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Arts & crafts

Kids gifts to Grandparents

(156 Posts)
Grammy666 Fri 22-Apr-22 17:37:55

Does anyone else feel the same as I do about handmade stuff being given to us from our Grandchildren ? At first I was delighted and put up the paintings, plonky wonky pottery plates, and other attempts but after a few years the novelty has worn off and I have to pretend how much I love these things .. Just give me some soap, second hand book, charity shop gift but please I don't want rubbish , am I odd ?

GrammyGrammy Tue 26-Apr-22 14:22:13

CleoPanda

@GrammyGrammy
Your final sentence is absolutely horrible and unacceptable. You’re projecting your bitterness onto a fellow member in a shockingly rude manner.
The OP has a right to her unsentimental thoughts as much as many of you have a right to your overly sentimental feelings.
Calling names, and describing people as “sad” simply because they think differently is also nasty and childish.
You can disagree without pathetic insults surely?

I didn't call anyone "sad" or name call. You may have confused my post with another?
You accuse me of projecting and having 'overly sentimental feelings'. I am not and I do not.
No insults at all from me.

Beeb Tue 26-Apr-22 14:21:55

I did say each to their own. smile

MissAdventure Tue 26-Apr-22 14:19:03

This is why people post here once and never again.
What is odd is that grown up women seem unable to fathom the concept that not everyone is like them.

Why don't some of you lay off?

Beeb Tue 26-Apr-22 14:04:15

Each to their own, but I love the art or craftwork I receive. Over lockdown on FaceTime it was nice to bring out a drawing they’d sent and chat about it. With my parents I think it was a generation thing. They insisted that their GC should make them something each Christmas and they expected the GC to send a well written thank you letter for gifts that they’d sent to them. They felt this was encouraging good values, but as GC’s homemade items and letters weren’t always well received, the disapproval often made it a negative experience. Consequently I won’t be requesting presents homemade or otherwise, and if I receive anything at any time I’ll express positivity and encouragement.

sweetcakes Tue 26-Apr-22 13:47:47

Coco51
Well said

You asked the question and got our answers. We are not sad rocking chair grannies. Just ones who love and appreciate the effort that goes into little hands creating presents. The idea of giving scarves with dropped stitches is puerile.

Missingmoominmama Tue 26-Apr-22 13:47:29

I made a padded felt picture for my grandma when I was about 10. It hung in her house until she died and now it’s in my parents’ house. I feel a little rush of love every time I see it.

Llamedos13 Tue 26-Apr-22 13:47:06

This is me according to my four year old grand child, it’ll stay on the fridge until I get a new look?

sweetcakes Tue 26-Apr-22 13:42:19

What a ungrateful person you are I've got poem's, drawings, my daughter even made me a pottery tomato which I still use to this day to put my odds and bobs in.

Silvertwigs Tue 26-Apr-22 13:32:53

@ Grammy666 I think you are a bit odd actually?

Kryptonite Tue 26-Apr-22 13:31:30

Maybe if they have inherited your type of sensitivity they would not like the imperfect knitting. But that just shows rudeness and perhaps bad upbringing. My knitting's not perfect, but no one minds. At least I tried. Thought that counts.

Kryptonite Tue 26-Apr-22 13:27:04

Still have my own children's creations. Even moved house with them.

Hephzi Tue 26-Apr-22 13:24:29

Mine never make me anything. Their mums bearly even buy me anything. I understand how getting them all the time might be a bit annoying but you're coming from a place of abundance. Sometimes that makes us unappreciative. Perhaps imagine how you would feel if you got nothing. X

Kryptonite Tue 26-Apr-22 13:24:25

Yes you are. The things they create are the real treasures because of the love and effort that went into them. And just because they gave them to you.

colette13 Tue 26-Apr-22 13:15:26

Very odd - love the bits/pieces my grandchildren make me - some on display/some stored.Sounds harsh but maybe ought to think about the many older people without grandchildren .I get loads of - for want of a better word - 'crap' every year from family/friends 'supposed' to know me - books in genre I don't read,bath bombs,mugs,socks,etc - I simply re-gift or donate.Give me my granchidren's efforts any day - made with love each and every one.

Fae1 Tue 26-Apr-22 13:15:00

Extremely odd - a very unnatural grandma I'd say. Love,love,love anything made by my grandchildren and keep it all. Can't ever imagine preferring a bar of soap, chocolate or flowers - unless they're handpicked flowers and home made chocolate etc.

Caro57 Tue 26-Apr-22 13:11:03

I keep some things and I always add the name of the creator and the date so we can all look back in years to come

harrigran Tue 26-Apr-22 13:02:45

I only have two GC and everything I am given I keep. My study is full of artwork. I am privileged to have very artistic GC so every piece is a delight.

MissAdventure Tue 26-Apr-22 12:48:53

Then I suppose it could depend on where you live, too..
Fine if you have plenty of space, not so good of you're already short on storage space.

Natasha76 Tue 26-Apr-22 12:45:57

No you are not odd.
It depends how many grandchildren that you have. I have 11 all under 10 and I couldn't keep everything they make in a year. If you have 1 or 2 grandchildren there is a lot less.

EmilyHarburn Tue 26-Apr-22 12:45:16

We are writing up our family history and little wonky things and charming letters and cards all add to the interest of the story. so glad they were kept.

Coco51 Tue 26-Apr-22 12:42:30

Grammy666

Oh dear .. I seem to be very odd ... btw ... they have their own money and I still say I would MUCH rather have a recycled gift from a Charity shop than wonky plate.. a gift chosen by the kids on a subject they know I love .. I can't see the objection .. we are not all dotty Grans in a Rocking chair gazing lovingly at
shelves of whatever .. Also I wonder if the kids would be pleased if I gave them a knitted scarf complete with holes and dropped stitches ....

You asked the question and got our answers. We are not sad rocking chair grannies. Just ones who love and appreciate the effort that goes into little hands creating presents. The idea of giving scarves with dropped stitches is puerile.

MissAdventure Tue 26-Apr-22 12:37:41

You can do that without having boxes full and a loft filled up, and photos and computers rammed full.

CBT61 Tue 26-Apr-22 12:35:03

Well, just to put another slant on homemade gifts… my three children were ‘encouraged’ to make adult relatives a gift every Christmas… the sort of thing described in this post; stencilled cork mat sets, tea towel door holders, pottery boxes etc etc. Once they were in secondary school I left them to it and they had to get their own ideas and buy the resources. The eldest loved doing it and would organise her younger bother and sister.
Both the girls are very ‘crafty’ and creative as adults… and even the boy, who makes things out of wood, enjoys making rather than buying. Only this week the youngest (25 years old) told me how grateful she was that I made them do this Christmas gift making as she doesn’t think she would have the skills to do so much in her own flat and for her friends if I hadn’t encouraged this activity as a child- and if the adults hadn’t expressed such joy at the gifts, wobbly or not! So stick with it! Fake the appreciation if you must but look for the love in each gift!

Coco51 Tue 26-Apr-22 12:33:55

Yes. Think of all the love that goes into making these things just for you

MissAdventure Tue 26-Apr-22 12:33:29

Call the rest of us unsentimental...
Either is fine, because everyone is different.
My grandchildren are less sentimental than me.