Thursday, December 23, 2010

Gift Receiving Etiquette

Today is the Eve of Christmas Eve. I feel as though I need to reevaluate my Grinchiness. Give Christmas another shot. After all, its hard to be a Grinch when you have three days of gift opening in front of you.

When it comes to presents, it really is better to give than to receive. Especially for me. I'm picky to a fault. Chances are, I won't totally love whatever I get. I know what I want, and I recognize that I'm hard to buy for. David and I actually pick out our own presents these days. It takes some of the surprise out of it, but at least I know I'll like what I get. Although, for the record, David has always been good at buying me presents. I have about seven Fossil watches to show for it.

My kids aren't picky, because hey, they're kids. If it lights up or plays some annoying music they're bound to love it. Even if it doesn't, that's fine too. Last night Ava spent 30 minutes playing with a pitcher and part of my immersion blender. We should've saved ourselves the trouble and just got her a cardboard box for Christmas.

When it comes time to open presents, I always hate the part where its my turn and everyone is watching me. Whether I like it or not, I don't always feel like it comes across as very genuine. How many times can you say something is cute before it loses its meaning? I'm grateful for everything I have, and in reality I don't even need Christmas presents, I'd rather people just got stuff for my kids. If I need something, I can always just go buy it. Except the camera that I'd have to sell a kidney to afford. Anyone can feel free to get me that!

Not everyone in my family is always gracious about receiving gifts. Number one guilty party: my brother Josh. Josh is never unclear about his feelings toward something. If he doesn't like something, like pie, milk in his cereal, fruit of any type, trying new things, he'll let you know. He is also the loudest out of all of my siblings, which is saying something, because we're a loud family.

During one birthday celebration, a long, long time ago, Josh was all set to open presents. He got to the one from my Aunt Beth, who gives the best presents, and removed the wrapping paper. Staring right at him was a giant granola bar box. GRANOLA BARS! I HATE GRANOLA BARS! What my young and loud brother failed to realize is that things aren't always what they seem. His actual present was inside of the large granola bar box, and when he jumped to a conclusion and discarded the box he was probably throwing aside some sort of Ninja Turtle toy that he really wanted.

In this now famous story in my family, no one can actually remember what the actual present contained. Maybe Aunt Beth knows, but no one else does. I'm sure when he actually opened the box he liked the present, but he was too busy being mad at first to open the box.

He could've taken a lesson from my youngest nephew Jayden on being gracious. Last year at Christmas, Jayden, who was three at the time, opened a gift that was mislabelled. When he opened the pink princess horse with her sparkly hair, that was actually meant for Alana, he did not complain. He looked at it with a confused look, and said Um, thanks in the most sarcastic yet confused voice he could muster. Even when he got a pink horse instead of the preferred monster truck, he was still polite. The look on his face was priceless. Once I realized he got the wrong gift and switched them out for him, he was infinitely relieved. That monster truck was a sight for sore eyes.

Imagine what playing with a pink princess horse would do to his reputation! How could he show his face around the playground? Even though he was confused and didn't know how to respond, he still said thanks.

Christmas gifts are meant as a way to show people we care about them, and even if you don't like that present, you should remember that the present was bought with love and meant for your enjoyment. And if you don't like it, you can always return it! This year when you are unwrapping your gifts, just remember Its the thought that counts. Even if that thought is that boys like pink princess horses.

Merry Christmas!

1 comment:

Nikki Darlin' said...

I totally get where your coming from with the "might as well have gotta her a cardboard box", skylee can go to town with a spoon and one shoe. Makes spending $20 on a walking cat seem pointless. Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

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