Anyone else with gift disappointment?

[Anonymous]

At 45, I have everything I could want and can't imagine a scenario when I wake up on Christmas sad about gifts I got. How childish

Well I'm 45, spent a lot of time and energy making Christmas special for my family (like every year) and there were zero gifts for me. Zero. My parents arrive in a few hours and I'm embarrassed to have nothing to say when they ask what I got. So yeah, I'm sad. Have some gd empathy for people. Merry Christmas.

[Anonymous]

DH asks me for a specific gift; I ask DH for a specific gift. We’re always happy! It’s not exciting or particularly romantic, but hey, it’s communication and we get something nice. The kids make little notes and crafts for us. We keep it very simple and low-key.

[Anonymous]

I got my wife (well, us) a Breville blender to replace our old crappy one.

Honey, is that you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

At 45, I have everything I could want and can't imagine a scenario when I wake up on Christmas sad about gifts I got. How childish

Well I'm 45, spent a lot of time and energy making Christmas special for my family (like every year) and there were zero gifts for me. Zero. My parents arrive in a few hours and I'm embarrassed to have nothing to say when they ask what I got. So yeah, I'm sad. Have some gd empathy for people. Merry Christmas.

Wow. Do you have a husband and he got you nothing? I’m sorry. That sucks. I validate you feeling crappy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

At 45, I have everything I could want and can't imagine a scenario when I wake up on Christmas sad about gifts I got. How childish

Well I'm 45, spent a lot of time and energy making Christmas special for my family (like every year) and there were zero gifts for me. Zero. My parents arrive in a few hours and I'm embarrassed to have nothing to say when they ask what I got. So yeah, I'm sad. Have some gd empathy for people. Merry Christmas.

You don't need empathy; you need a reality check. If every year you get the same result, stop. Duh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

At 45, I have everything I could want and can't imagine a scenario when I wake up on Christmas sad about gifts I got. How childish

Well I'm 45, spent a lot of time and energy making Christmas special for my family (like every year) and there were zero gifts for me. Zero. My parents arrive in a few hours and I'm embarrassed to have nothing to say when they ask what I got. So yeah, I'm sad. Have some gd empathy for people. Merry Christmas.

I’m right there with you. I put *a lot* of effort into getting gifts for everyone this year - spent quite a bit as well. What I received was obviously purchased without thought or care. Better just to forgo going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

At 45, I have everything I could want and can't imagine a scenario when I wake up on Christmas sad about gifts I got. How childish

Well I'm 45, spent a lot of time and energy making Christmas special for my family (like every year) and there were zero gifts for me. Zero. My parents arrive in a few hours and I'm embarrassed to have nothing to say when they ask what I got. So yeah, I'm sad. Have some gd empathy for people. Merry Christmas.

You don't need empathy; you need a reality check. If every year you get the same result, stop. Duh

She didn’t say every year he gives her nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got my wife (well, us) a Breville blender to replace our old crappy one.

Honey, is that you?

What did she get you? And what did you do to make Christmas “happen”? The problem in these situations is usually the lack of reciprocity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

At 45, I have everything I could want and can't imagine a scenario when I wake up on Christmas sad about gifts I got. How childish

Well I'm 45, spent a lot of time and energy making Christmas special for my family (like every year) and there were zero gifts for me. Zero. My parents arrive in a few hours and I'm embarrassed to have nothing to say when they ask what I got. So yeah, I'm sad. Have some gd empathy for people. Merry Christmas.

I’m right there with you. I put *a lot* of effort into getting gifts for everyone this year - spent quite a bit as well. What I received was obviously purchased without thought or care. Better just to forgo going forward.

Put the thoughtless gifts on the Buy Nothing FB groups like I do. I don't at all feel compelled to hold on to or find use with useless gifts.

[Anonymous]

I’m single and alone on Christmas because my family are toxic alcoholics. I bought myself a new iPad, le creuset pan, Bombas slippers, fuzzy pyjamas, and a Tory burch handbag. All bought on sale Black Friday! I save $25/week all year so then I have $1300 to spend on myself at Christmas. Highly recommend!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m single and alone on Christmas because my family are toxic alcoholics. I bought myself a new iPad, le creuset pan, Bombas slippers, fuzzy pyjamas, and a Tory burch handbag. All bought on sale Black Friday! I save $25/week all year so then I have $1300 to spend on myself at Christmas. Highly recommend!!

That sounds wonderful. Merry Christmas PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Well I'm 45, spent a lot of time and energy making Christmas special for my family (like every year) and there were zero gifts for me. Zero. My parents arrive in a few hours and I'm embarrassed to have nothing to say when they ask what I got. So yeah, I'm sad. Have some gd empathy for people. Merry Christmas.

How old are your kids? For me when they were young it was all about them and whichever family was visiting. I didn’t expect any presents. As they got older, we did a secret Santa exchange with extended family and I’d get a gift (plus we would do a serried of clues to guess who gave us the gifts). This year we are a small group and my older son (16) ended up buying us each a present so I just told my younger twins (14), husband, and sister / brother in law who are the only ones visiting that we all had to buy each other at least one gift (& nothing expensive). That took pressure off of me finding gifts bc my teens really don’t want much so they are hard to shop for. Another perk I realized yesterday is that I am going to get a few presents myself. Nothing fancy I am sure but I’m interested to see why they selected for me. (My teens will take forever to wake up today I am sure so gift is a good way off)

I think you sometimes need to push the family in the direction you want them to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m single and alone on Christmas because my family are toxic alcoholics. I bought myself a new iPad, le creuset pan, Bombas slippers, fuzzy pyjamas, and a Tory burch handbag. All bought on sale Black Friday! I save $25/week all year so then I have $1300 to spend on myself at Christmas. Highly recommend!!

That sounds wonderful. Merry Christmas PP!

That does sound wonderful. Sometimes you need to make your own joy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m single and alone on Christmas because my family are toxic alcoholics. I bought myself a new iPad, le creuset pan, Bombas slippers, fuzzy pyjamas, and a Tory burch handbag. All bought on sale Black Friday! I save $25/week all year so then I have $1300 to spend on myself at Christmas. Highly recommend!!

That sounds wonderful. Merry Christmas PP!

Thank you, and same to you!! Forgot to mention that I also buy myself a good book every year, so then I can spend the day reading instead of scrolling on social media. I kind of make it a self care day, to take care of myself, and feel the love - from me to me. Sending lots of love out to anyone else having a hard day today xo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a single mom and DS just got me a token gift, but wrote a really sweet card. It makes me happy that he thought of me at all, for years I didn’t get anything. I have zero expectations at Christmas.

That's heartwarming.