Money Moral Dilemma: Should we buy gifts for my mate's kids?

ska_lover

oystercatcher wrote: »

I seem to be alone. I think it's a lovely idea to buy gifts for the children.

You are taking their Dad away from family life for a few hours so give the children something to make them happy. It needn't be expensive but it's just a nice thing to do . Maybe waste a little less money on booze and spend it on something more worthwhile like something for the children to keep and enjoy.

So the kids need compensating every time dad goes anywhere?

No presents, its weird

fairy_lights

oystercatcher wrote: »

I seem to be alone. I think it's a lovely idea to buy gifts for the children.

You are taking their Dad away from family life for a few hours so give the children something to make them happy. It needn't be expensive but it's just a nice thing to do . Maybe waste a little less money on booze and spend it on something more worthwhile like something for the children to keep and enjoy.

But...why?
Surely their dad goes out to work every day and has a social life so it's not like him having an evening out is going to cause them any hardship?

Pollycat

oystercatcher wrote: »

I seem to be alone. I think it's a lovely idea to buy gifts for the children.

You are taking their Dad away from family life for a few hours so give the children something to make them happy. It needn't be expensive but it's just a nice thing to do . Maybe waste a little less money on booze and spend it on something more worthwhile like something for the children to keep and enjoy.

You make it sound like the Dad is being taken out against his will. :rotfl:

If the dilemma is to be believed, the way I read it is that the night out has been arranged with the Dad in mind anyway as it's in his town.
The other people have to pay for a hotel.

I think the person who made the suggestion has more money than sense.

UKTigerlily

I have no idea why these kids need gifts? However, to those that say 'yes' . . you clearly have more money than sense so feel free to PM me for my wish list xd

Caroline_a

Don't children get enough presents these days?? And from strangers who probably would have no idea what they would like??

Ridiculous idea!

alittlemadam

A simple answer to this is No.


You are meeting up with a friend for drinks, in his home town.


I certainly don't expect my friends to buy present for my children when we meet up nor do I expect to buy my friends presents. If the person who suggested it wants to do it then let them that's there choice and i'm sure you aren't going to be held to ransom should you decline to follow in there footsteps

Malthusian

Dear MSE,

I've been asked to do something that I don't want to do and have no social, legal or moral obligation to. Should I do it?

borkid

oystercatcher wrote: »

I seem to be alone. I think it's a lovely idea to buy gifts for the children.

You are taking their Dad away from family life for a few hours so give the children something to make them happy. It needn't be expensive but it's just a nice thing to do . Maybe waste a little less money on booze and spend it on something more worthwhile like something for the children to keep and enjoy.

Really? I happen to believe that parents don't 'belong' to their children and children don't 'belong' to their parents. All people, adults and children should have some time to be themselves as an individual and not just someones dad/ brother/ child etc. If the children have a problem with dad being away for a couple of hours and need presents to make them happy then there is sadly something wrong with the family dynamics.

NButler

Well, to buck the trend here, I think that a small gift could be considered by your friend to be extremely thoughtful, and could serve as much to re-affirm the relationship with your friend, who you have not seen for a long time, as to put a smile on his children's faces. It would acknowledge the signification change that has taken place in his life (i. e. becoming a father) sInce you last saw him. (I'm guessing that their births, previous birthdays have been missed here.) and I think that being able to say to his children, 'Daddy met up with his old school friends and look what they brought for you!' is lovely. Of course it's not necessary and a token is all that is required (unless perhaps as a previous poster has suggested the friend is question is very poor and you can afford more). I'm actually very impressed with your friend who made the suggestion for being so thoughtful and far more 'well mannered' than I tend to achieve!

fairy_lights

NButler wrote: »

Well, to buck the trend here, I think that a small gift could be considered by your friend to be extremely thoughtful, and could serve as much to re-affirm the relationship with your friend, who you have not seen for a long time, as to put a smile on his children's faces. It would acknowledge the signification change that has taken place in his life (i. e. becoming a father) sInce you last saw him. (I'm guessing that their births, previous birthdays have been missed here.)

But by that logic, the whole group of friends who are meeting up will all need to buy gifts for each others children.
Surely the fact that they have decided to hold their reunion in the friends home-town so he doesn't need to travel is enough to reaffirm their friendship?