Very Important NCEPR Polls Inside (sorta @)

[pescalita]

I need to crowd source a couple party things. TIA

1) You're a guest, going to use the Master Bathroom (I realize this is odd in itself, but it's right inside the slider. There's no direct access from the living portion of the house to the patio). On a bedside table, in open shelving, are stacked washcloths. What would you think these are for? Would it strike you as inappropriate in the presence of guests?

2) On the back of the invitation, we put a "in lieu of gifts, please consider a donation to". I realize y'all hate this, but I don't and it's done. We did the same thing for A's 1st birthday and *maybe* 2 guests of 40 came w/o a gift. Since it was December, we put them under the tree and waited until the crowd had thinned considerably to open. So this time, we wanted to follow precedent with the message, but we are better prepared to accept gifts. Question - where do we put them? I'm thinking most people will come in the side gate and hang out on the patio. We could put them inside on the tile bar or dining room table, but they're pretty prominent if you come inside. Options are pretty much: a) in full view or b) deliberately hidden. Secondly, do we open in front of everyone?

[pixy0stix]

1) Jerk-off rags

2) If you accept gifts, you put them in full view so people can drop them off on their own.

[UMaineTeach]

I would guess that you don't have a linen closet

have a place to the side, but not hidden, to put gifts, normally I am on team open with guests, but you have set up a problem with the no gifts request.

[sparrowsong]

1. Post-coital wipe rags should be in a drawer with the toys.

2. Out in the open, and open in front of people. I'm someone who might ignore a request for donations instead. I actually LOVE giving gifts, and usually put thought into them and often hand-make them (for baby/kids anyway). Part of the joy is seeing someone open the gift and respond to it, so I would be sad if the receiver didn't seem to care and opened it later after I left.

[Deleted]

1. Not inappropriate. I probably wouldn't have any thoughts.

2. I'd put gifts out in the open so you wouldn't have to field questions about where to drop off gifts. I don't think you have to open in front of everyone. 

[FloFTW]

1) Sex rags

2) In full view and open if the kid wants to.

[irishbride2]

1) i cannot even imagine how someone would view this as weird or inappropriate. I would assume they are wash clothes...for washing....

[downtoearth]

1) Last minute they forgot to put away a stack of clean washcloths.
2) Eh, plain view is fine. I wouldn't be offended if I didn't bring a gift and it would be easier for a guest who did bring a gift.

[josieposy]

I probably wouldn't even notice the washcloths.

[NewOrleans]

I can't stop laughing at #1 to answer #2. Sorry!

[ringstrue]

1) A house with 2 young kids = nothing has a 100% appropriate place. Could be anything especially if you co-sleep. Wouldn't phase me, but you know how I give benefit of the doubt around here.

2) I know you have a similar smaller house situation to me, so don't laugh, but could you carve out an empty corner that is off to the side? Or even just the far side of the bed or couch? That way the pile is easily found or directed to, but its more evident that they aren't "on display"? I guess I would vote for "Hidden yet easy found."

'round here it doesn't seem normal to open in front of others. DD was REALLY INTO watching her friends open the gift we gave them when she was 2 and 3 so we had to ask them to open it before we left, lol, but the parties are so short and crazy and the kids get bored of watching gifts being opened anyway.

BUT if its more adults that are coming, especially family, they usually wanna see the kid open the gifts.

[Deleted]

#1--if it were on the night table, I would assume laundry hadn't been put away. In the night table just seems weird. Normally I think people would clean up in the bathroom after sex.

[origami]

1. I would assume they were the sex towels. I would also assume whoever cleaned the area forgot to hide them. I wouldn't think it was inappropriate, just funny. But if my parents were there and saw a sex towel, or similar I would die.

2. In full view but play it by ear as to whether you open them in front of people or not. If the kid(s) want to, then sure. If not then I'd maybe try to open it in front of the giver, but not make a big "let's open the gifts now!" type of thing.

[pescalita]

For the record, the washcloths are also for washing (I didn't mention to avoid bias), but I'm lol at the consensus! I will find room for them in the drawer to avoid making grandmothers blush.

[lys]

I would try to make a place for wash cloths IN the master bath - put up a small shelf in a corner??

[AJL]

1) I wouldn't even notice the wash cloths.
2) In full view.

[ECB]

1) if I even noticed the wash clothes, I'd assume you forgot to put them away.

2) I'd try to make the gifts not too obvious, and no, I wouldn't open them. If you say "no gifts" but then make a point to open gifts, it sends a conflicting message. And I think it makes the non-gift givers (who did what you asked!) feel even more awkward that they didn't bring something.

[LoveTrains]

#1. Definitely for cleaning up after sex.