How To Get No Through Their Heads

Well if it will hurt their feelings if you send the stuff back and you dont want it. i bet there are a lot of kids somewhere that would like to have the stuff and could use the toys/clothes, why dont you take the package to the nearest salvation army or second hand store and donate them? then everyone is happy. relative feels like they are helping, and you are in turn helping some less fortuniate kid:)

I was going to say donate, donate, donate.

I know that in our case we get a lot of toys from my MIL that are just not age appropriate for my little guy yet, so the trick for me is to be able to intercept her at the door before she gives him anything that I'm going to have to sneak away the next day:)

I have a hard time getting the meaning of that word through my husband's mom's and grandparent's heads. It has to do with clothes though. My MIL is always going out shopping when she doesn't have the money to and buying my kids clothes. The way she does it is wrong though. Knowing the kids have certain things that I just got for them, she goes out and buys similar things and tries to get the kids to choose which ones they want. It annoys me so much when she does this. I, however, do not know how to approach her about though because she can snap at any minute. I think she is bipolar sometimes. My husband defends her by saying she didn't know I had just gotten them the same thing, when I had told her a few hours before she went out and bought it.
When dealing with this in the past, we were living with her. One day I just blew up about the situation. As a result, we had to find our own place to live, since she said I couldn't stay there anymore. I have learned to be straight forward with people, and if they don't like it then oh well. I feel being honest about your feelings with others is best!

It would be best if you tell it straight to your relative that he does not need to give your child such children's toy. Ask him why would he still continue on giving your child such toys, when you already told him many times before, that such toys are not necessary to your child. Be frank to him. Also, tell him that you are getting to be irritated because of his stubbornness.

If the NO doesn't get into their heads about toys...give them an option instead. Like say, toys are nice but they got plenty...but we are teaching our kids now to save, so something for their piggy bank or savings bond will be appreciated. This would result in two ways...they will do it or they will stop giving at all because they might think you are too fresh with your idea of a gift instead of toy.

Actually, b-days, Christmas, relatives and friends are getting the hint that we have to start doing college fund so my baby is starting her nest egg.

Just take what they give you and donate it to someone who could use it. Either that or constnatly battle with someone who is ignoring you.

I had this problem for a while with a family member. I eventually aske if she'd mind if I sent the toys to the hospital or to a charity shop as my children were not using them. She stopped giving them stuff all the time after that.

well if this person is sending them to you, save them up and then donate the to a children's hospital or a children's home, have your child go along with you to donate them so that they know how it feels to give to the less fortunate. i mean that way you do not hurt your family member by sending them back and you are helping children in need.

I think this is a common problem..My granddaughter is overwhelmed with toys and goodies. Not from me, but from the two grandmothers. There is a shed half full of outside toys, her own bedroom with a few toys, another bedroom with a wall of shelves filled with toys, a storage unit that has some old toys and the living room half filled with toys.

She is almost 4 and has outgrown many toys. However, my daughter is expecting in the summer. So here we go again. It is crazy all this stuff that the kid has. She isn't that spoiled, but with the split families and remarriages and all, the number of relatives doubles.

Her parents hardly buy any toys . I think eventually much of it will be given away. I know what you are talking about. You hate to hurt anyone's feelings. I think, the fewer toys, the better.

I think that maybe you could tell that family member that you really could use gift certificates instead. That way, maybe you and the child could be making the selection of what to buy. Otherwise, buy a bigger house..lol

YOu need to send the package back and let them be hurt.

Watching out for someone else's feelings is only worthwhile if they respect your in return, this obviously isn't happening. If you have known this person for ages then there is no excuse for their continuing to ignore your wishes outside of the fact that you really haven't enforced them. If they cannot handle the reality check then all this time you have known them really has meant nothing, and right now it appears that it means very little to them.

Send the gifts back, don't justify yourself except to say that you have asked them not to do buy such things and you cannot deal with them ignoring your wishes any longer!