"I go into Christmas every year with low expectations for my husband's side of the family. They are notoriously bad gift givers, so I just go into it with the knowledge that the gifts don't matter, it's about our time together as a family."
"Past Christmases I open my gift, smile, say thank you, and display it before they leave the house so they know I'm not unappreciative because I'm really not. I appreciate that they spent time thinking of a gift for me when they could easily just exclude me and, usually, the gift is something they would like, it's just off the mark due to generational differences or personal taste."
A mother expects low standards from her husband's family, viewing gifts as less important than family time. The husband typically receives useful presents while she repeatedly receives sentimental or clichéd items such as "Live, Laugh, Love" signs. In past years she smiled, thanked givers, and displayed gifts to show appreciation. This year she received a single dish towel that appeared to be one half of a two-pack, prompting questions about intentionality given that her in-laws are well off. Other mothers reported similarly poor or inappropriate gifts, including a thrift-store 500-piece puzzle labeled "missing 3 pieces" and rattles intended for a three-year-old. The pattern produces frustration and hurt.
Read at Scary Mommy
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