<p>We have a funny gift issue this year. Last year, my sister’s boyfriend spent $300 on a diamond pendant for her, and she broke up with him like three days later and gave it back-- it had been a long time coming, and my mom tried to tell him that the gift was inappropriate for their age hoping he wouldn’t do it but it didn’t work.</p>
<p>Fast-forward to this year, my sister has a new boyfriend and after some prodding he fessed up to my mom that he’d gotten her a diamond pendant. So now we are all hoping it won’t be the same one, because there is no way anyone-- especially my sister-- will be able to keep a straight face. My mom said it would be a bad omen, I said an opportunity for a do-over. I guess we should stop making jokes about it if we want to keep a straight face at Christmas.</p>
<p>My first husband bought me the Kate Bush single, Heathcliff. I asked him why he bought it for me as I had previously told him I hated it. He said he remembered me saying “something” about the single.</p>
<p>When we lived in Egypt, gold was very cheap. My (current) husband bought me some gold ear-rings that were in the form of - flies. I asked him if he would mind if I changed them for something different as I did not think I would wear flies on my ears, even if they were gold.</p>
<p>I had an ex bf, after about 5 years of dating, buy me little diamond earrings for Christmas. I don’t have my ears pierced. He was like “how was I supposed to know that?” Gee, I don’t know. Let’s just say we weren’t still together by the time the next Christmas came around.</p>
<p>My one friend got me an ant farm once. I wound up re-gifting it to the 8 year old neighbor boy.</p>
<p>Fendergirl,
If I had gottten diamond earrings from a b/f of 5 years, I’d probably have had ears pierced. My sister had her ears pierced at 13, but I was a chicken. My senior year, my mom said if I wanted nice earrings, I must get them pierced. She went with me, and we celebrated with lunch and bloody mary’s. She gave me little diamonds after birth of my son.</p>
<p>Inparent, was I seeing your ex? Mine thought he had such great taste. I still have sexy tops he bought me with tags on; I guess it is time to give those away. He also gave me clippings for Botox, “amazing face creams”, etc. The current s/o replaced my computer.</p>
<p>My father loves to read but is very hard to buy books for (weird - eclectic? - interests). He is a huge Lincoln buff, though. About 10 years ago (maybe longer?) a new Lincoln biography came out - well-reviewed, lots of awards, etc. Anyway, when he opened the book his immediate response was “Why do I need this? I already know all this stuff.”</p>
<p>Now he usually gets a gift card (too much drama otherwise) although I’m thinking about nutmeg now.</p>
<p>swimcatsmom – It’s too late now, of course, but in Ancient Egypt, the Golden Fly was given to soldiers who had shown outstanding valor on the battlefield…</p>
<p>A long time ago, when my now-husband and I were dating, I had mentioned in passing that carnations were my late grandmother’s favorite flower. Ever since then, on appropriate occasions, my husband has given me carnations…despite my gently saying from time to time since then (<em>not</em> of course when presented with them) that I really don’t care for carnations. Apparently 20 years of repeating ‘I don’t particularly like carnations’ cannot over-write the one instance where I said that someone <em>deceased</em> liked them. I can foresee another 20 years of receiving carnations on birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Fortunately, he’s a pretty great guy so I guess I can put up with them. ::sigh::</p>
<p>FIL/MIL have become almost impossible to buy for. If we get something expensive, they will return it. One year all the kids went together for a new flat-screen tv. Back it went. Last year we got a gps for the car. Back that went. We have no ideas yet for this year. We are gun shy.</p>
<p>I think all the men here should read this thread carefullly, especially any post with “ex” in it.</p>
<p>In our family, it’s my wife who is the problem gift-giver. She insists on giving “practical” gifts (like a new chair, or–the worst–a leather toiletry kit for my 50th birthday). I’ve had to resort to specifying what she should get.</p>
<p>On my part, I did once give her a handmade wooden bowl from a crafts fair–identical to one I’d bought her a year or two before from the same craftsman. Maybe megadoses of nutmeg might help my memory?</p>
<p>My husband is terrible with gifts - he’ll ask for something, we’ll get it for him, and it will stay shrink-wrapped in the closet forever. Rolex watch, digital camera, GPS system, the list is endless. I no longer get him gifts, it’s just a waste of time and money.</p>
<p>He did finally use the Rolex but it was so long after it was purchased I had to bring it back to the store to get a new battery and cleaning! Daughters took the digital camera, GPS is still in a closet somewhere.</p>
<p>My 20 year-old daughter got “feety” pajamas last year (per her request). My 80 year-old MIL said that she thought they were really cool. She loves bunnies so this year I got her bunny feety pajamas. I am hoping that this isn’t a horribly bad idea. I got her other things too so hopefully if it is she will forgive me.</p>
That’s interesting. I did wonder why on earth they even made earrings that looked like flies. But even if I had known, I would have never worn them. They were ugly. They looked like flies!!</p>
<p>My 20 year-old daughter got “feety” pajamas last year
The photo on my ipod is of my 20yr old & 3 of her friends in footed pjs.
