It's Wifey Wednesday, when we talk marriage! I introduce a subject, and then you all comment, either by creating your own blog post and linking up, or by leaving a comment here.
It would be appropriate to talk about gratitude for one's husband, since Thanksgiving is tomorrow for all you Americans, but I've done that quite a bit lately, so I thought instead I'd bring up something that's on my mind, since this is, after all, my blog! :)
So here's my quandary: what do you do about Christmas with your hubby? Let me explain. I'm not really into gifts that much. I'm honestly not. If I really really want something, I buy it for myself. Most of my hobbies are very specialized (like knitting), and someone who wasn't active in that hobby couldn't buy me something that I'd like. And my husband is not great at buying me clothes. Besides, I really feel quite blessed already, and I don't want a great deal of money being spent on me. I'd rather it go into the kids' college fund or to charity. I really would.
So a few years ago, we agreed that we wouldn't get each other gifts.
I made the mistake of assuming that agreement was binding. Turns out my husband thought, "there's no way I'm not buying my wife a Christmas present", so he bought me something big (I forget what it was now), and I hadn't bought him anything. I looked quite small in comparison.
To make matters worse, our anniversary is December 21, so I've got TWO gifts to buy, not just one. And I know my husband is going to buy something regardless, even if I tell him not to, so I'm stuck.
My husband presents similar dilemmas. He has very specialized hobbies, and I can't really buy for him. He needs clothes, but he doesn't particularly like them, so he doesn't consider them a gift. So what do I do? I'm really at a loss.
What do I want for Christmas? I don't want a gift per se. I want someone, either my husband or my kids, to take all our VHS family movies and transfer them to DVD. I want someone to organize my digital photos. I want someone to make a movie out of all the family movies we've taken over the last two years. That's what I want. But no matter how hard I actually say that, I don't get it, because people insist on BUYING me something.
I suppose I'm complaining a lot when Thanksgiving is tomorrow, but I do find this time of year a little bit stressful because I don't know what to buy, and no one takes me seriously that I honestly would rather not have anything (because it's true, I honestly would rather not have a gift that was purchased).
What about you? What do you do with your spouse for Christmas? Any brilliant advice I should take (like be grateful you have a husband who wants to buy you something, you ridiculous woman?)? Let me know! Just leave a comment, or go write your own blog post and then come back here and link up in the comments section!
Labels: Christmas, gifts, marriage, wifey wednesdays |
My husband is not a gift giver or receiver. He was BEFORE we were married (when I didn't appreciate it) but now finances get in the way.
I'm focusing my energy on the kids. I'm trying to teach them it is the thought that counts (they make many of the gifts that they give - including jewelry, candle holders and coupon books).
As for GIVING him gift, the last three gifts he has received are still in the boxes in his closet. I don't even win there when I give him something that he says he wants. Let me know if you figure out the secret. :D