My son and his wife live out of state. I send cash birthday and Christmas gifts to both of them including my step-granddaughter. I am single who lives on social security. It hurts me that I get nothing not even a card from them. My son does call on holidays but I never hear anything from my daughter-in-law. The worse part of this situation is my granddaughter who lives with me doesn't recieve gifts from her dad and step-mother either. She is 17 and a wonderful girl, never in trouble and makes good grades. There are no issues in the family that may cause this. My granddaughter lives with me due to her choice of college. Should I stop sending gifts that I really can't afford or just ignore the situation?
Stop sending gifts you can't afford. It sounds like they are trying to give you a hint. You sound like a nice lady.
Hi Jan,
I'm very sorry to hear this. Personally, I would stop with the gifts to them and send a card only.
Whoa. First of all, if you can't afford the gifts--stop sending them!
As for a gift/card in return--I'm sure that's not why you give in the first place.
Your DIL sounds like a real dud.
Actually, I'm sorry, so does your son--who does not send something to his own child on her birthday? OR to his own mother?
Sounds to me like you're already "giving" him enough by taking care of your 17 yo grand daughter who lives with you.
In a word--yes--stop sending anything to them except one Christmas card to the entire household. The cost? One stamp.
Jan:
Welcome to mamapedia.
Do what my parents did to the grandkids! Stop sending. My parents gave the grandkids warning - they said - we know you have a busy life - but we take the time to pick cards out as well as presents - we are not expecting ANYTHING in return but a THANK YOU - call or write - if we don't get either - you get NOTHING.
Couple of the grandkids didn't believe it. So when birthday's went by and my parents only called to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY - they wondered where their money went...they asked..yep ballsy - they asked and my parents told them again - this is what we expect. They started becoming active my parents life - and found it wasn't soo bad - trips in a motor home - free food, travel, etc....so they learned the art of THANK YOU...
However, your son doesn't even bother to purchase anything or make anything for you - I would tell him how I feel. Tell him you expect SOMETHING - hand made - a card - SOMETHING to acknowledge you or you will stop sending/giving.
I know that some people say that the pleasure is in giving. But when it comes to our children - we would expect something - even a token SOMETHING.
GOOD LUCK!
Sorry to hear about your situation - you sound like you're a very sweet mother / mother-in-law / grandmother. I think you should stop sending, them all gifts immediately, especially since it's not really in your budget, but I think you should still send birthday cards and don't forget a nice Happy Birthday phone call too.
maybe they cant afford it? I never sent anything to my mom either although she sent me things. She could afford to, I could not. I always called though.
Stop sending gifts, they are adults. I do not send my parents anything but once in a blue moon or if something really spoke to me. I have a WONDERFUL relationship with my parents, I can not affoard to send gifts and I have always thought cards are annoying and a waste of resources - they know this.
My mother doesn't send me mothers day gifts or calls. Says since I'm not her mother she shouldn't need to. My ex never gave me a Mother's day card or gift...said I wasn't his mother.
On the other hand, I do send her, my MIL and Sister all Mother's Day cards, etc. I also do NOT send my mother a card on her Birthday, I send her flowers. Every year.
I would say, mention it. But in doing so kinda defeats the purpose of him just being a decent son and doing it on his own. I'd COMPLETELY disregard the DIL cause well, she is the DIL. I would ask if the granddaughter does anything for you? Tells you? Gets you a card, etc?
As a way to broach the subject with them tho (if you're headed that direction) I'd mention the gifts to his DAUGHTER or lack thereof and then lead into something like..."Hell, you don't even get me anything for my birthday either..." or something similar. (you can leave out the Hell if you want)
I'm sorry that he doesn't acknowledge you on those special days. Maybe it's time to forget them on those days. And when they ask...tell them that you gave it to the granddaughter instead...
Sending good thoughts your way.
Gifts aren't or at least they shouldn't be given with anticipation of getting something in return. It is nice to exchange gifts but just because someone gives a gift does automatically mean that the recipient has to in turn give a gift. It is very nice and thoughtful of you to send gifts but you can't afford it so STOP doing it. If you still want to let them know you are thinking of them, call them or send a card. As for your granddaughter, maybe you can remind your son to at least acknowledge her birthday...it's not unreasonable.
