Gift giving

[wayfaringwordhack]

Sprout is invited to a birthday party tomorrow.  I told her it would be nice if she made the girl a card, and we would get her a gift.

Sprout's excited response is to give the girl something she has made, rather than buy something.  Which, of course, I totally love and agree with. The problem is that I'm not sure the receiver will be as pleased, used to, as she is, getting store-bought, "fancy" gifts.  I don't want Sprout to be hurt if there is a lack of appreciation, and I don't want the other girl to feel disappointed.

One solution would be to buy something to give in addition to what Sprout makes, but that invalidates, in my mind, what Sprout wants to do and teaches that only bought things have value.

Thoughts?

Comments

[cathemery.livejournal.com]

I suspect that explaining that thinking of what the recipient wants is not a bad thing.

And it may be nicer for Sprout to learn from you that for some people, handmade things have value and for other people, bought things have value. Not as a "we have to buy a present" but as a "here's something to think about" for the very reasons you are posting. Do you think Sprout is smart enough and ready to understand that there are two sides to every gift opportunity? :)

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

Joining the chorus of "Give what the receiver would like to receive."

The tricky bit, perhaps, will be helping Sprout understand that if the other girl prefers a store-bought gift, it isn't a judgment on Sprout's gift-making abilities, and that other people would prefer a handmade gift. There are different kinds of people, who like different kinds of things.

And indeed, that people's preferences change over time, and what they like now will be different later.