I know it was her idea, as her best friend from high school, gave them to her for xmas one year & she loves them.</p>
<p>You all get gifts from husbands? I’m in awe - I get flowers (not necessarily the kind I like) and dinner out. I did get a silver bracelet for my 50th birthday - because my son suggested it to my husband. It’s very nice but cannot be put on one handed so I don’t wear it as often as I like. And my son got me Wii Fit Plus one year. That’s it - the only wrapped packages ever from the immediate family (granted we don’t celebrate Christmas so that’s not an issue). Now my mother does give great gifts.</p>
<p>We just had our silver anniversary - no gifts. Nada. Just the usual anniversary bouquet.</p>
<p>I periodically would give DH a Father’s Day gift - always appreciated and used. But it took many years for him to even get me a Mother’s Day card - because I’m “not his mother”. Arghh. Even now the card often comes from the cat, not him.</p>
<p>You all get gifts from husbands?
no- not really.
so I make do-
Even though I bug and bug him- he has a block about buying presents.
He doesn’t buy flowers- didn’t even buy flowers when I was in labor for three days with the youngest.
Still hasn’t taken me out to dinner for my BD, even though our neighbor is the manager of a * very nice* restaurant & says he will cover it.
( just looked up jewel/anniversaries- next year will be our pearl/diamond )
So… for my last birthday- I bought myself a guitar & lessons.
He’s paying for it!</p>
<p>DH is not a gift giver either. Told me this week not to expect any Christmas surprise.</p>
<p>Awkward gifts…Last yr. sis gave me black fur lined crocs. I don’t like crocs but even if I did these had to be the ugliest ones ever. It was really hard to act like I loved them.
She was just here yesterday and gave me…rubber rain boots…not sure why she thinks I need so many prs. of plastic shoes.</p>
<p>Last yr. my bro. gave me a black t-shirt with a skull head on it. Hmmm. </p>
<p>S1 is a weightlifter. A couple of yrs ago sis said she was getting him gloves for lifting.
It was hard not to laugh when S1 unwrapped boxing gloves. The look on his face was great.</p>
<p>Sis does not have kids but has always given gifts to mine and our brother’s kids. I always thought it was kind of unfair to her. I guess she did too because last Xmas she announced that she would not be buying gifts for grown-up kids unless they wanted to exchange a gift with her. </p>
<p>Knowing my college age sons had neither time, money or any idea what to buy for a 58 yr. old aunt they see once a yr., I wrote sis and suggested she just not buy for them. She happily agreed. </p>
<p>Then she comes for her annual visit last night. We all go out for dinner.
When the check arrives, she tells the waitress she’s paying. When we protested, she says to my DH and sons “well, since PackMom wouldn’t let us do gifts this years, this will be my gift to you”
I was flabbergasted. She had made it clear for several years that she felt she was getting a raw deal on the Christmas exchange and then makes it look like I’m the Scrooge in front of my family…ugh</p>
<p>Thank you all for the laughs!
One Christmas, a friend (we’ll call her Sandy) gave me a beautiful book filled with Christmas Craft ideas, etc. After she left I opened it to look inside and saw, written on the inside cover, “Merry Christmas, Sandy!” Obviously, she didn’t know that it was signed to her when she decided to re-gift it!</p>
<p>tx5athome,</p>
<p>What a great idea! But for an 80 year old, I hope there is a “Flap” in a strategic place for those quick bathroom trips! lol.</p>
<p>Also love the 80 year old footie pjs. Got both my daughters that this year and they love them.</p>
<p>Husband occasionally gets me gifts but more often than not I get me gifts from him. One year we were in St. Barts so I “got to choose” my present. This year in early November he wanted new tux stud/cufflinks (he was still wearing the custom made set I got him for our wedding) so younger daughter and I were in the neighborhood, met him at the jewelry store, and while he chose 2 watches in addition to his stud set, he said, “Your birthday’s coming up, why don’t you pick something out?” Don’t do that, if you want to get me a gift I don’t care if it costs 15 cents, just do it yourself. Just because it’s expensive it doesn’t mean anything if I pick it out because we happen to be someplace where I can. Oh well, old dog, new tricks!</p>
<p>Hubby is horrible about picking out personal gifts. He has bought several rings which are size 10! I think I may be a 5 or 6 but have NEVER been a 10! The jewelry is always gorgeous but the jeweler has to work to make it stay on my fingers! I have finally convinced him that it makes more sense for us to purchase things we love together and use our gift money on trips and nice meals. It works well for both of us!</p>
<p>He also has no idea what clothing size fits and tends to get things that could fit two or more of me at the same time. He has never complained about anything I buy, so I consider that the best gift! I sometimes buy him clothes, but am pretty good about knowing his size & the kids’ sizes.</p>
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