This child cried because he got a gift of something that had belonged to his great grandparent. And his sister wasn’t interested in a set of sterling flatware.This was probably the most sad post I have ever read here on FR. But it’s been the most valuable.
I was just about to send my daughter a set of flatware that had belonged to one of her grandmothers and some china. It’s expensive. The china was 1850 Spode and the flatware 1900 Tiffany. It is not the price it’s the fact that it belonged to an ancestor who valued it.
If kids today are going to cry if they get an empty wood box from a great grandfather or some old china - they’re losers.
It’s best to sell your stuff on eBay rather than give it to ungrateful kids and grandchildren.
I assure you lady Jane my kids would have been sincerely happy to receive any of those things. So would I.
I agree. What ever happened to “Its the thought that counts?”
Thanks for your thoughts, Ladyjane.
If I can clarify a bit. First, my son was 5 and did not cry. He was disappointed. He had little concept of the value of heirlooms even if it was just a wooden box. In my daughter’s case, what was given was one piece of a cheap K-Mart grooming set. It was not valuable nor an heirloom.
What we put in place was intended to avoid creating an embarrassment to the Grandparents. It made everybody feel good.
This happened 30 years ago and I guarantee our kids are far from being losers. You have taken one small episode in our family life and drawn a way off the mark global conclusion about us.
Just FYI:
My daughter at 32 is a millionaire and my son at 26 is well on his way to becoming one. They both started with nothing. AND they are nice people. They are grateful. They are kind. They are giving.
I am sorry my post made you sad but I have to think it is not what I said but what is going on in your life that made you sad.
I wish you the best.
We take treats and deli turkey to shelter kitties...they are ALWAYS thankful!