Okay, for my daughter's Girl Scout troop (she's in a troop with 3rd and 4th graders) They had a secret Santa thing going. Gifts were exchanged yesterday. The rules were the gifts had to be made. A couple weeks ago we got the girl's name that we were to make a gift for. We took into consideration what she liked (the girls filled out cards answering certain questions... stuff they are into, favorite colors, etc...) This girl's favorite colors were pink and blue and she likes soccer and music. We made her a spin drum that was pink and blue and had soccer balls on it.
My daughter gets her gift... a plate decorated to put Santa's cookies on. Okay. Not on her "like" list, but, okay! Well, the plate says: Not for use of food. Food used on this vessel may be harmful. My daughter asks "Why would we want to harm Santa?" We can't use it. We just got it as a gift, but I wonder, should we just throw it out now? I'm not going to say anything AT ALL, but I can't help but be slightly bothered by this. UGGH. I had a bad day yesterday and it is leaking into today, and I know this isn't the biggest deal, but it's the holidays and... well, you all know....
Also, last year my daughter's secret Santa forgot to make her a gift. I'm not blaming the troop as a whole, though. We have by far the coolest, funnest girl scout troop I've ever heard of...
Should I throw it out? We can't use it. I just feel a little bad... but should I feel bad? They didn't even bother to look or care that the plate can't have food on it. LOL. I know this isn't a big deal at all. I'm just stressed from other things. Be easy on me!
Just put the food on the plate with some waxed paper or parchment paper underneath it or display it as a holiday decoration.
FWIW, I think it's kind of a ridiculous expectation that families would have time to help a child make a homemade gift this time of year. Perhaps it's time for a new tradition in the troop.
Well, I think it's to hang on the wall for decoration, I have a few 'plates' that are not for eating off of.
And anyway, you CAN use it, put Santa's cookies on a napkin on the plate, if you want to use it.
From working in a Catholic school for many years, I've gotten many Christmas COFFEE CUPS that say the same thing! They're just for decor. Ok by me, I like decorating for Christmas.
Shake it off, let it go. WAAAAY too much beauty and humor all around you this time of year to zero in on the disappointments.
:)
I did not read the other responses....I would still use plate to give Santa cookies, just place the cookies on a napkin on top of the plate. No harm done
Why don't you go to Michaels or target and get a plate stand (they're about $2.00) and display it as a Christmas decoration.
My neighbor puts cute plates like that up on her counter for each season. Very cute. That way your daughter can learn how to make lemonade from lemons!!
Let your daughter decide. If it's cute (even if you can't use it for food), you could buy a cheap plate holder and display it instead.
Keep in mind that the other child's mother probably has a lot going on too... stress, tired, etc. and that it probably wasn't intentional.
Put a napkin on it if you're going to put cookies for Santa on it. Or use it for decoration?
Get one of those little plate stands and use it for decoration. You could even put it on a table for decoration and put Santa's cookies in front of it. I wouldn't throw it out.
why can't it be used as a decoration? maybe as a place for your daughter to put her watch/ earrings / keys etc on her desk or dresser? Can it be hung up on her wall with one of those little 39cent picture hanger?
You may want to rethink the homemade gift giving thing if its not working out. or make the items in one of your meetings so that all the girls can participate. this is one of those things that would need a parents input. I know if my kid had come home saying I have to make "X" a christmas gift I would make her do it right then. But some parents are working so much they barely have time to do laundry. making an art and craft project for someone else is not high on the priority list.
Updated
why can't it be used as a decoration? maybe as a place for your daughter to put her watch/ earrings / keys etc on her desk or dresser? Can it be hung up on her wall with one of those little 39cent picture hanger?
You may want to rethink the homemade gift giving thing if its not working out. or make the items in one of your meetings so that all the girls can participate. this is one of those things that would need a parents input. I know if my kid had come home saying I have to make "X" a christmas gift I would make her do it right then. But some parents are working so much they barely have time to do laundry. making an art and craft project for someone else is not high on the priority list.
I hate those gift giving people with the idea-Oh! this will do--- instead actually thinking about a gift to give. (years of gifts from MIL) The lesson for your DD is the giving not receiving with this girl scout group. You have taught your DD to give something meaningful and related to the person. Good Job! This is more valuable than that plate.
Try having the Christmas party at the beginning of December next year. This week people are so stressed.
Save the plate for your dd and grows up. When she moves out she will have little X-mas decor and no kids wanting to put cookies on it.
Merry Christmas!
I'd leave that up to your daughter.
Perhaps you could put a piece of wax paper on top of it??? I'm not sure why a plate couldn't be used with food, how crazy?
Although, you put lots of thought into Christmas, (so do I) many don't.
Merry Christmas!
As for the plate this year. It could be that Mom just assumed that it could be used for food and not just decoration... i would give her the benefit of doubt.
I agree with putting some napkins, wrapping it in saran wrap, etc. and still use it.
