Question for all and sundry about present giving

[lexin]

I've asked my colleagues and they've gone 'hmmmmm', so I turn to you as the founts of all knowledge and wisdom.

The reason behind this question is that I'm confused; my aunts and uncles never gave me presents so the question never arose with me. (This was due to a family contretemps involving my parents which I won't go into here but was labyrinthine.)

But it occurred to me that my nephews are 18 this year and should be each their own man soon. So do I carry on giving them presents at Christmas and birthdays or don't I? I don't know what the rules are here, or even if there are any. I have no intention, btw, of stopping without mentioning it to their parents.

Poll #12772 Presents for nephews

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 14

How old should my nephews be before I stop giving them birthday and Christmas presents?

18
1 (7.1%)

21
0 (0.0%)

working in paid employment
4 (28.6%)

something else I will explain in comments
7 (50.0%)

never stop giving them birthday and Christmas presents
2 (14.3%)

Comments

[gattagrigia]

Thank you for asking about this, the discussion has helped me clarify my feelings toward my nieces and nephew (29, 26, 23 years old respectively). We've drifted apart over the last years and I've not given prezzies for Christmas or birthdays for a couple of years now. I hear nothing from any of them, no communication, and it's not like they don't know where I live! So I'm going to quit beating myself up about it and acknowledge that they are self-supporting adults now.