Dear Diane,
My in-laws insist on giving my kids money instead of gifts. I think it’s offensive and have voiced my opinion in the past but they continue to do it. Is it rude?
N.
Dear N.,
It’s rare that someone is offended by the gift of money, especially in this tight economy. I understand why you might think the gesture would appear somewhat “cold” and not proper for holiday gift etiquette, but I encourage you to graciously thank your in-laws for their effort and make it a family affair, taking your children to buy something they would enjoy after the holiday rush. There are many reasons that they might think cash is a better gift – for example, they may want to be sure the kids get things they will really like and use. If you make too big a deal of it, the cash may stop coming in and so may your in-laws.
Happy Holidays!
Diane
