<p>I tried to introduce the idea of a fun gift swap to my family group (9 of us) this week.
I got absolutely no response. They listened to my spiel then started talking about something else as if I had spoken Chinese! </p>
<p>Ugh…I am determined not to go through these awkward gift exchange moments next year.
For years we have done the “one person at time” gift opening. It was fun when the kids were little but now it seems so weird, with everyone staring at you so you feel pressured to have the perfect “I love it” reaction all fired up and ready to go. It’s too “canned” and just weird.</p>
<p>I love the initials and under $5 gift idea. Maybe I could sell them on that one.</p>
<p>I agree. I HATE to open presents while everyone is watching me. I am really happy we don’t exchange any presents with H’s family. I am also really happy I told him from the beginning it was <em>his</em> job to figure out his mother’s gift. Unfortunately, I do still exchange with the ex-MIL and ex-SIL!</p>
<p>I do think the inital, <$5 gift sounds like fun, but I’m all in favor of keeping the gift list really pared down.</p>
<p>Okay, let me throw this one out there. I have a group of friends that get together every year after Christmas ( the get-together was deliberately moved to after the holiday due to the stress factor of trying to squeeze it in before Christmas). All of the participants are artists. All fun loving, good humored and creative. For years we did the traditional Yankee Swap and then we switched it up!<br>
For the past six years or so we do a “Tacky Grab”. Everyone spends ten dollars on the tackiest gift we can find. It is so much fun. Now mind you, it is not a joke gift grab but specifically, a TACKY grab. Every couple of years a gift will “reappear” and get passed on to a new owner. We have alot of fun. In fact, I was cleaning out my attic today and came across a few of my wonderful prizes. Wow. I think I will have to “regift” one of them again this year.</p>
<p>I am another one who hates having to open presents while an entire roomful of people is watching. H’s family does this and it will literally go on for hours. This is what they all enjoy about Christmas, but it doesn’t do much for me.</p>
<p>Enjoying this thread–ok, I admit to enjoying the travails of others on Christmas. :p</p>
<p>At a consignment shop the other day I saw large decorative brass mantel letters that spelled YO (I guess the J was missing and they were trying to show they were still useful). I was tempted to buy them and use to spell OY. :)</p>