and what did you give?

We put an inexpensive little game called Pit in my GS’s Christmas stocking this year and it proved to be one of the best games he’s had. Huge fun! It eclipsed all the expensive Lego and the video games.

We gave teenage GD a laptop, her face was a picture when she opened the parcel as it came in a plain brown box with no clue as to what was inside. Later we found her writing in a notebook " my best present this year was definitely my laptop ". Youngest GC got Harry Potter Lego, to my mind is like giving someone a building site as a gift, but they were ecstatic.

Squishy Banana has returned in rude health from the Squishy hospital with a letter from the Squishy Doctors and Nurses asking DGD to be a bit more gentle with him. They also apologised for being unable to save his eyes ( I did not notice that this one was just a featureless banana when I ordered it!) Never mind, Daddy drew eyes and face with a marker pen and she is overjoyed. I love it that she is 9 years old and still totally believes in magic. I also love being able to provide that magic and hope that she will remember how special it was when she has her own children (in between being an astronaut, astro-physicist and an author) of course.

Oh the joy of children...my dgd aged 3 was over the moon with her stocking..a mouth organ..a kaleidoscope..a doctors set ..and some stickers...did not look at the big presents. She examined all the guests including the dolls..had a little notebook to jot all symptoms down..a mock mobile to call hospital...and some even got a haircut if not too ill..precious moments

I was just very grateful that all my presents were graciously received.

Who could ever have predicted a 16-year-old going into ecstasies over a pack of unmatched socks? But she did!

The best received presents I gave were also probably the strangest! A lady next door was complainant the fact her clothes pegs kept breaking and that she couldn't get lactose-free milk in her tea/coffee when she went out (she's decided it's better for her). So I bought her 40 stainless steel clothes pegs and some individual portions of LF milk in those little pyramid-shaped thingies. She was over the moon and is already hanging out her washing with her new unbreakable pegs!

Dreadfully rude - and one of the downsides of the commercialisation of Christmas. There is, I think, an overall failure in families (including my own) to share its original meaning from an early age; and to raise awareness of their own good fortune in having a family, a roof over their heads, and enough to eat.

Some of my family are very specific about what they want present wise ahead of time - but give a few choices, so that's fine. Others are really keen on surprises - so if the surprise isn't quite what they would have chosen themselves, they are polite enough not to mention it!

We ourselves (when asked by offspring )have from time to time requested donations to our favourite charities or to schemes which support local projects.

Our present to DGS (9)was something we knew he wanted, but I had put it in a box which had contained light bulbs, before wrapping. I was very touched when he thanked me profusely for his gift, before opening the box, still thinking I had given him bulbs! That's a gracious way to receive a gift.

We buy vouchers and a £10 secret Santa present for one member of family. Youngest GD does the draw. Saves a lot of expense.

I agree Urmstongran.

My DS's get pretty much the same every year, favourite football team calendar, favourite chocolate, socks, pants and a bottle of their favourite tipple (which is always very expensive). I try to think of appropriate and fun gifts for my DGC according to their interests plus new clothes and books. Favourite presents this year were kaleidoscopes, a banana squishy which sadly burst as she over stretched it and gel pens. DGD was so heartbroken over the squishy that I sent it to the squishy hospital (bin) and have ordered another online (£2). I can't wait to see her face!!!

Watermeadow: How rude of the recipients of your well thought out Christmas presents. Why bother? I admit that I do ask for suggestions in advance, so as not to disappoint. But, I think in future we will do the 'secret santa' for the adults, with a list to refer to, so as not to overspend on gifts that are not appreciated.

Oooo, thanks for that idea Luckygirl!

Oh yes - and artificial dog poo (I didn't buy that one) was the biggest hit with the boys!

The two presents that I gave that caused the greatest joy each cost about £1.50 - a tiny spinning top and a packet of non-permanent pretty tattoos.

We do Secret Santa too for the adults. DGD did the draw from a top hat and the video was shared on WhatsApp so everyone could see there’s no cheating. Then follows a devious rigmarole of one person finding out what another wants and passing the message on so eventually the giver finds out! We also have a spending limit of about £50.

The children get presents prearranged with their parents with the addition of small extras.

My DGD told me her best present was the cheap 6” sticky black slug I’d found in an RSPB shop!

Amazon wish lists are a real godsend.

No excuses for rudeness BUT ...... always better to ask close family what they would like otherwise it’s just a waste of money if the gift is not appreciated.

We did Secret Santa for the adults, first time this year. It worked a treat. Everyone received something they liked and the whole process was co-ordinated by our GD aged ten. She thoroughly enjoyed it and the rest of the GCs want to be involved next time. Not too sure how that'll work,

How rude and unpleasant people can be! I'm astonished that they were so tactless and ungrateful.
Next year (if you can be bothered? I might not feel so generously inclined!) get them to set up an Amazon wishlist, you could do one too. That way you get to choose and order easily, and they won't know what you've selected from their list so it's still a surprise but it will be something they've actually chosen so you can't go wrong! Win-Win!

Perhaps I should explain SIL is somewhat unreconstructed and was once heard to say NT members were a *bunch of middle class w***k**s' when we were members- now he is Tee Hee.

My family all enjoyed their presents but the irony of joining DH and my introverted snob SIL to National Trust was lost on him.

next year make donations to a food bank or a local charity on each persons behalf and pop them a note inside the card saying thank you for your contribution to ......( whatever) and have done. If you have say a pet lover pop some food into local vet or SSPCA.
Works great for me.