Does it look bad if a parent no longer gives birthday gifts to their adult children?

Poll - Total Votes: 6

parents should give gifts to their grown children as long as they live

parents should not feel obliged to continue buying gifts for their adult children.

I have no clue. Every family is different.

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No gifts, but they do celebrate with a special meal, a cake, a visit, etc. Child is now thirty. If it looks bad, at what age should the adult children should stop asking or expecting bd and christmas gifts from their parents? Speaking for myself, my parents stopped giving me gifts when I moved out of the house. I never thought they were bad parents or anything. To me, it sounded absolutely normal at my age. What are your feeling about gift giving/receiving?

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SW-User Best Comment

I'm pretty biased in this thing, as I specifically asked to stop receiving gifts when I was... I think 16? Maybe 18. I was never one to really celebrate holidays or birthdays, especially my own. Receiving gifts makes me feel guilty and obligated to give something back, so I'd rather not get anything at all.
Plus, such things should go to the actual kids. My interests are so narrow that I'd rather get some cash to get what I want or need, rather than try to explain things to others who would never get it.

uniqueness1 · F

@SW-User best answer ever. Very much my philosophy!

SW-User

@uniqueness1 Thank you, though I doubt I deserve such an honor, lol.

uniqueness1 · F

except for the "I have asked to stop receiving gifts" part. They just stopped after I became an adult, and I didn't mind. I did get a gift for my wedding, my university graduation and other big events of my life, yes, but the annual bd or christmas? No, and I don't see the point. After a certain age, comes the "ok, now I have to reciprocate" and to me it becomes redundant and 'too expected'. I rather surprise someone with an unexpected gift (ex when I travel I like to buy little souvenirs for my friends) than during times of the year when gift-giving is common and expected.

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SW-User

@uniqueness1 This. Very much this. I didn't get any gifts for graduation or anything like that because I didn't want anything for it. My mother tried her hardest until she passed away, but her final gift she gave me is one that I now proudly keep in the best condition possible.

uniqueness1 · F

@SW-User I'm sorry you lost your mom. I lost my dad at 23. I love gifts that I can keep as memories forever, as opposed to something that ends up in file 13 eventually.