Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:11:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2015 16:06:05 GMT
This is a SO the office secret santa thread.
I'm not a gift person. I'm ok with other people being gift people because we are all different. This is NOT a thread telling people in any way they should not be gift people.
My dad carves and wood crafts. He is always making this or that for me and my kids. We appreciate all the work and thought he puts into it, but a lot of the stuff just isn't me and there is only so much room.
I'm not a gift person anyway. My needs and wants are simple and if I want it then I get it myself. DH and I don't exchange gifts and I like that.
What I would really like and is really the ONE gift I want from anyone is for my dad to carve a nativity for me. I've mentioned this several times over the years. No hinting, just told him that I would like it best. Last time I told him he seemed like it was the first time I told him, so I have hopes for this year though I know timing may be a problem. It would tickle me to just get one piece a year if that was all he could do.
If you are not a gift person is there ONE gift you really would like?
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Post by 950nancy on Sept 18, 2015 16:36:51 GMT
I am a gift person. Not particularly giving gifts a Christmas and birthday, but I enjoy finding something and surprising someone. I love to give someone that I know what they want. My mom was like that too.
My elusive gift that I ask for every single holiday? A gift card from my LSS. Never got it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2015 17:30:46 GMT
I am not a gift person. I'm finding that I'm truly am too picky when it comes to gifts. I've even told DH not to bother. I buy myself the yarn I want when I want it. I don't want anything else. I keep to myself so much that I accept that no one really knows me or what I like or would even want. As a result, I dread gift exchanges. I love giving gifts and trying to find something that they may want or could use but hate getting gifts. It seems like no matter how many times I say, buy me yarn and I'm good, no one listens. Buy me really good yarn (not Red Heart, but hand dyed, hand spun, yarn from an independent dyer or farm) and I'm in love. Still, no one listens.
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Post by mom on Sept 18, 2015 17:41:34 GMT
This is a SO the office secret santa thread. I'm not a gift person. I'm ok with other people being gift people because we are all different. This is NOT a thread telling people in any way they should not be gift people. My dad carves and wood crafts. He is always making this or that for me and my kids. We appreciate all the work and thought he puts into it, but a lot of the stuff just isn't me and there is only so much room. I'm not a gift person anyway. My needs and wants are simple and if I want it then I get it myself. DH and I don't exchange gifts and I like that. What I would really like and is really the ONE gift I want from anyone is for my dad to carve a nativity for me. I've mentioned this several times over the years. No hinting, just told him that I would like it best. Last time I told him he seemed like it was the first time I told him, so I have hopes for this year though I know timing may be a problem. It would tickle me to just get one piece a year if that was all he could do.If you are not a gift person is there ONE gift you really would like? You should tell him this! My husband will never tell me what he wants for a gift. He is like you - he will go buy whatever he wants. I suck at giving gifts. I always doubt myself on what I am giving, etc. |
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Post by anxiousmom on Sept 18, 2015 17:51:34 GMT
But I am a gift person! I love getting them, opening them, playing with them...most people who know me know what I like and I rarely get anything that I don't like. I love gift giving occasions, I love little surprise gifts, I love them all. The only thing I don't like is knowing what they are before hand. Oh, and candles. I don't like getting candles.  |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:11:27 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2015 17:51:55 GMT
This is a SO the office secret santa thread. I'm not a gift person. I'm ok with other people being gift people because we are all different. This is NOT a thread telling people in any way they should not be gift people. My dad carves and wood crafts. He is always making this or that for me and my kids. We appreciate all the work and thought he puts into it, but a lot of the stuff just isn't me and there is only so much room. I'm not a gift person anyway. My needs and wants are simple and if I want it then I get it myself. DH and I don't exchange gifts and I like that. What I would really like and is really the ONE gift I want from anyone is for my dad to carve a nativity for me. I've mentioned this several times over the years. No hinting, just told him that I would like it best. Last time I told him he seemed like it was the first time I told him, so I have hopes for this year though I know timing may be a problem. It would tickle me to just get one piece a year if that was all he could do.If you are not a gift person is there ONE gift you really would like? You should tell him this! My husband will never tell me what he wants for a gift. He is like you - he will go buy whatever he wants. I suck at giving gifts. I always doubt myself on what I am giving, etc. I have. I just don't think it clicked with him. |
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Post by mom on Sept 18, 2015 17:56:24 GMT
You should tell him this! My husband will never tell me what he wants for a gift. He is like you - he will go buy whatever he wants. I suck at giving gifts. I always doubt myself on what I am giving, etc. I have. I just don't think it clicked with him. I get it, lol. My dad paints as a hobby. He has always painted the grandkids a card for every birthday, Christmas, back to school, etc. But his own kids get store bought cards. I am working on a gallery wall in my studio and asked him to paint me something - anything - that I could frame and he won't do it. Even a small card would be perfect since I could frame that. Nope. He won't do it.  |
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Post by auntkelly on Sept 18, 2015 17:56:57 GMT
I'm not sure if I'd be considered a gift person or not. I love to give and receive presents from people I know really well. My husband and I exchange gifts for every gift giving holiday, but we give things that the other has asked for or we surprise each other with something we are sure will be appreciated.
