My Dad was misdiagnosed with TB and in the local hospital in a city that we had just moved to that week. I, the younger brother had just caught the chicken pox from a family we visited on the way. My brother had gotten the big gift of the year, a real bicycle. My very harried, worried mother gave him a stern warning about waiting to ride it when she was ready and then went to the other room to be out of earshot for finding out what my Dad’s current condition was. The rest was history, an eager 6 year-old with no adult supervision and a bike, so soon came a bang, crash and crying as the Christmas tree went over onto the rest of the presents …
Truly it was the kind of Christmas best regarded and smiled upon after the event.
My in-laws did that with a police car, complete with siren. I ‘forgot’ to pack it when we left so it was there for son to play with every time we visited. When they died 30 years later they still had it and now my son has it.
Frodo59, I did the same with a toy xylophone that my mom gave my son. He opened the package and I said “Oh, look, a playing at Grandma’s house toy!”. I got a dirty look from my Mother, but we never did bring it home and all 12 of her grandchildren enjoyed it over the years. Not sure where it ended up.
It was that way with my in-laws. They always had to get the bigger and badder gift, with all the bells and whistles on it. But in their gift giving they never paid attention to what my son liked playing with. 75% of the toys they bought never got played with because he didn’t like that type of toy. Course that didn’t set well with my father-in-law, he always said that my son got the wrong genes if he didn’t like the toy. (i,e, my family)
I stop telling them if he didn’t like the toy, but I re-gifted it when there was a family that had less than us.
Grandpa bought us boys toy drums one Christmas but told us we had to wait till we went home to play them. Yes, I passed the tradition on to my grandkids. Bwahahahaha.
legaleagle48 over 13 years ago
Like that’s going to stop them from trying them out inside anyway.
It’s called payback, Elly and John – and it’s what grandparents live for!
afeeney over 13 years ago
And then a chemistry set!
ses1066 over 13 years ago
Our family’s Christmas story on this theme …
My Dad was misdiagnosed with TB and in the local hospital in a city that we had just moved to that week. I, the younger brother had just caught the chicken pox from a family we visited on the way. My brother had gotten the big gift of the year, a real bicycle. My very harried, worried mother gave him a stern warning about waiting to ride it when she was ready and then went to the other room to be out of earshot for finding out what my Dad’s current condition was. The rest was history, an eager 6 year-old with no adult supervision and a bike, so soon came a bang, crash and crying as the Christmas tree went over onto the rest of the presents …
Truly it was the kind of Christmas best regarded and smiled upon after the event.
lightenup Premium Member over 13 years ago
I would give gifts like this only to my sister’s kids. 0:-)
Good story, SeS1066! The Christmases with the mishaps are the ones we remember the best.
And a Merry Christmas to all!
Frodo59 over 13 years ago
My in-laws did that with a police car, complete with siren. I ‘forgot’ to pack it when we left so it was there for son to play with every time we visited. When they died 30 years later they still had it and now my son has it.
JanLC over 13 years ago
Frodo59, I did the same with a toy xylophone that my mom gave my son. He opened the package and I said “Oh, look, a playing at Grandma’s house toy!”. I got a dirty look from my Mother, but we never did bring it home and all 12 of her grandchildren enjoyed it over the years. Not sure where it ended up.
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone.
newworldmozart over 13 years ago
It was that way with my in-laws. They always had to get the bigger and badder gift, with all the bells and whistles on it. But in their gift giving they never paid attention to what my son liked playing with. 75% of the toys they bought never got played with because he didn’t like that type of toy. Course that didn’t set well with my father-in-law, he always said that my son got the wrong genes if he didn’t like the toy. (i,e, my family) I stop telling them if he didn’t like the toy, but I re-gifted it when there was a family that had less than us.
rcerinys701 over 13 years ago
Yeah, right. Uh huh, sure. (Dreamer)
gofinsc over 13 years ago
The One and Only Original Family Band
RadioTom over 13 years ago
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
And as my gift to you, tune / link in to The Sixty Hours of Christmas, now through Sunday night, at
http://radioxtz.com/
zipdryve over 13 years ago
Revenge of the Grandparents!!!
journeyman37 over 13 years ago
i have done the same to my ex, i’d drop off the kids with whistle’s and gazoos’s , anything that would make a lot of noise it was great
Gretchen's Mom over 13 years ago
And just what, Grandparents, did John and Elly’s neighbors ever do to you that you’re punishing them this way?!
James Lindley Premium Member over 13 years ago
Grandpa bought us boys toy drums one Christmas but told us we had to wait till we went home to play them. Yes, I passed the tradition on to my grandkids. Bwahahahaha.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 13 years ago
Maybe in Vancouver.