Extreme Gift Giving

While many parents are trying to cut back on materialism and environmental waste, some older relatives aren't getting the message, reports Julie Scelfo for The New York Times. One woman went to the extent of buying not one, but all 17 Disney princess dolls for a family friend's daughter. The mom then forced her child to return all but three of the dolls. Whether it's bad for the environment (waste), bad for a child's upbringing (does the term "spoiled brat" ring a bell?), inappropriate during a recession, or clutter-causing in the house, many parents are trying to change the gift-giving tradition, without being called Scrooges.