Ever get a gift that made you a teensy bit mad?

I agree with a PP that reading this thread makes me so thankful that we don't exchange gifts with anybody. Nobody buys for us or our kids and we don't buy for anybody else.

We only buy for our kids. But I don't have extended family in this state. My dad lives here but he is on a fixed income and doesn't buy gifts for anybody.

DH's family is not the gift giving type. I don't think DH's mom has bought him a gift since he was 14 or 15.
 
I got a book about poop from MIL. Yes, I'm serious. She thought it was hysterical and it was meant as a gag gift (I hope), but I was hurt because I put a lot of thought into our gift for her.
 
In the end folks, the season is for giving NOT receiving.

As I get older, I get more excited about what I am giving others than what I get from others.

In the new year, let's try to be more understanding of the clueless and more forgiving of the heartless. Life is not about "them" and what happens to you. Its about "you" and what you make of the situation.
 

In the end folks, the season is for giving NOT receiving.

As I get older, I get more excited about what I am giving others than what I get from others.

In the new year, let's try to be more understanding of the clueless and more forgiving of the heartless. Life is not about "them" and what happens to you. Its about "you" and what you make of the situation.

YES!!!!!

It took me so long to come to grips with this. I used to struggle with the gifts given to me and being ungreatful/keeping up with friends and fitting in with the new in-laws. :rolleyes1

Now, I have more fun finding gifts that will be used and odd. Thanks to Unlce Sam, family gets gifts from all over that they would never have gotten otherwise. I try to get the ones that they might/can/could/would use. But in the case of my SIL and her family, I think there is no hope:sad2: Kids have waaay too much. But I have come to terms with that also.;)

I have fun playing :santa:
 
In the end folks, the season is for giving NOT receiving.

As I get older, I get more excited about what I am giving others than what I get from others.

In the new year, let's try to be more understanding of the clueless and more forgiving of the heartless. Life is not about "them" and what happens to you. Its about "you" and what you make of the situation.

I think most of us realize this. The thread title is Ever get a gift that made you a teensy bit mad? and that's what we answered. Just because we have not loved 100% of the gifts we received throughout our lives does not mean we don't value giving over receiving. Nor do I remember anyone posting that they responded in a less than gracious manner to a gift they did not like.
 
I got a book about poop from MIL. Yes, I'm serious. She thought it was hysterical and it was meant as a gag gift (I hope), but I was hurt because I put a lot of thought into our gift for her.

When I was in my 20s and newly married, my bff from hs and I would get each other really small inexpensive gifts since neither of us really had any money. So...one year I found this beautiful glass pitcher for $4. I was thrilled. (I should have picked one up for myself.) I thought...wow! She'll be thrilled.

She got me a beefcake poster. Don't get me wrong...the guy on the poster was hot...but...I would have loved it about 6 or 8 years earlier.

Needless to say, we were both embarassed by the whole thing.
 
I haven't read through the whole thread, but I don't get gifts that make me mad, but more make me feel bad for who sent it. My family is spread across the US and all of them have gotten into the habit of sending us food from places like hickory farms, and other online places. For one thing, my husband and I are both trying to lose weight due to his recent health issues, so sending unhealthy food to us is like sending a bottle of vodka to an alcoholic. Second, the food is not only bad for you but is usually hard as a rock, perishable with who knows what kind of refrigeration, or just simply unappealing. I know they all pay a premium for this kind of food gift, but don't know how to tell them to stop sending them without hurting feelings. Every once in while we get a box of pears or something really good, but usually it is processed meats and cheese, or desserts.

Has anyone else found a way to say something so they don't waste their money? I have tried to lead by example by sending gift cards for healthy restaurants, or movie passes, but they still keep sending the same food...

Hi, Maybe right after Thanksgiving you can send out your Holiday 2013 cards with a Christmas letter (what you have been doing the past year) or better yet a picture of you and DH and tell everyone how this year you have chosen a healthy style of living. You could mention how fresh fruit and veggies are now your # 1 diet staple and that you have cut out all processed foods and sweets (may be a bit OVER the top) possibly they will take the hint and send a healthy food gift your way. :) Joan
 
Hi, Maybe right after Thanksgiving you can send out your Holiday 2013 cards with a Christmas letter (what you have been doing the past year) or better yet a picture of you and DH and tell everyone how this year you have chosen a healthy style of living. You could mention how fresh fruit and veggies are now your # 1 diet staple and that you have cut out all processed foods and sweets (may be a bit OVER the top) possibly they will take the hint and send a healthy food gift your way. :) Joan

That's excellent advice.
 
We stopped exchanging with my sister in law when she continued to give our kids Veggie Tales DVDs. We aren't Christian. Religious indoctrination of someone else's children...not OK.
 
A couple years ago DH got a t-shirt from my Grandma that was yellow and had a small butterfly on it. I asked her if it was meant for him and she said yes, he could use it for mowing the lawn. :rotfl2:
 
tinkermom23 said:
A couple years ago DH got a t-shirt from my Grandma that was yellow and had a small butterfly on it. I asked her if it was meant for him and she said yes, he could use it for mowing the lawn. :rotfl2:

Oh. My. The thing is, my DH would probably think that makes sense! ;)
 
A couple years ago DH got a t-shirt from my Grandma that was yellow and had a small butterfly on it. I asked her if it was meant for him and she said yes, he could use it for mowing the lawn. :rotfl2:

:rotfl2: Few things actually make me laugh out loud, but that did!!
 
Thanks Joan S for the great advice! (It is so hard to know people paid good money for something that doesn't get used.) :thumbsup2
 
Thanks Joan S for the great advice! (It is so hard to know people paid good money for something that doesn't get used.) :thumbsup2

You're welcome! When you posted and said you liked the pears you had gotten it reminded me of my sister"s gift to me,and how I got her to give me the same gift two years in a row. Christmas 2011 she gave me 3 bottles of homemade vinegar in various flavors. We have a salad with dinner pretty much every night at my house and I make my own dressing,and I had REALLY enjoyed making dressing with the vinegar she had given me. So around October I gave her BACK the decorative bottles she had given me (minus the vinegar of course) and told her how much I had enjoyed her gift, She told me that the bottles were mine to keep BUT I said no you take them just in case you want to make vinegar again. (HINT HINT) So for Christmas 2012 I get a BEAUTIFUL basket with 4 bottles of homemade vinegar!! (she also puts a few other items in with the vinegar and does a great job with clear wrap and ribbon.) And she readily admitted that it only occurred to her to make the vinegar again because I gave her back the bottles and told her how much I had enjoyed the gift :). Joan
 














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