My stepmother took to remarking, if my son should happen to admire a rose, “Oh, yes…he’s the one who’s fascinated with little things.” She also started buying his birthday and Christmas gifts at church rummage sales, where she would pick up gems like half-assembled model airplanes with parts missing.

All the ill will was for naught, too: take a plastic pistol away from a little boy and he’ll fashion his arsenal out of toilet rolls, broom handles, and his pointy little fingers. I think it’s in the genes!

@ Kristy – We’ve tried the list thing to no avail. I WISH a 529 plan would be an option , but I have my doubts. But I better set one up in order to fully test this theory.

@ celticbuffy – I thought you’d like this one (we share the same mother-in-law).

@ Val – I remember those embroidered denim jackets

@ Four Pillars – Don’t worry, we try to get rid of as much of it as we can.

@ Bloginsane – I WISH they were small trinkets or toys, you wouldn’t here a peep if that was the case.

@ Kate – We’re tried the replacement thing ourselves…but somehow they smell a rat and got everything but what we requested.

@ Karla – My MIL sounds like your MIL except mine must be on MIL steroids! Not only does she get everything on a list, she makes up her own and gets everything on that. Then she finds a random list and gets that stuff too!!!

And while I’m making fun of my MIL, I better come clean and admit that my Mom is not much better.

@ Slinky – Wow $100! i wish I was your nephew

They respected our wishes and instead of having a bunch of garbage they have decided to help pay for activities like violin and dance lessons which allows us to add to the college fund.

Worked well with my folks, not so good with W’s (my MIL would buy ALL of the ones on the list. LOL)

I hereby promise (as a grandma to be), I will listen to what my son and his wife tell me and only spoil the kids a LITTLE – lots of love and hugs and cookies, and not so much STUFF.

I hate to admit to being so wasteful, but I take advantage of their generosity to replace games that have lost half their pieces. Other than that, I often request art supplies (which will always be used).

Good luck. It will get better as the children start having more of their own ideas.