I have found from past experiences that men are very hard to buy presents for especially my husband. He does not like for me to shop for him at all. I couldn’t count the times that I have given him a Christmas gift and he took it back for exchange. After that I gave him gift cards. The past couple of years we decided no more gifts for Christmas. Instead we get something for the home together that we both agree on that we need. He does have some favorite Christmas snacks that I try to have around during the holidays. Sometimes we take each other out to our favorite restaurants. He gave me money yesterday to have my hair done which I thought was very sweet.
My sons on the other hand are hunters and fishermen. Giving them a gift which is associated with their hobbies was always appreciated. As they have gotten older I give them cash to buy what they need. This is the time of the year that jobs are slow and money is needed just to buy groceries with these days. The grandsons this year I’ve decided to give them education toys and art supplies. Too much emphasis has been put on gift giving for Christmas and not enough on just having the family together. Just to have a nice meal and share stories together has gotten to be more important to me. I love giving pretty wrapped gifts to my loved ones but with the economy in the shape it is getting its getting harder and harder to keep up with the big family that I have now.
If you feel that you need to give gifts then give something this year that is needed instead of an item that is just going to sit there and look pretty on their shelf. It is the thought of the gift that is important and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make someone happy. How about a nice gift wrapped food box with items that are needed during the holidays? Or for the men a gift basket filled with car cleaning supplies to spruce up that vehicle that they like to consider their “Baby”. Another gift idea is offering babysitting services for some of those who like to go out on New Year’s Eve and party. Give framed photographs gift wrapped of the children to the grandparents. Give a gift certificate to your grown children to dine out at their favorite diner and then babysit for them while they go out.
The most important thing is to let your family know that they are loved and wanted. Don’t let too much time go by without keeping in touch with those who don’t live nearby even if you have to communicate through email and telephone calls; keep in touch. Make a telephone call on Christmas Day or any special day just to say I love you and miss you.