I don't like going to big family gatherings and giving and receiving multiple gifts from everyone (kids and adults alike), which is how my husband's family does it. I just feel like everyone is getting tons of stuff they don't really like or need and it is a huge waste of money. I also don't really like Secret Santas or Dirty Santa games for the same reason.
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eastcoastpea
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Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Sept 18, 2015 19:55:08 GMT
I have. I just don't think it clicked with him. I get it, lol. My dad paints as a hobby. He has always painted the grandkids a card for every birthday, Christmas, back to school, etc. But his own kids get store bought cards. I am working on a gallery wall in my studio and asked him to paint me something - anything - that I could frame and he won't do it. Even a small card would be perfect since I could frame that. Nope. He won't do it. I wonder if HE doesn't think it would be good enough or that you're just asking to be nice. Keep asking and hopefully he'll get the message. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Sept 18, 2015 19:57:22 GMT
I'll tell you what I'm NOT, and that is a crappy-gift-person! If you are just going to go to Target , Walmart, the dollar store or somewhere and buy the first thing you see, don't bother. Save your money. If picking out a gift for me feels like an obligation to you, then it's probably best to skip it all together. I definitely appreciate a well thought out gift though. Doesn't have to be expensive at all, and in fact I like a lot of things that are quite inexpensive. But you have to know me well to know what I'll like, and many people just don't care to take the time to think things out. I always get nice gifts that I like from my BFFs, one sister and one brother. DH has no idea what I already have and has given up. He just tells me to buy what I want (and that's okay too). LOL, one of my BFFs, married 50 years, got the best gift from her DH last Christmas. He gave her a whole bunch of gift cards in various amounts to ALL the places she loves to shop: Michael's, JoAnn's, Hobby Lobby, Culver's, Target, Panera, LeeAnn Chin, etc. and she was SO excited! It was cute. His reasoning was, "She's going to spend money at all those places anyway!"  |
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eastcoastpea
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Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Sept 18, 2015 19:58:47 GMT
You should tell him this! My husband will never tell me what he wants for a gift. He is like you - he will go buy whatever he wants. I suck at giving gifts. I always doubt myself on what I am giving, etc. I have. I just don't think it clicked with him. Please keep telling him. I think a handmade nativity made by your dad would be wonderful. Like you said, even just one piece a year (or two, including your birthday) would be a gift not just for you, but for future generations as well. Maybe if he hears it often enough it will sink in eventually. Good luck. |
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smginaz Suzy
Pearl Clutcher
Je suis desole.
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Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Sept 18, 2015 20:00:43 GMT
I am a gift person, to the extent that one of my best friends DH started referring to me as "the gift whisperer" which is both awesome and hysterical.
But I love finding just the right present. And I am pretty good about putting things away for the right time.
I like getting gifts too and like to think I enjoy just about any creative effort at gifting. But I also respect that it is a very special skill so I appreciate that it is not a big deal for everyone.
I just get so much pleasure out of giving the right thing, it works for me that it is not reciprocated.
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879 
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Post by likescarrots on Sept 18, 2015 20:05:21 GMT
14 years ago i asked for 2 things, a sewing machine and an electric keyboard. I got the sewing machine from my mom, though my mom and husband both claimed i would never use either (  ). They said if i used the sewing machine maybe they would get me the keyboard next year. I have used the swing machine a number of times, but never got the keyboard. And yet every year they both want to know what i want for a gift. I don't really care that much because I'm not much of a gift person, but it annoys me that they ask every year. |
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valleyview
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Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Sept 18, 2015 20:07:37 GMT
@pattyrain, maybe you could tell your dad that the kids want a Nativity set? That way, each would get one for the future, and you can all enjoy now.
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smginaz Suzy
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Je suis desole.
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Jun 26, 2014 17:27:30 GMT
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Post by smginaz Suzy on Sept 18, 2015 20:09:52 GMT
My dad, the opposite of me, is a craptastic gift giver. If you ever offer a suggestion as to what might make a good gift, he specifically will never do that because a) then it would not be a surprise because you asked for it b) he is an asshat.
