a more positive note
I vote for subverting the agenda of parents vis-vis gift giving.
My sister in law does horrible things to my neice. Big bows in her hair
and all girlie toys. Shes five. She needs adventure and her aunt
provides it. Last year she got a bunch of dolls, doll house etc and I
gave her a remote controlled bulldozer. When I left Christmas Eve she
had all her dolls in the bulldozer shoveling them around.
Bwahahahahah!!!! When she was really little I gave her one of
those little types portable basketball sets. This year I have decided
to trick her mother. So one gift is a very cute panda sweater with
matching skort. And the other gift is a camping kit with little pup
tent, sleeping bag, flashlight and compass. I wish someone had given me
stuff like this when I was younger. I was a tomboy and my mom kept
throwing barbies at me. She finally stopped when I hung a bunch of them
in a tree with strings and swung them around by their necks. It was a
barbie tree. I was sent to a psychologist who "evaluated" my behavior
and had this startling pronouncement on my condition: "She doesnt like
barbies. Stop giving them to her" Even at the age of 7 I found
him outstanding despite the white winged tipped shows and canary yellow
outfit.