True Gift?

Ok, when I was a kid my mom would take me shopping, have me pick out the things I wanted ... then I would wrap them myself and open them on xmas day ... think about that then make a decision.

At least he got something that he really wanted, and is going to use. And now he cant blame you for not getting him something he wont like ;)

geez, just wrap it already, lol....Merry Christmas

for a second, I thought you wrote.. True Grit... and we were gonna discuss westerns.. :) oh I think it's whatever makes you happy , surprise or not. I used to leave it completely up to my husband to find something for me.... and while we don't really exchange much..... I now give him specifics... and it's usually practical things... boy have the times changed in my household.. hahah

Merry Christmas

Everyone has a different idea about what a true gift is.... and it is also about the expectations of the giver and receiver.

Your Husband is excited about his gift and "he is dying to open it...."
So there is your answer.
He LOVES his gifts. It IS a gift to him and meaningful.
He is giddy over it.
Isn't that great?

Don't over think it.

Your Husband told you what he wanted. He wants it. He is happy about it. And can hardly wait to open it.
So, for HIM.... this is a great nice gift. It may not be to you... but you are not the gift receiver. He is.

Personally, I told my Husband what I wanted too. And, even if it is no surprise to me, and he did get it for me. I would have been real bummed, if he did not get it for me. Because, it is a gift that is really useful and needed and practical for me. And not something I would get myself.
So I am happy. Very happy. Because, he actually took the time to 'hear' what I wanted and then, did it.
So, that is great.

Your Husband... is excited about his gifts.
Isn't that enough?
Isn't that happy for him?
Be happy for him.
Even if he did tell you what he wanted.
You both just have different ideas about what a "gift" is or should be.

At father's day, I had my husband pick out a pen he liked from awelldressedbullet.com . I ordered it, but then goofed and didn't email them back with a confirmation of order. So I have his picked out pen sitting under the tree as a Christmas gift instead. So I know he'll like it, and he's forgotten about it over the past few months.

and yes, his gift is enough. He's happy. Seems that your guy doesn't care too much for surprises. He just wants what he wants - and likely doesn't want to waste any money on crud he doesn't need/want.

It doesn't fit in with a romantic mindset that conjures up lovely Christmas surprises, but you're certainly giving your husband what he wants. And it beats your giving him a new dishwasher and him giving you a new lawn mower.

My husband gives me a short - very short - Christmas list for me to pass on to the children. But then in the weeks before Christmas he comes home with this or that and says, "Somebody can give me this for Christmas...." It's not my idea of ideal Christmas giving, but he's happy with it.

Put a ribbon around the box and smile. Many, many Christmas gifts happen this way!

Yes, his gift is a true gift. He is getting what he wanted with the money budgeted for gifts.

My husband did a similar thing: he'd asked to order his own gift because he knows he can get a better deal on it online than I ever could. He's right, and I figured, because he makes the money these days, I'd indulge him in this. So, no surprises for him-- and his gift is going to be late-- but it wasn't like I just shoved some money in his hand and said "I don't know what you want, and I don't care, go get it yourself." Big difference.

And I'm pretty sure what one of my gifts is... every birthday and Christmas I get the latest of the Perry Mason series dvds. I'm up to season five now.. if that doesn't scream "no surprise",. nothing does. I've got four more years of this to go, but I love every one of them, (esp. in the background when I'm sewing). So, still a gift.:)

Ha! This post made me laugh. Under the tree there is a present To Jimmy from Jimmy and one To Jackie From Jackie. It's a fun silly little joke. My husband was able to get some speakers for cheap from a friend before Christmas, so under the tree they went, lol! I wanted ONE particular makeup set and did not want him to "try" to buy it, so I bought it when we were out Christmas shopping, and under the tree it went. However, each of us did go shopping with a small amount of cash so that we could put a fun surprise under the tree from each other. I think getting a gift you love is a true gift, even if you picked it out yourself, just because it is still a luxury no matter what because someone is "giving" it to you and you are lucky enough to be getting presents in the first place.

any time you think of someone its a true gift
if you gotta tell them or whatever its just to make sure they are happy
no big deal
no mystery but still a gift : )
i ask hubby to make an amazon list but still end up buying him clothes! lol

I don't need anything and can never think of anything to put on a list. I like to buy something when I see it and it "talks" to me. (Target ad on TV lol) So, I for the most part buy my own gifts. My family give me things and they're nice but my favorite gifts are to me from me.

