Materialistic Question
This seems like the worlds stupidest question (tm).
Anyhow, so next weekend is my family hannukah party, I already know my grandparents will be giving cash, maybe a small stuffed animal for Nikki as well, but cash or tell me to go buy what I need for her.
My aunt asked what shoe size she is. And will most likely be giving money.
Now my uncle, asked what can/should they get for Nikki. I'm at a loss as to what to say. I hate to say I'm planning on giving each of the boys 20 bucks, my cousins are 14 and 18(his kids). That's what I can afford and I'm not making myself crazy you know, I wish I could do more whether a gift, giftcard or cash of a larger monetary value, but I can't.
I think it's tacky to say cash. There isn't anyting we NEED. Toy wise. I know he has to drive like 5 hours each way to get my cousin from college thursday or friday, so they're going to be busy.
What would you ask for? I would say gift card to a store so I can use it for clothes. But I don't even do that much shopping for her lately. I don't even know what stores I like for Nikki, ie what stores really carry her size. I'd love to get her more pjs. I'm thinkign children's place, target(I fear it wouldn't be spent on her though), toys r us I feel like I wouldn't get a lot for the money.
Honestly, I'm greatful these are my problems in life. I'm thinking of ordering a photo blanket for my grandparents and basically doing it as an iou to give to them before they go to florida. My big from my fraternity got one for her dad and it's really nice, you know. A touch pricey(for me they run between like $40- and $70 from walmart).
My Aunt I typically do some kind of serving gift or picture frame. I hate that it's not more personal, but I don't have that strength and in some ways she's a stranger to me at this point. My mom really maintained that relationship you know.
I feel like SUCH a brat. If I hadn't stocked up on diapers two weeks ago, I would tell him a case of diapers. I know presents don't need to be practical they can be fun. And I feel like a dick because she isn't getting presents from us this year. She has tons of toys, mostly from the thrift store. And lately she's been playing with toys from my work stash.(Heck today when I napped she and Mike played with the motorized fish game).
For Hannukah I got her two books, which she's already sorta looking at 'Elmo's Little Dreidel', and 'Happy Hannukah Corduroy' BH for Amazon.
I'm thinking of letting her 'help' light her own hannukah menorah this year, the second days of sukkos, we started her lighting her own candle. Really I'm lighting using like a hannukah candle her tea light with her hand on the candle or on my hand and she makes the motion of covering hey eyes and swaying her little tush as she moves her arms and chest from side to side.
I think I have to look at and acknolwedge that the gifts I'm giving her aren't monetary or materialistic gifts I'm giving her gifts that will be a part of her life for a long time.
As a kid, my mom said if I wanted to light my own menorah I had to learn the blessing. So the blessing over the hannukah candles is the first blessing I ever learned. I'm still not confident in teh second blessing we say at hannukah regarding a great miracle, just because we say it so infrequently.