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Post by mom on Sept 18, 2015 22:03:00 GMT
I get it, lol. My dad paints as a hobby. He has always painted the grandkids a card for every birthday, Christmas, back to school, etc. But his own kids get store bought cards. I am working on a gallery wall in my studio and asked him to paint me something - anything - that I could frame and he won't do it. Even a small card would be perfect since I could frame that. Nope. He won't do it. I wonder if HE doesn't think it would be good enough or that you're just asking to be nice. Keep asking and hopefully he'll get the message. Probably. He isn't an artist by any means but he really enjoys painting and playing around. He is 70 and is going to take his first painting class soon thru the college. I am excited for him. But his cards? I love them. They are always so though out. This past card had all different things for each grandkid. Deer for my oldest who likes to hunt, zoo animals for my niece, my youngest got a card with a football field and players. The paintings are simplistic but oh man. We love them so much. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2015 23:54:39 GMT
I don't care much about gifts either. I do love nativities though. And I love all the crap my grandchildren buy at garage sales and thrift stores for me. This came out of the free box and as you can see, I am proudly displaying it.  |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Sept 19, 2015 1:55:32 GMT
I don't care much about gifts either. I do love nativities though. And I love all the crap my grandchildren buy at garage sales and thrift stores for me. This came out of the free box and as you can see, I am proudly displaying it. I think he's kind of cute, but... is that a crushed dixie cup in the center of him?  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2015 1:55:37 GMT
Yep
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Post by bluepoprocks on Sept 19, 2015 2:19:28 GMT
I love giving gifts. I love getting just the perfect thing and seeing the look on the persons face when they open it and love it as much as I thought they would.
I don't really like getting gifts. I feel embarrassed to have the attention on me and worry that the person spent to much time getting it for me or too much money. I also don't like when people ask what I want because I feel like I don't need anything and they shouldn't waste money on me. One year I had my sister buy a present for my nephews for my birthday because I wanted to get it for them and didn't have the money.
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akathy
What's For Dinner?
Still peaing from Podunk!
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Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on Sept 19, 2015 2:35:04 GMT
I am not a gift person. Most people in my life can afford to buy what they want and do. I also buy what I want too. Unless of course someone wants to buy me a car, a tropical vacation or something like that then I'm good. Only my late DH ever gave me those kinds of gifts. @pattyrain, have you thought of finding a pattern for a nativity set and giving it to your Dad to show him what you'd like? Maybe he has no idea what style you'd like. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2015 6:56:46 GMT
I've actually told him I would like something in the willow tree fashion several times - he is very familiar with willow tree. Not painted, but stained.
My dad is great. He would want to do what I would like. He is talented and is comfortable with his talent, but he is realistic about it as well. He has carved a few things for me before - well for a couple of auction pieces I was doing.
Somehow, at least until maybe this year, he hasn't heard me for whatever reason.
But this thread really isn't about getting what I want. I was just thinking how most of the time gifts are a burden to me. For several years now I have been trying to clear out the clutter in my home. I am finally starting to feel a lightness around me because the clutter is disappearing. It makes me feel alive to have so much of it gone. So for the most part giving me a gift means giving me the task of figuring out what to do with it. But the nativity is the one gift I can think of that I wouldn't feel that way.
So I got to wondering, if you feel like me, what would be your one desired gift? Something handmade from a loved one? An item you can't afford? A family heirloom? A certain style of sweater you can only get in one remote area of the world? Just the one gift that makes it different for you.
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Post by k8smom on Sept 19, 2015 7:13:40 GMT
Home made gifts are really an expression of love and I'd have a hard time telling my dad not to give me anything he created. My parents are gone now so maybe I'm just sentimental about it all.
I am a gift person, I love giving and receiving gifts and nothing's better than hitting the nail on the head and giving the perfect gift. I've received gifts I adored that are just perfect like a monogrammed water bottle, etc. They are perfect when someone takes the time to really know you and think to themselves, "So and so would love this" when they see it. I don't give gifts just for the sake of giving. If I don't find the perfect gift, I don't give one.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Sept 19, 2015 7:23:42 GMT
I feel the same way as Sheldon. I don't know what people want. Everyone I know has more stuff than they have room for, and buys exactly what they want for themselves.
I feel a burden to treasure anything someone gives me, even if it isn't anything I would have chosen. I feel guilty if I decide to get rid of it. And I feel an obligation to go find something for them.
The whole thing seems like a never ending circle of unnecessary buying.
Take someone out to lunch. Give them a Starbucks card. Bake them some cookies. Make them soup if they're sick. Babysit their kids so they can have a night out. Not on arbitrary occasions. But when you see a need or opportunity. And never with expectation of reciprocity.
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). They said if i used the sewing machine maybe they would get me the keyboard next year. I have used the swing machine a number of times, but never got the keyboard. And yet every year they both want to know what i want for a gift. I don't really care that much because I'm not much of a gift person, but it annoys me that they ask every year. 