Is it possible that your son, his wife, and her child do not celebrate birthdays and holidays? Even if he did before, they may not be now. I have a good friend who was raised celebrating all of these but he married a girl that was Jehovah Witness and they did not. When they had kids, they did not raise them to celebrate holidays and birthdays. If I purchased a gift, they accepted but I knew we weren't exchanging gifts. They would sometimes attend my son's birthday parties but usually did not as to not confuse their children. They did attend some of the family events but it was not easy.
I am also sorry for your situation.
I agree to just send the cards.
You didn't say, but does he contact his daughter at all or pay child support? I especially feel for her!
You sound like a wonderful mom and grandparent.
If you were my mom, I would want you to talk to me directly about this. I might be all tied up in my own life and not even realize that I were hurting my mothers feelings, unless she told me. If you dont feel comfortable saying anything on your own behalf, at least ask why he doesn't think to send anything to his daughter. He may not realize he's being such an ass. Men can be rather thick headed and oblivious. The dil will take her cue from him.
I'd tell my son that he's a moron and needs to send his child bday and xmas gifts and at LEAST send his mother a card.
Don't expect anything more (in all aspects) from your Daughter in Law. If she's not giving it now, she never will.
Send cards only from now on. Buy yourself a gift instead!
What a good grandma you are!!
My son may not send me something for all my birthdays or Christmas', but he always calls me several times around and on the special date and when he does send or bring me a gift he goes all out and more than "makes up" for it. I also don't give with the expectation of receiving, but for your granddaughter who lives with you I would be upset.
Stop sending cash gifts to the adults, (spend it on or give it to your granddaughter to spend if you have it extra) and ask them if they celebrate birthdays and Christmas (as Lynn suggested they might not.) If they do still send a small cash or gift card gift to your step-granddaughter, and if they don't just stop that as well.
And never give if you truly can't afford to, God knows your situation and your heart.
My mother lives on basically her Social Security so she doesn't have much. She does not give us gifts and we don't expect it. She does send us cards.
M
I would stop sending them. It is apparently a family culture for them that gifts aren't exchanged, so I would spend money, especially since you are on a limited income. Really, I wish my grandparents would stop sending gifts too our kids, they can't afford it either. The adults in my family don't usually do gifts for each other. Spend the money on your granddaughter. When he calls, is he thankful for the gifts? That would mean something to me, if it is a gratitude thing or not.
I don't send cards, but I call my mom and will send her a little gift if I can afford it that year, or try and make it a trip to go visit her.
I would talk to your son. I wonder if he thinks the wife is doing these things and she's not. If that is not the case, I would let him know that not sending anything to his daughter is unacceptable. I would be okay with it being just me, but I would be very upset that he isn't sending anything to his daughter.
1) i never alter my gift or card behaviour based on others behaviour.
2) i would never give gifts i couldnt afford.
So yes, stop sending gifts you cant afford.
Jan, I think you should tell them how you feel instead of just stopping the gifts. Hurting them won't stop your hurt. Try having a gentle, open dialogue with them and tell them that you feel ignored (or whatever you feel).
Don't stop sending them gifts. Make them smaller if you can't afford them, or let them know that you can't afford gifts so you will be unable to send them any longer.
It's very difficult for me to send gifts through the mail. I have so much on my plate that it's not even on my radar. It doesn't mean that I don't care, it just means that I am barely staying afloat with all the major things that I have to do. There might be several reasons that they don't send gifts and I encourage you to ask why instead of assuming that they don't care about you.
Peace!
I would tell them, before the next occasion, that you would like a card. I can see my SS doing this. He doesn't seem to remember anybody's events unless it is pointed out to him. He was shopping Christmas EVE, even though he got the lists of ideas weeks ahead and got them re-sent earlier in the week. I think that if they don't send gifts to your granddaughter, either, there's something not on their radar. I would start with, "Son, I've noticed that you don't send gifts or cards to me or GDD. I'm really surprised you and your wife don't acknowledge your daughter. Is there a reason you don't send cards or gifts?"
I would not send gifts I couldn't afford,but I would gift a child under 18 without much reciprocation, especially since she is the stepsib of the grandkid that lives with you.