Except for the picture of the whole family. I love that one. I knew it was coming. It still feels like a gift.

My daughter told me specifically what she'd like and I bought them for her. She's pleased. I agree that it's best to get what we want and/or need. The things are still a gift. I did the shopping and wrapping.

And of course my grandchildren had a very specific list. I try to get what they've asked for but not necessarily what's on the list. For example, I saw a fedora and bought it for my granddaughter. It wasn't on her list but I knew she'd love it because she loves her friend's fedora.

I love the unexpected look of pleasure when I'm able to surprise someone. At the same time it's too difficult to surprise everyone. I love giving gifts but I think it's more important to take care of oneself and not be too tired to enjoy the family.

Don't worry about it. My husband always sends me links to the things he wants for xmas and birthdays. Both of us know that he will be so much happier getting the things he truly wants than getting surprises.

If your husband is happy and excited about what he's going to open tomorrow morning, that, to me, is a true gift.

It depends on the person. From what it sounds like, to him, this is a true gift.

I'm all about getting stuff I can use. For years I would beg my mom to give me $10 before buying $10 worth of dollar store 'stuff' that I can't use-you know what I mean? I just prefer stuff I can use, want or need over things that will just sit around getting dusty.

i gave up long ago on my husband and me "knowing" the perfect gift to get each other. my gifts to him were never "what he wanted" even though i felt they were close enough for our budget (a knock off brand, or a gift card for less than he asked for, etc). his were never even close (one year i gave him NO hints whatsoever, and he got me a coffee grinder- he has a true aversion to flowers and jewelry lol) anyway...it led to many disappointing christmases. i got sick of it. i decided (now that we can afford it) to get him EXACTLY what he asks for. i decided to tell him EXACTLY what i want. and we are happier. to me it means we actually listened to each other. it's not so much about the "gift" itself...just the fact that we care enough to listen and, well, yes, get exactly what the person asked for. i think that the way you guys do it, if it works for you, is great. to me, showing him three versions of the purse i want, would be along the same lines of him picking out and watching me purchase his gift. i think both kind of take the magic out...BUT it makes up for it that the two of you cared enough to do it "right". i hope that makes sense!

I haven't been able to have a gift for about 4 years now, the kiddo's get gifts first. Be glad you got something.

It may not be fairy tale romantic, but a gift can be a lot more than just a thing. It is intention.
Don't compare your situation to others - just look at where you are - happy? Than that's how you roll.

If you both love each other and are happy with the way you do things, then there is no problem.

As for how we do things, we like to surprise each other, and we are both pretty good at shopping for each other, so we have no idea what we're getting on special occassions. My husband plans way in advance for what he's getting me for my birthday or for Christmas because he likes to get me things that I will never think of on my own. It's always something I love. Then I like to do the same for him. I think I have the harder job since men are harder to buy for. ;) Our kids get in on it, too. They like to help with the ideas. :)

Like I said, though. If you are both happy, there's no problem. Merry Christmas!

At least he remember that you are there. My ex-husband (still wonders why he's an ex) only got me about 5 gifts total in the 5.75 yrs we were married. My B-day is Christmas Eve, then Christmas, our anniversary Jan 4th, Valentines ect ect ---- apparently I wasn't important enough to rate a gift.
Yes it's nice to get a surprise gift so for Valentines get him something totally unexpected but that he will love. Tickets to an event or whatever fits him.

YES, it's a true gift!!!! And one he won't return !!!! Obviously receiving exactly what he wants is more important to him than being "surprised". My mom almost always bought what she wanted, then handed them to my sibs and I and said "here, wrap these from you to me". Oh, I would have wrapped the shipping box; but that's me.

As long as the gift is appreciated who cares if it's a surprise or not. I think it's a fantasy to think that we know what everyone secretly desires and that they know what we want. My mother in law NEVER asked me what I wanted for Christmas and almost never got my anything I liked or even wanted. The exception was a frying pan. My SIL continues that tradition and will neither ask nor tell what her kids want. Does your husband even need or want those sweaters you bought him? As for us, I know my husband like bourbon and speciatly meats. And he knows I like gift cards. So that is it. And everyone is happy.