What my 13 year old GS has requested for Christmas

I love your idea Callistemon21. I have chickened out and told DS his son's desire for a drone is one for a parent to sort out... DGS can read a bit but not that well, your letter will need adapting, but will send it on to the hapless father!

It is quite text but I think I would be pleased that he was showing good taste. If he uses it you have given him a lovely gift and if he doesn't don't repeat the gesture.

The context

Do you think a child should be told they can't have the one present they'd like because someone else might not be able to afford the same?

I don't think it works like that. Rather like my Mum telling me to eat all my dinner because children in India were starving all those years ago. It made no difference to them if I ate it or not. What made a difference (I hope) was the 2s 6d she gave me to take into school for the appeal.
I think she struggled to spare that money.

If Gin can't afford it and will go without heat or food then her DGS should be told, kindly. He's old enough to understand.

Looking at Louise in that link (she was on local TV too) makes me realise just how generous people are.
🙂

Well done Louise!

The context

www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-63852049?at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_link_origin=BBC_Family_%26_Education_News&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_link_type=web_link&at_link_id=F795B306-74A0-11ED-BDA8-04490EDC252D&at_campaign_type=owned&at_format=link&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_medium=social

I'd give him the money to buy it himself and see if he really wants to part with that much cold, hard cash! If he does then it's his choice.

B9exchange

Okay, so what do I do about my three year old Grandson who is absolutely insistent that all he wants a drone, and has asked Father Christmas for one?!

Father Christmas can leave him a note:

The minimum age for a remote pilot in the A2 Category of operations is 13 years. You must be at least 14 years old to operate as a Remote Pilot under someone else's Operational Authorisation. You must be 18 yers or older to apply for your own Operational Authorisation. I have put it on my list for you for 2033 🎅

I hope your DGS can read

And - the cage and trolleys at our local supermarket were overflowing with donations for the local Food Bank
So, there are ordinary people who can still afford a little extra to help others.

Fleurpepper

This year of all years. Heating or eating - or 45 quid branded perfume!

Heating or eating
Yes, it's affecting so many and so many people are worried.

But not everyone as can be seen by the numbers of people eating out, people going to Qatar to see the football, people planning holidays, the proliferation of non-essential shops in the High Streets.

And - the cage and trolleys at our local supermarket were overflowing with donations for the local Food Bank.

People from a local church had put needed items in bags with a price on the bag so you could buy one or more - most were toiletries and small gifts.
I thought that was an excellent idea.

This year of all years. Heating or eating - or 45 quid branded perfume!

Caleo

Cossy, if it's mad to disapprove of children being seduced by advertising then I am mad. All children should be taught that some commercial products are vastly overpriced.

Totally, thanks.

And about the effect very expensive gifts with huge advertising budgets, has on those whose parents cannot afford them.

Cossy, if it's mad to disapprove of children being seduced by advertising then I am mad. All children should be taught that some commercial products are vastly overpriced.

Okay, so what do I do about my three year old Grandson who is absolutely insistent that all he wants a drone, and has asked Father Christmas for one?!

My eldest dgd is 14. Last year I asked her what she wanted & she said black Converse hi tops. Told her that would be all she gets & she was happy. This year she asked for a crystal & I have bought her a gorgeous one & can't wait to see her face when she unwraps it. The dgc are nearly 2,6 & 7 so I just ask their parents for ideas. Would much rather buy them something they want.

I have a 13 year old grandson and he is very much into designer label tracksuits, trainers etc. the colognes he’s asked for: Dior, Armani, Boss!! We’re buying him a few smaller gifts, T-shirt’s, chocolates, dressing gown, socks also giving him money to buy what he wants. My daughter teaches in a secondary school and year 9 & 10 classrooms smell heavily of Lynx body spray. Give him what he wants if you can afford it or give him what you can afford in cash. I don’t think he’d turn his nose up at a Lynx gift set if money is tight.

Well, Gin, by my standards you may have got off lightly... My grandson has asked for a diving course! - £800 worth.. Admittedly his 18th birthday is a couple of days before Christmas but still.... I am currently in negotiation with the div ing school to see if a taster session initially may be possible.....in the hope that other members of the family may chip in due course if all goes well....It must be said that he has many of the qualities that I observed in divers when I worked for the Royal Navy. As things stand he may be getting an "IOU a joint present Christmas/birthday" note which may be a diving course in April when the course starts or a camera if the negotiations do not bear fruit..., although I have always endeavoured to ensure he gets a separate present for each event.

I don't think the OP was saying that she didn't want to pay for the cologne - just that paying over the odds for a brand name was something she was unsure about as the boy is only 13.

Gin has said that now people have put it all into context she plans to get him the present he wants - I think this is going to be one of those threads that will run and run though

Lots of fragrances are made to be "unisex" now. I know one of my daughters wears a fragrance that's quite "masculine" but my husband and one of my adult sons in particular like very sweet ones - Fleur du Mâle and Plum Japonais for example (sadly both discontinued).

I think we shouldn't be judging people.
And both my boys asked for fragrances quite young. Maybe not 13 but certainly by 15.

Ps ASG I wasn't meaning you.

AmberSpyglass

Sissy wasn’t exactly a compliment “back in the day”

No, indeed it wasn't ASG
But most teenage boys wouldn't ask for cologne in those days either.

However, rudeness and bad manners online aren't that pleasant either, especially to one of our oldest posters.

Gin, totally agree with you. It is not about the money, but the advertising and 'pressure' for kids to buy expensive named brands which upsets me.

Sissy wasn’t exactly a compliment “back in the day”

Can you get the same scent in a different form? Like a body wash, or soap etc?

ileea
Good idea, that would mean the different scents wouldn't clash.
Best check with the parents, perhaps someone else will buy the cologne.

My son (now 73) it was football boots
My DGD wants football boots! 😁⚽️

Yes, I am aware of that fact

It is still very much wrong to use derogatory terms and insinuate a person is man enough (how misogynist)

Hithere

Sissy is such a derogatory name

Things are created to people to be used if they like them or need them - not assigned to genders as "acceptable for use"

Bijou is one of our very oldest posters and yes, she is right that these were terms years ago.

How things change, Bijou!
Who'd have thought 85 years ago that teenage boys would want perfume for Christmas!