Gifts

[Jannette]

Christmas morning, as we gathered around the tree, I literally sat there feeling dread and thinking the following:

"Christmas should be celebrated with the children, only, receiving gifts.  My sisters and I have discussed and agreed upon this yet someone always "breaks the rule".
"Why are we "grown-ups" spending money on each other like this, when they have children to raise, futures to think about, and possible medical emergencies, heaven forbid!". 
"What am I going to do with all the stuff coming my way"?
"Maybe I can return it and receive store credit?  That way I can use it for a gift in the future for that person"?
"Come June, I'm going to tell them all that I'll be going on a camping adventure and won't be in town for Christmas." (Something I've daydreamed about doing for years.)
"What am I thinking?! . . . shame on me"!!!  "There are people out there who would give their "left foot" to trade places with me"!  "You ungrateful thing, you!!!".

Well . . . they're beginning to listen to me . . . with sincerity and love.  My most treasured gift? A card with an original poem hand-written in it from my niece.

Being listened to, with thoughtfulness and love is the best thing we can do for each other all year round, isn't it?  Maybe I won't go on that camping trip next year.

 

[ArtW]

I boycotted the family Christmas get together for years, because of a similar reason
I was too broke to buy gifts for others, and told them 'no gifts for me' but they never listened
I guess making themselves feel good was more important to them than recognizing that being gifted when i couldn't reciprocate made me feel bad
Nowadays they've gotten the idea, thank goodness

 

[Queen]

Thankfully my tiny bit of family doesn't gift for anyone but the kid and grandkid now. We stood there one xmas about 15 years ago and swapped Harley shop gift cards around, then looked at each other and agreed it had gotten kind of dumb, so we stopped.

My mom loved the holiday and buying gifts so much that she wouldn't stop, she's gone now so we just do a meal for family and friends if there are enough of us in town to bother.

 

[Ella1]

I received several "most treasured gifts": a phone call from my daughter, a framed painting by her four year old daughter, using paint and paper I sent her last Christmas. The thoughts that went with it all. And I got to talk with my grand daughter for the first time. I am grateful.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

Other than my Mom, I have successfully stopped the giving and receiving of gifts with friends and family.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I pretty much agree with everything said above.  But something like a small gift of HOMEMADE cookies, fudge or jam, can be a nice thing to give or receive on special occasions - to include birthdays and anniversaries as well as Christmas.  Just a little something that says "You're important to me.  I was thinking of you."

 

[Queen]

Agreed.  My SIL made me a small fleece lap quilt, not so much as a xmas present, but a thank you for taking care of her sister when she had surgery and SIL couldn't be here.  It's beautiful and warm, it makes me smile because she made it.  A fleece throw from the store wouldn't mean near as much.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

^ I can relate to this. My grandparents, my Dad's parents fostered a girl when she was in her early teens until she was old enough to go out into the world on her own. She stayed friendly with the family until this day. I think of her as my dad's sister and an aunt. My dad has passed as has the rest of his immediate family, his parents, brother and sister all left this world before their time. She made me a quilt after my dad passed and it's one of my most prized possessions.

 

[Gunny]

My best gifts were the calls from my kids and at 3 pm watching my Granddaughter bolt from her Mothers car like she had been shot and give me a bear hug. Maybe it's just my senior years but I could not stop crying for awhile. Getting weak in my old age. Later that night got a call from my best friend ( he was my Platoon Sgt. in Vietnam) and he is well.

All great gifts to me.

Rob

 

[VanGrrl57]

My three children's presence is the only gift I needed...


VanGrrl57 

 

[Theadyn]

We do a dinner get together and then do a dirty santa gift thing... Bring a gift (not over$20) if you want in, don't bring one if you don't. It's fun with all the stealing of someone's presents during the game, and no one feels like they have to buy something for each one of the group. One $10 gift that my mom won and loved, worked for me.

 

[GotSmart]

My daughter had to go to work Christmas and on the way home stopped at a gas market to get milk.  (It is always one basic you forget)  She had left her ATM card at home.  Some stranger just paid for it.  Merry Christmas.

A renewed faith in the American individual.   

Just made our whole week.  

All that for $4.00.  What a bargain.

 

[DuneElliot]

My family has always done lists so we know what everyone actually wants, if anything. They are all in England and I am here so sharing gifts is a little more important than it might be for other people since it is all we have that we can share.

This year's Christmas list included extra shelves for my freezer, new LED bulbs, new compartment locks and cash, and they all got things they wanted: books, kitchen stuff, chocolate etc. Skyping with everyone was the best part of course.