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How to look a corporate gift horse in the mouth
July 28, 2008 - 1:49am
Ms Communicate responds...
Denying them access to grandchildren works, too.
[ 28 July 2008: Message edited by: Caissa ]
Perhaps a nicer and more constructive response, would be to talk to the parents about it. If they continue to do the same thing, donating the gift certificates to a food bank or to someone who cannot afford food.
That's highly judgemental of you... Robespierre, being the leader of the Committee of Public Safety, would never let heads roll.
He would make sure they landed in a basket.
As a bonus, Robespierre's need for baskets was a great boon to the basket weaving industry, from January 1793, to July 28th, 1794.
Coincidentaly, the basket weaving industry collopsed the morning of July 29th, 1974
Great Moments in Basket Weaving 5th Ed.
[ 28 July 2008: Message edited by: TemporalHominid ]
Things can happen when children are ignored.
Yeah, because punishing your kids for your parents' actions will make your life that much easier... [img]rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img]
I'd talk to them about it, make some other suggestions, and if they continue, say thanks and pass the gift on to someone who can use it. Looking a gift horse in the mouth is just plain rude.
My mother and MIL often buy me stuff I don't want and/or won't use like perfumed bath stuff I'm allergic to or kitchy stuff I have no room to store -- the latest was a ceramic, pumpkin-shaped soup tureen with a ladle that holds about a teaspoon of liquid. Not only hideous, but stupid and such a waste.
At this late date, I just say thank you and pass it on afterwards to someone who will use the gift. Although the tureen has me stumped as to who might use it and currently resides in a box in my basement until I get a brain wave.
My own poetry collection is bigger than theirs. Ugh.
When it comes to family, no, not without more fallout than it is generally worth.
We tried approaching family members about not buying us gifts. Siblings were no problem. Both my mother and MIL continued to buy us stuff anyway. I spoke to my mother about it, and she told me she would spend her money on whatever she chooses, and that I was making her feel unwanted and unappreciated. She obviously felt very hurt. Refusing a gift after that conversation would have created even more bad feelings and drama. Sometimes it's better to accept peoples' quirks and get along with them than to push buttons to prove a point.
Perfect.
We have nieces and nephews who are in their 20s and 30s who simply do not understand our tastes...kitschy stuff. We always accept with a sincere thank you (because they spend time and money to give us something). I can't imagine tellling them we don't like it. They did give us a gift last year that we actually loved--a handmade photo album that took a lot of time and was nicely done (we actually love it).
Some people are just better at gift giving than others--I happen to be excellent at it, myself!! [img]wink.gif" border="0[/img]
Really? That's awesome. My address is...
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