July 30, 2012

WTF? Birthday Edition

My niece is turning 12 this year, so my sister (on Facebook) asked what she should get a 12 year old.

One of the answers was "a Visa giftcard." Umm..what? She’s 12, for Christ’s sake. You don’t need to get a 12 year old girl a freaking Visa gift card. Another answer was "iPad." Again…what? Even if iPad’s had existed when I was 12, there is no way my parents would have bought me one. Again, 12 year old girl. WTF does she need an iPad for? Not a damn thing, that’s what.

Have we really come to the point where we just throw a gift card at a child and have them buy what they want themselves? Half of the fun is unwrapping presents at that age. Where’s the fun in unwrapping a gift card?

And an iPad? Maybe some people have money to throw away, but I can guarantee you that Lily won’t be getting her own iPad25 or iPhone376 when she’s 12.

Now, I know my sister has more sense than to buy a brand new iPad for Ky … I HOPE she does. Besides, the kids already have an iPad (haha! But seriously, they have their parents’ old iPad with the scratched screen and whatnot). And I know she won’t just get Ky a gift card (I mean, she might get a gift card for books or something, but not ONLY a gift card). But, Jumping Jesus, I can’t believe these things were even seriously suggested to her.

Know what we got when we were 12? Barbies, coloring books, a spyrograph, a Quija board, glow in the dark stars for our ceiling and walls. iPad. PFFT.

pulchritude

July 31, 2012

best birthday gift i got when i was 12? a caboodle. that’s what that girl needs. get her a caboodle! or some lisa frank. ipad?! pfff. my oldest nephew turned 10 this year & my brother got him an ipad. i was flabbergasted. i’m pretty sure my brother only got it because he’s deployed so much & feels guilty & because he’s autistic & the only thing he really responds to is the computer, but damn. *i*can’t even get an ipad and my 10 year old nephew is walking around with one!

Tornado

I totally agree. By the time kids are 14 they have it all and have done it all.

NorCalGirl

My youngest cousins (now 13 and 14) have had cell phones since they were 7, their own tv’s, their own computers, Scout has consistently had fake nails since 5th grade, etc. They live in Idaho and can have their license at the ages they are…so they both got cars this year for their bdays. Why? Because their friends got cars and they through fits. I just…don’t get it. I got my first cell phone

when I was 19…because I bought it. Got my first car when I was nearly 20…because I had to save up for it. Niether of them will ever really get the value of things. They don’t take care of stuff because when they break it all they have to do is whine and they get new stuff. All I can really do is shake my head at it. *threw fits (oops)

Wild Gypsy Girl

That’s ridiculous! Yeah, my kids will not be having any of that stuff at 12. I could see possibly a cell in middle school, that’s when I got mine but only a cheapy-pre-paid and only if they’re involved in school A LOT. (which is the reason I got mine) Otherwise, no. They can stay away from that kind of stuff. Barbies, coloring books, etc! FTW! 🙂

LMN

All this does is give them a sense of entitlement. Then they get to my class and expect treats for everything they do…guess what, not everyone deserves a cookie!

Princess Pitbull.com

At 12 I was seriously sick of the shit gifts and was asking for cash so that I could go shopping with my friends and not feel poor. My relatives, knowing how much I loathe suprises obliged willingly. Now I ask for things that I need and for those who won’t buy in to my practicalities, take a list and buy things off that. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thaleia

My aunt got mad because my 15 year old cousin got a kindle fire for his birthday from my grandma, and she wants her twins to have either that or an ipad…. and they are only 9 years old. A- who the hell is going to buy TWO of them, and B- they are NINE YEARS OLD. lol wayyy to young for that stuff.

Nin

August 1, 2012

I hate gift cards. I think that is the most sterile gift you could give. Its like ‘yeah, I didnt have time to think of a present for you, so here.’ When I was 12 I got clothes, books, a board game or two.

Macchiato Mommy

I think 12 was around the time I started to like getting clothes.

Sezura

ryn: Target. They had a small section of sunwear, that’s where we got her shirt too, it’s one of those magic UV protecting ones.

Cat Mommy

August 3, 2012

RYN: I would think yes from my experience with the game but they haven’t released that info yet. It would be cool if you could chop down your own Christmas tree (just thought of that now, lol). There’s also an Easter egg hunt! I don’t think the religious holidays like Xmas and Easter will be named such though to appeal to the secular community.

Gylanne

August 5, 2012

Wow…. I would have said Clothes…or a book…. Geez.

Anana

August 12, 2012

HAHA! I laughed at the Ipad too. There is no way! The kids did get the old Ipad but only because it is already cracked. I do plan to get her a gift card with a small amount it but only as a little side gift. She likes having money and gift cards when we go to the store. My favorite thing about birthdays is the unwrapping! It really isn’t hard to shop for her. She would be extremely happy with

anything she got. I just don’t want to get her the same things she always gets. I like to try to get her at least 1 very special gift.