(I’m on the phone with my father. He’s just recently gotten married for the fourth time, and has two new stepchildren. My mother married my stepfather when I was two and got three stepchildren. They’ve both had at least two to three children with each marriage as well, and my father still claims his stepson from his second marriage as his, as he and my former stepmother are still really good friends.)
Me: “I’m not going to be able to afford Christmas presents for everyone.”
Father: “So don’t get everyone presents. Just get your siblings something.”
Me: “Dad, the amount of siblings I have is the REASON I can’t afford to get everyone something.”
Father: “What? Look, I know I have a lot of kids. Just get them gift cards–”
Me: “Dad…”
Father: “But you should still get them presents–”
Me: “Dad.”
Father: “You’re the oldest and–”
Me: “DAD. Do you not remember how many brothers and sisters I have?!”
Father: “Six.”
Me: “Uh-huh. From you. I also have six from Mom, and [Stepbrother] from your second marriage. That’s thirteen brothers and sisters.”
Father: pause “Right. Maybe not gift-cards then…”
(In the end I baked most of them cookies and called it a day.)
From NOTALWAYSRIGHT:
Ghost Of Christmas Too Many Presents
(I’m on the phone with my father. He’s just recently gotten married for the fourth time, and has two new stepchildren. My mother married my stepfather when I was two and got three stepchildren. They’ve both had at least two to three children with each marriage as well, and my father still claims his stepson from his second marriage as his, as he and my former stepmother are still really good friends.)
Me: “I’m not going to be able to afford Christmas presents for everyone.”
Father: “So don’t get everyone presents. Just get your siblings something.”
Me: “Dad, the amount of siblings I have is the REASON I can’t afford to get everyone something.”
Father: “What? Look, I know I have a lot of kids. Just get them gift cards–”
Me: “Dad…”
Father: “But you should still get them presents–”
Me: “Dad.”
Father: “You’re the oldest and–”
Me: “DAD. Do you not remember how many brothers and sisters I have?!”
Father: “Six.”
Me: “Uh-huh. From you. I also have six from Mom, and [Stepbrother] from your second marriage. That’s thirteen brothers and sisters.”
Father: pause “Right. Maybe not gift-cards then…”
(In the end I baked most of them cookies and called it a day.)
(NOT my story.)