the risk that someone will ask about it and you’ll have to tell them you donated their gift? Yes. Prolific gift givers tend to forget what they bought.

Keep things for a short time and then donate them. It reinforces that they gave a gift that kept on giving and they’ll be more likely to give an experience gift again.

Make sure to send a quick note of thanks or mention it in passing when you use those experience gifts. If people want suggestions for gifts ask for passes to the zoo, aquarium, children’s museum, etc. Every time we went to the gallery I mentioned it to my mother-in-law and thanked her again for the gift. We suggested, and received, a family pass for the Vancouver Art Gallery one year. That way they are buying things they know you will use. You can also use a list making tool, like Amazon Wish List, and share it with relatives. We get enough from the grandmas that I only need to buy a handful of things when Henry grows out of a size. Side note: I rarely buy clothes for my son. When we were visiting family in Canada recently I pointed out when Henry was wearing something that they had bought (which was most of his outfits) and thanked them again for it. If they still want to send a lot of stuff they know we might donate it if it’s not something we will use.Īnother thing that has greatly helped is that we give them gift ideas and let them know what we have used from previous gifts.īoth grandmas love buying clothes so I make sure to tell them about the ones that they have bought and that we use a lot. They’ve toned it down a shade, which is helpful, but we still get a lot of things from them. And even someitmes just because they saw something for him that they couldn’t resist. They pay exorbitant amounts of postage to send Henry clothing and toys on his birthday and at Christmas. They love giving their grandson gifts and clothes. We’ve talked to them about our hopes of raising Henry without a lot of stuff. My mom and my mother-in-law know about this blog and read it.

#Random sissy task giver how to

Since then I’ve worked on a few things and have come to a happy place on what to do with unwanted gifts and how to gracefully and lovingly deal with generous relatives. I was torn with guilt at not feeling gratitude and frustration over the work these gifts would be: sorting, donating, stressing over if someone noticed we no longer had them in our home. The gifts felt like a burden instead of what they were: gifts. Our first Christmas after the big purge I opened every gift for my son, and there were many, and I felt deflated at the thought of storing it in my home. As it is, our reasonably sized apartment is completely packed to the gills.ĭo you have any experience/advice on how to deal with the sometimes unwanted gifts from others without hurting anyone’s feelings? Suggestions that we could give them on what to give us instead of more stuff? I would hate to seem ungrateful or to offend anyone, but I end up giving so much away, and that doesn’t feel right either. If I wasn’t such a purger by nature, we could have been featured on an episode of hoarders by now. However, this means that we have a huge influx of stuff, even though neither my husband nor I shop. Several family members are shoppers/pack rats and have been so incredibly generous to us, particularly since we had our baby. How to gently decline and get rid of unwanted gifts. If you have a topic you would like discussed here just email me at theminimalistmom at gmail dot com. Answering a question from a reader today.