I'm in the process of buying gifts for my relatives. I have a male cousin who is in the process of getting a divorce. They haven't lived together for nearly a year and are technically "separated" but have not begun the divorce proceedings yet. They have a daughter. I'm getting something for him and my little couisn. Should I give my soon to be ex cousin a gift? I don't want to spend the $$ for a someone who won't be part of the family for much longer. I wasn't particularly enamored w/ her to begin with. My parents think I have to send her a gift. I can't get something for them as a couple, they don't live together and only interact when they are doing something for their child.
Also, I have two questions for Moms: (1) What do 8 year old girls like? I hear that Barbie is "out" and Bratz are "in", but they already have a zillion Bratz dolls.
(2) I have two little girl cousins who are the same age (8) and see each other often. They have very different personalities. One is shy, sensitive and very "girly" and one is outgoing, talkative, and active. They like different colors. My mom thinks I need to get them the same thing for Christmas, because otherwise they will instantly like what the other one got better and be upset/jealous. I think it's hard to get two very different girls the same thing and have them like it. What do you think?
Re: the soon to be ex-cousin, I don't think you have to send her a gift. If you're not going to see her, then I really wouldn't worry about it. You can always wait and see if she gets you something though.
Bastet, I feel for you! It would be nice just to go get gifts and be done with it, no?
I don't think you have to get the soon-to-be-ex cousin a gift. Maybe send a card, if you want. But if you will have no contact with her and aren't going to be friends, then I wouldn't necessarily do even that.
For the two little ones, I'd go straight to the source - their mom. I understand what your mom is saying, but you'd think their mom will have a feel for what each one would really like, or whether you should get them the same thing or not.
HTH
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"Good taste shouldn't have to cost anything extra." - Mickey Drexler
1. As for the ex-cousin, I agree with NCshopper. Once a couple is separated, I think the "in-law" status becomes pretty dubious, and they've been apart for a while, so you should be safe.
2. Eight-year old girls... hmmm... I don't know any eight year olds, but I think a "kit" is often a safe bet. (You could get them each a different one according to her interests, and then they could share them when they play together.) Take a look at these (sorry for the big pics):
I dunno if they like Harry Potter, but I'm told kids love these . . .
OR you could get them each a movie:
etc....
Looking back, when I was younger, my grandmother always gave me and my cousin (who was 4 years older) essentially the same thing (maybe in different colors). This did keep the bickering to a minimum, as inevitably there will be comparisons done between the girls. You can still stick to the same "genre" of gift, though, and still give something each one is interested in.