Too many nieces and nephews!

[Ima saver]

I have a problem with that. When I was young and still had grandmothers and aunts, I always had to write a thank you note for any gift that I received. This started at age 5. I have never received a thank you from my daughter or granddaughters. (The girls some times e mail and say thank you, but that is all)

[PrincessPerky]

I made my kids do thank you notes for a long time, but the ILs kept telling me not to...

I still have them send a card homemade, and I insist on a verbal thank you but I don't always make them write out 20 thank yous..

[cicy33]

Originally Posted by boefixepa

What I don't is this. I offered my sister to fly my oldest neice (her DD 12 yrs old) out to me for the summer, at my expense! There is lots of family her and I had all likds of fun ideas of things we could do. When I offered the first words out of her mouth....

"Then I don't have a baby sitter for the boys."

Her two younger boys are 9 and 6.... see what I deal with! Rather than have her daughter enjoy a summer out doing things! All it was was excuse after excuse...she doesn't want her children to spend time with me...she just wants me to help buy things for them so she doesn't have to!

While I don't know if she is just doing it so that you can't spend time with them. Please keep in mind that a lot of families do count on the older children to help with daycare in the summer while they work. otherwise sometimes working isn't worth it. daycare for one child in this area for one week is somewhere around $70. for a baby it is over $100. If a parent is working to help support the household then that much out for daycare can wipe it out. and as long as the child is old enough then I don't have a problem with older children caring for younger.

[mom-from-missouri]

This is a good time to buy school associated items on sale--Right now Walmart has rulers for 10 cents, crayons for 10 an 15 cents, glue for 15 cents.....Add more cheap items, bits of yarn, pompoms, beads straws, put it in a tote bag or box and you have an art box--Kids love that! Hobby lobby also often has small items for a quarter or less to add to it. I buy my kids supplies for the next year after this years go on sale.
After Christmas is a good time to get toys on sale. Last year after Christmas I got some barbies (already wrapped and hidden for this year) for 99 cents (normally $4 to $5). I always get some extra toys for birthdays and such. If you keep your eye out during the year and look in unexpected places--garage sales, flea markets, out of business sales...you can stock up. Word of advice--if you have little ones at home--keep them in a locked suitcase or a locked closet so they don't get discovered.

[Ima saver]

I think in large families, you should just draw names.