We've recently had some boundary issues with DH's family, but we've managed to draw a line in the sand and say this is the way it's going to be, it's our choice, done (thanks a lot to this forum for giving me the cahonies by the way!).
This next battle is just brewing, and I can see it coming, but I'm trying to head it off with polite suggestions so I don't come across as rude. DH's family are junk collecters - clutter all over their house, constantly picking up cheap nonsense that serves no purpose and letting it collect dust. That's their prerogative, and that's fine, but we try to keep a clutter free house, and generally just only buy things we need.
That being said, with the holidays coming and their first grandbaby (our son) about to turn one around that time, they've already warned us to expect several boxes full of gifts and toys. While I can appreciate that they love him and want to give him the world, becase i do too, we want to buy him (and I don't know how to say this without sounding like a snob, but...) NICE toys - not plastic battery powered noisy hunks of junk that break in no time.
We try to just keep wholesome learning toys, things that will last, and steer clear of anything made with plastic just because of the petroleum based products and chemicals that are used during their manufacture (yes, I know we can't avoid every carcinogen, but if it goes in the baby's mouth, it's a priority). Wooden cars, blocks, balls, just basic things that will hold up and won't be yard sale fodder in a couple years.
So how do I tell them this is what we're doing? We've already expressed these concerns before, citing the idea of planned obsolescence and that we want to teach him quality rather than quantity, and to learn to be happy without a giant pile of stuff. They just keep sending plastic knick knacks, and warning of the 'spoiling' that will happen this holiday season.
Is there a polite way to say, 'We want to focus on healthy, durable, educational toys at this time?' Honestly, if we get a giant pile of plastic nonsense, we're probably just going to return it or donate it all, but I hate to undermine them trying to do something nice for our son.
