General Etiquette > Family and Children

Gifting grown children?

(1/7) > >>

Felica:
Our group of friends don't exchange Christmas gifts. We do parties and get togethers and stuff like that. We do buy for the children though. This year, one of our friends has a son that has turned 18 and moved into a college dorm (has a job, is paying his own way in college, basically self sufficent). My personal feeling is that it's time to stop buying for him, as he is now grown and not living at home. But, the rest of us all have younger children, living at home and our friend (parent of 18 year old) has already said she will continue to buy for these children. Which is fine. My concern is am I being mean for not wanting to continue to gift her grown child, or is it time to stop?

I'm asking on behalf of several of us, who aren't sure what to do....

TZ:
I think your friend is very generous to continue buying for your children, and I would continue to gift her son, as well.  I think an 18 year old who is working to put himself through college could really use a lot of things, i.e. giftcards to Amazon, a grocery store, Target.  He sounds like a responsible young man who could use some help, or at least something "fun" that he might not normally be able to afford for himself. 

MDefarge:
The gift cards I got from Aunts/Uncles/friends of the family actually meant *more* to me when I was in college because I could really appreciate the gift - I haven't met a college student who *isn't* strapped for cash and it was nice to still be thought of.  Once I graduated from college and more or less on my own, I started sending my own cards/gifts instead of just having my name on whatever the family gift was.  The poster who suggested gift cards to Walmart/gas stations/grocery stores is right on the money (pardon the pun)

lolane:
As someone who is not too removed from the life of a poor college student, I vote for continuing to give him gifts until he's graduated.  I got a lot of gift cards to grocery stores in college and they meant A LOT to me. Even when I didn't get gift cards, I usually got stuff that was too much a luxury for me on my student's budget.

veryfluffy:
I am not sure I understand why this boy should suddenly no longer warrant a gift. He is still the same person. Either you want to give gifts to your friends' children, or you don't.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page