Gift Giving - Who Is It For?

Parent Cafe
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<p>Here is one book about the Magic Hockey Stick, which is based on a true story.</p>

<p>[Amazon.com:</a> The Magic Hockey Stick (9780803724761): Peter Maloney, Felicia Zekauskas: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Hockey-Stick-Peter-Maloney/dp/0803724764]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Hockey-Stick-Peter-Maloney/dp/0803724764)</p>

<p>Another story is “The Giving Tree,” where the tree keeps giving of itself for the young person, who keeps taking. Eventually the person receiving the gift learns more about love.
[Amazon.com:</a> The Giving Tree 40th Anniversary Edition Book with CD (9780060586751): Shel Silverstein: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Giving-Tree-40th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0060586753/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334941269&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Giving-Tree-40th-Anniversary-Edition/dp/0060586753/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334941269&sr=1-1)</p>

<p>Personally, I’m very happy with gifts of experiences and gifts chose with love. I prefer folks not to spend a lot of money on gifts. I try to buy gifts from Costco so if the receiver wants cash, they can take it back there & get a refund (will provide receipt upon request as well).</p>

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<p>The Giving Tree has to be my least favorite children’s book ever.</p>

<p>Anyhoo, one of the great unexpected blessings of having daughters is that they are good gift givers and are extremely skilled at finding out ahead of time what I would like and still having it be a surprise.</p>

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Ditto</p>

<p>“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry is a good account of how even the most thoughtful gift can go awry.</p>

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<p>Add me to the list of those not fond of that book.</p>

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<p>I’m going to write a sequel to “The Giving Tree” called “The Doormat.”</p>

<p>Apologies to those who like it–I guess there must be plenty of people who do if Amazon is selling a special 40th-anniversary edition.</p>

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<p>My favorite is “Mama Do you Love Me”</p>

<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Mama, Do You Love Me? (9780811821315): Barbara M. Joosse, Barbara Lavallee: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Mama-Do-You-Love-Me/dp/0811821315#_]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Mama-Do-You-Love-Me/dp/0811821315#_)</p>

<p>My kids can all still recite it.</p>

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<p>I also was never fond of the Giving Tree, but it is so often cited as a classic. Shows no reciprocity, and yes, is really a doormat. </p>

<p>I believe I have read “Mama, Do You Love Me,” and enjoyed it as well.</p>

<p>I like, “I Wish You Enough.” It’s just a short story of people saying goodbye, poignantly. </p>

<p>I also have heard about “Departures,” a movie that I have heard was very well done, <a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departures_(film[/url])”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Departures_(film)&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>To a certain extent, sure. If I know someone who’s favorite thing is yellow with big green polka dots or they just love T shirts with tacky sayings, I’m under no obligation to give those particular gifts if they don’t reflect my taste or values. I can try to come up with something else that the person will like and enjoy - the hope is that someone’s interests aren’t that narrow or limited. This is especially true with children, because their tastes and interests change, and can be influenced by exposure to different things.</p>

<p>No evidence here that the grandmother here knew ahead of time that the kids hated a specific thing and she went out and got it anyway. Just that she wouldn’t go by their gift list. </p>

<p>Kids grow up quickly and this is temporary in the scheme of things.</p>

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<p>Gift giving? Who is it for? I guess that depends on who YOU are. I believe that gifts should be something that the recipient will like and will be useful to them, while also being something <em>I</em> would like to give them. </p>

<p>I have no feelings about surprises…or not. In this family, there is usually a “10 most wanted” list on the fridge for each family member…sort of a “wish list”. More often than not, the gifts we give come from this list.</p>

<p>When I’m really in doubt…I give something CONSUMABLE that the person doesn’t them have to regift or store…restaurant gift cards, box of chocolates, bottle of wine…something like that. When I knew my kids needed clothes but didn’t really want to pick them out…I got them gift cards to the MALL.</p>

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<p>But the gift isn’t for you, it’s for them. If they have a unique taste, why not give them something that they like?</p>

<p>That’s the problem. Would would you bother coming up something if you already know what the person likes? That doesn’t make any sense.</p>

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<p>What are your interests? Whould you be happy if you don’t like like sports and you got a pack of baseball cards for your birthday? I don’t think so.</p>

<p>I remember my aunt many years back got me a Star Wars game because she thought everybody liked Star Wars. Are my interests narrow or limited just because I don’t like Star Wars?</p>

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<p>Bingo. What’s the point if you don’t buy a gift that you know the recipient will like and will be useful to them?</p>

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<p>My very good friend collected frogs. I collect pigs. She never gave me FROGS…and I never gave her PIGS. It was fun looking for unique things to add to HER collection (even though I would NEVER have a little ceramic FROG in my house). If I had given her a ceramic PIG…she would probably have handed it back to me.</p>

<p>Thank goodness my best friend and I have the same favorite color!!</p>

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<p>This is what gift giving is all about.</p>

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<p>Some problems are easier to solve than others. ;)</p>

<p>[Wedding</a> of the Century Kermit and Piggy Action Figure Set - Muppet Wiki](<a href=“http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Wedding_of_the_Century_Kermit_and_Piggy_Action_Figure_Set]Wedding”>Wedding of the Century Kermit and Piggy Action Figure Set | Muppet Wiki | Fandom)</p>