A mom in the United Kingdom sparked an online debate after sharing how she simplifies birthday-gift giving. “When we get invited to a kid’s party, I don’t buy the kid a present,” Sarah Clarke, 39, begins a now-viral Instagram video. Hear her out. To “save on the mental load,” Clark says she gives each child a gift certificate to a local cafe in the village where she lives. “I get the same thing every time, no matter how old they are, no matter if they’re a boy or a girl,” Clarke says.
“I suppose if gifts are your love language, you might think I don’t care about your child or the occasion. But I’m just trying to make things easier for everyone, not just myself.” “Most parents are already overwhelmed with plastic toys in the house,” she continues. “And if your child is into Lego, you’re likely going to get so many duplicates and end up needing to do returns.