Gift Giving - Your thoughts?

[Kurieuo]

Christmas is quickly approaching, again.
You know, I use to kind of think "gift giving" was a free act of kindness.
Really the way it works in society it is more an expected social norm.

And, I really hate it, find it demeans my gift, when such is just seen as an obligation I'm fulfilling.
Likewise, I really hate people giving me or my kids gifts who I feel are really doing it out of obligation.
So, when someone in my family told me specifically what to get them, it really kind of irked me.

Then I started realising what we call "gift giving" is actually "obligatory giving" and we just call such gifts.

So what are your thoughts? And thoughts on the following picture?
Do you feel this ruins the meaning. I guess I liked the idea that if I give something to someone, it's because I want to.
In reality, I'm seeing many give because they feel obligated to. And the sensitive part of me actually feels kind of ripped off and hurt that this bubble of how I saw gift-giving has been pricked. Such that I may give everyone nothing to make a point, and tell them they can save their money and do the same for me if they're doing it just because they feel some customary obligation to do so.

gift-you-told-me-to-buy.png (39.26 KiB) Viewed 6801 times

[Storyteller]

I love Christmas, I absolutely adore giving gifts, wrapping them and seeing the face of the person when they open it.

I prefer giving gifts to getting them to be honest. I spend ages choosing gifts for people. Sometimes they cost pennies, sometimes they can be quite expensive but the thought that goes into them is the same.
My daughter loves it too, she saves her pocket money all year so she can get me and her dad a present, she even gets one for the dog and cat!

As for getting gifts, me? I`d prefer a hug, or a kind gesture.

[RickD]

K,

I honestly didn't know that you Aussies celebrated Christmas. I thought Australia was an atheist country.

[Storyteller]

K,

I honestly didn't know that you Aussies celebrated Christmas. I thought Australia was an atheist country.

Maybe the fact they have Christmas in summer has fried his brain?

[RickD]

K,

I honestly didn't know that you Aussies celebrated Christmas. I thought Australia was an atheist country.

Maybe the fact they have Christmas in summer has fried his brain?

Maybe. What kind of miserable Christmas is it with no snow and warm weather?

Wait, nevermind. I live in Florida.

[Storyteller]

I know what to get you and K for Christmas.....





snow.


Do you wanna build a snowman?

[abelcainsbrother]

Christmas is quickly approaching, again.
You know, I use to kind of think "gift giving" was a free act of kindness.
Really the way it works in society it is more an expected social norm.

And, I really hate it, find it demeans my gift, when such is just seen as an obligation I'm fulfilling.
Likewise, I really hate people giving me or my kids gifts who I feel are really doing it out of obligation.
So, when someone in my family told me specifically what to get them, it really kind of irked me.

Then I started realising what we call "gift giving" is actually "obligatory giving" and we just call such gifts.

So what are your thoughts? And thoughts on the following picture?
Do you feel this ruins the meaning. I guess I liked the idea that if I give something to someone, it's because I want to.
In reality, I'm seeing many give because they feel obligated to. And the sensitive part of me actually feels kind of ripped off and hurt that this bubble of how I saw gift-giving has been pricked. Such that I may give everyone nothing to make a point, and tell them they can save their money and do the same for me if they're doing it just because they feel some customary obligation to do so.

gift-you-told-me-to-buy.png

Christmas is and has always been my favorite holiday however I do not let gift giving get in the way of the real reason for the season.I do wish we had snow at Christmas however I prefer hot weather instead of cold weather but snow would be nice on Christmas. I give gifts but I do not let gift giving be a burden and I give what I can I try to stay focused on the meaning of Christmas and listen to Christmas music alot,sitting by the tree,drinking hot chocolate or coffee with my family and I really try to focus on Christ's birthday.I would say don't let gift giving or recieving much of an issue and focus more on the reason for Christmas. There have been times when it was just me by myself on Christmas and I still enjoyed Christmas. And yes santa Claus brings gifts too.
Santa Claus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBEhlBJ4MEk

[Nicki]

That makes me think of my children mostly - I've been helping them make Christmas and birthday lists for a few years so I can get a good idea of what they'd like and they can't complain too much, but now it makes me feel as if I'm just filling orders, so I try to get them a surprise as well as some of what they wanted (the lists can be extensive). I haven't really had a lot of other experience with gifts; I exchanged them with my immediate family while we were still living in the same country but we never did with the extended family - Christmas was just about spending time together eating and catching up.

