Big-Little Gifting

carnation · #1 10-05-2012, 09:04 AM

I'd like to know how people deal with this too. One of my daughters had a big who came from a wealthy family and Big Sis gave her hundreds of dollars worth of presents over the first year. Other girls in the sorority commented to us that it was hurting the other girls because some could barely afford to buy a couple of sets of letters for their littles. The big sister is a fabulous person (we still see her) but apparently never had someone to get things for before and went all out.

Another daughter refused to take a little because she said she'd be expected to provide about $200 worth of presents--I think that the chapter had them pay up front and then all the littles got the same gifts. I can see where it would provide equality but that was too much money.

How can it be controlled?

dukemama · #2 10-05-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnation

Another daughter refused to take a little because she said she'd be expected to provide about $200 worth of presents

Wow, that's a lot of $$ to expect college students to fork over for gifts for their littles. I'm sure there are some parents who will gladly help foot the bill but I'd hardly think that's the majority. Ouch!

AOII Angel · #3 10-05-2012, 09:25 AM

I think the best idea is to make a list of items that can be given and let the Big Sis get them any way she can. Having the chapter provide them means that she has to come up with cash, which may limit participation. If she can just provide certain items, then she can recycle (I did that with my third Little), buy items at the Dollar Store, craft, etc to reasonably make gifts for her Little. It doesn't HAVE to cost an arm and a leg. If some one wants to give more, it should be done very privately. We had specific days during Big/Lil week with specific things we could give. It worked out well...of course this was back in the days when we went crazy. It could be pared down more and enforced more rigorously. Remove any items not on the list. The only shirt we could give was for reveal so families would all match. (Disclosure: I spent hundreds of dollars on each of my littles and was THAT Big Sis.)