I think next year the group should just do a fun craft project and not exchange gifts.
This sounds like the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. You're right, it isn't really a big thing in the long run - just right now. Go fix yourself a cup of tea!
It's a disappointment, yes, but this happens a lot - perhaps especially with secret santa-type gift exchanges.
Maybe you and your daughter could sit for a while and think about what *might* have happened at her gifter's (is that a word?) house. Maybe things have been awful there, and the plate was the best she (or her mama) could do, despite the guidelines. Maybe the girl's family just isn't big on the whole secret santa thing, and this was a burden. Maybe the girl forgot to let her parents know about the gift exchange until the last minute. (I'm surely not the only person in the world who did that as a child. Even when teachers or troop leaders would hand us notes to take home to our parents, I would forget to give the notes to my mother. At the last minute I would remember and say, "Oh, I need a present today..." or "Oh, I need three dozen cupcakes today..." It's a miracle that I lived to grow up.) You'll never know for sure, of course, but sometimes it can help put mistakes like this in a better perspective.
Lessons to be learned: Things don't always happen the way they ought to. That's the kind of planet we live on. It's good not to put too much store in what you MIGHT get from somebody. And it's good to try not to keep score - "look what I did for you, so you should have done the same for me." Your daughter's recipient received something she (hopefully) liked, and that means your daughter is learning how to think about someone else. That's worthwhile.
As for the plate, just put it somewhere out of sight and forget about it for a while! In 2012, when emotions are on a more even keel, give it to charity.
You can put saran wrap on the plate before you put the cookies on. Do not throw it away. It may turn out to be a treasured piece of her past some day. Maybe the girl didn't have a mom as cool as you to help. Besides, even if the plate was safe for food, 99% the paint they used to decorate it isn't. one wash it will all wash away! I think its just a gift for fun, not utility.
Sounds like the group isn't ready for the responsibility of Secret Santas. They need to create something else where all the kids will be included and not overlooked.
This is why I hate secret santa period. Does this make me a scrooge? lol Maybe next year you could suggest that the troop do some volunteer work in the spirit of giving. Or take up a collection of food for the food bank. Something like that.
Anyway, I get your frustration. I get some of the crappiest secret santa gifts ever each time it's done. I always end up with the santa mug with a broken handle, or cookies with dog hair on them. Always- like a moth to a flame. :)
Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year. It will be all over soon enough (thank goodness).
Plate goes in the Goodwill pile. Since some of the girls/moms seem to have some trouble with the handmade secret santa gifts, maybe next year you suggest they donate their time and/or money to a local charity instead.
I wonder if you could seal it with something from Hobby Lobby. I would look into it for sure. Plates in my house get used and no one looks to see if it's a plate that is safe or not.
Sounds like it is time for a new troop tradition!! I might use it to decorate but would feel bad for my daughter.
Well you can probably eat off of it. They put those warnings because they don't have control over the materials they are decorated with.
I hate secret santas for this reason. Most people care but the ones that don't mess it up for everyone else. After years of being the person who cares I just won't participate anymore.
I would keep it for this season and then just forget to pack it away for next Christmas.
NO, you should not throw it out! All you need to do is put a pretty paper doily on it, then arrange the cookies, just for Santa. The cookies won't be touching the plate, so there's no harm. Just tell Santa to look at the special cookie plate and store it away for his visit next year!
You can teach your daughter to appreciate whatever someone gives her, and that will be far more important than feeling insulted that someone didn't "think" about the gift. You don't know the "Secret Santa's" situation, so try not to judge. You said that you were stressed, so go a little easy on Secret Santa. Merry Christmas!
Regift it next year? lol
Just kidding- I'd toss it.
I don't know that I'd throw it out. I'm sure you can find a use for it.
Get a plate easel and set it on a shelf or mantel - for looks only. Or put candles, glass rocks, marbles, etc. on it and use it for decorative purposes. If you are really desperate, cover it in Saran Wrap, put a cookie on it for Santa then toss the cookie later (tell your daughter the wrap will protect Santa).
I would be very wary of a plate that says food cannot be eaten off it -- it may have lead in it/on it. It does not take a lot of lead to give a child lead poisoning -- even just touching the plate and putting her fingers in her mouth could be damaging. And adults could get lead poisoning too. I would get rid of the plate, just to be on the safe side. It's not worth risking your health for.
Why not get one of those plate holder things, and she can stand it up. You can still 'use' it. She could still have it for santa, or just as a memory from girl scouts, but actually put the cookies on a napkin. Wouldn't want to poison santa!
;)
Great opportunity to teach her (or remind her of) thankfulness!
Good luck!
Merry CHRISTmas,
KATIE
why can't you place cookies on it. i'd understand that it can't get wet and be eaten off of because it might release chemicals in it. but to just place cookies on shouldn't be a problem. find out where it was purchased or the name of it and look it up to be sure of why you can't put ood on it.