I suppose there's a sense of obligation when one of the kids is going to a birthday party to buy a present, although lately they've convinced me that the birthday child would prefer cash! That probably has a lot more appeal for a kid than it would for us.

I guess I wouldn't much like feeling obligated to exchange Christmas presents with people - it really should be done because you want to!

[1over137]

Christmas is quickly approaching, again.
You know, I use to kind of think "gift giving" was a free act of kindness.
Really the way it works in society it is more an expected social norm.

And, I really hate it, find it demeans my gift, when such is just seen as an obligation I'm fulfilling.
Likewise, I really hate people giving me or my kids gifts who I feel are really doing it out of obligation.
So, when someone in my family told me specifically what to get them, it really kind of irked me.

Then I started realising what we call "gift giving" is actually "obligatory giving" and we just call such gifts.

So what are your thoughts? And thoughts on the following picture?
Do you feel this ruins the meaning. I guess I liked the idea that if I give something to someone, it's because I want to.
In reality, I'm seeing many give because they feel obligated to. And the sensitive part of me actually feels kind of ripped off and hurt that this bubble of how I saw gift-giving has been pricked. Such that I may give everyone nothing to make a point, and tell them they can save their money and do the same for me if they're doing it just because they feel some customary obligation to do so.

gift-you-told-me-to-buy.png

K, give everybody hug this Christmas. Next year you would not feel obligated to buy something as people would not expect the bought gift from you.

So, next Christmas you may have real joy when feeling like buying some gift to someone.

[EssentialSacrifice]

K, give everybody hug this Christmas. Next year you would not feel obligated to buy something as people would not expect the bought gift from you.

So, next Christmas you may have real joy when feeling like buying some gift to someone.

boy, if you can't learn to love the way this woman thinks ... well, you just haven't learned to love !

[Nessa]

Christmas is quickly approaching, again.
You know, I use to kind of think "gift giving" was a free act of kindness.
Really the way it works in society it is more an expected social norm.

And, I really hate it, find it demeans my gift, when such is just seen as an obligation I'm fulfilling.
Likewise, I really hate people giving me or my kids gifts who I feel are really doing it out of obligation.
So, when someone in my family told me specifically what to get them, it really kind of irked me.

Then I started realising what we call "gift giving" is actually "obligatory giving" and we just call such gifts.

So what are your thoughts? And thoughts on the following picture?
Do you feel this ruins the meaning. I guess I liked the idea that if I give something to someone, it's because I want to.
In reality, I'm seeing many give because they feel obligated to. And the sensitive part of me actually feels kind of ripped off and hurt that this bubble of how I saw gift-giving has been pricked. Such that I may give everyone nothing to make a point, and tell them they can save their money and do the same for me if they're doing it just because they feel some customary obligation to do so.

gift-you-told-me-to-buy.png

Hey wait a minute..
The family member isn't Mrs K is it?

[Nessa]

How did everyone's gift giving and receiving go? Any nice suprises given or received?

[Philip]

I got an acoustic guitar amp and an iPhone! So, I'm totally appreciative!

We buy just a couple of key presents for the boys, and a couple for each other - no surprises, and the PRECISE thing each wants - which is usually quite practical. Amazon.com is wonderful, no shopping, NO retail, no malls (I haven't been in a mall in years!). We also do the Angel Tree gifts for those who wouldn't have gifts otherwise.

[loise23]

All kids like toys and I have decided to give some unique toys to my kids on this new year
I bought some soft toys for them but one of my kids told me he wants an electronic car, So could anyone of you please suggest me from where I can buy and which type of electronic car should I buy??

[B. W.]

I think our wives should spend hours hanging out door lights year after year and changing burnt out bulbs from these two stories high midst cold gusty wind on a precarious ladder...

Only thing I do not like about Christmas is hanging outdoor lights... but in the Land Down under in warm weather - might be okay

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Da'y...
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