"ted" wrote in message
om...
Is it appropriate to mention that you prefer/do not prefer certain
kinds of gifts in a birthday party? For example, is it okay to say in
the birthday invite something like "please bring only a small book as
a present"? In fact I would love to say "please donot bring anything
related to barbie" but I know that sounds off. Personally I detest
barbie dolls and I would be very disappointed if my kid(s) like barbie
stuff LOL. I'm not the pink and frilly kind and I don't want them to
be either.

This is somewhat related to the other thread about girls' clothes but
I didn't want to cannibalize that thread. I don't know why people just
assume that if it's a little girl's birthday, they must buy
barbie-stuff as a present. Not to mention this friend who's insisting
that she'll bake a big barbie cake for my DD's birthday! That's still
several months away though!

Thanks

My very close girlfriend & I have moved on to the next level with our
kids. She has 1 DD & I have 1 DS. They are both very spoiled by both
sides of the family. I have in the past given her a check for the
college fund for either Birthday (May) or Christmas exchange with
something small for a package to open. We have in the last year made
donations to the Children's Hospital in her & my DS's names.

They just all end up with so much "stuff" Barbie/Character of the month
from family, etc. I would put a little note on the invite that says " No
gifts- if you feel you must, please donate to *** in your child's honor"
Then you use the opportunity to teach them about giving back to kids
less fortunate and charity.

Mary