Hello everyone! I tried to post yesterday, but it didn't stick. Here's hoping I get it right this time.
My name is Carrie and I live just outside of Phoenix with my husband and 7 year old son, Liam. I hate to start out by complaining about something, but I have a dilemma that is weighing heavily on my mind and could use some advice.
I have 2 brothers and a sister who all live in other states. Two live in the same state and the 3rd lives nearby, but in a neighboring state. Between the 3 of them, we've been blessed with 8 nieces and nephews. We love those kids as much as we love our own son. We don't get to see them but maybe 3-4 times a year, but we always, always send gifts for their birthdays and Christmas. We're not well-off by any stretch of the imagination, but we still do it because we love those kids and isn't that what the holidays are about?
But not one of my siblings sends my son anything for Christmas. They forget his birthday too, but that's for another board. It hasn't been an issue in the past, but last Christmas when he was 6, he asked me what his auntie sent him. I had to quickly distract him. He knows full well that he is getting stiffed and it breaks my heart.
I don't want this to sound like we're being greedy because that's not the case. If money is an issue, we completely understand. But then at least send a handmade card or a tiny something so he knows that he's not forgotten again. We just don't think it's fair to have him hear how all of his cousins got this and that from their auntie and that from their uncle and he didn't get anything. We feel that he's being inadvertently punished or overlooked because we live several states away. I mean, who stiffs a kid at Christmas??
My husband is to the point where he wants to stop sending gifts to our nieces and nephews. I see his point, but I don't think it's right to punish the kids for their parents' actions. What are your thoughts on this?
