To gift or not to gift?
When going to a significant other's family for the Holiday's for the first time, should you automatically bring a gift or do you wait until you know if you are getting one?
It may seem like the latter choice is the way to go, because after all, Christmas is the GIVING season, but I don't think it is that cut and dry. For example, if you are spending the Holiday with your significant other's family for the first time, and you get them something and they don't recipricate, it can get a bit awkward. At that point, one or more people feel guilty about being giftless. On the flip side, if you show up to the house with nothing and then receive a gift, you feel like the worst person ever — even if it was unintentional.
My BF is coming to my house for Christmas, and will be receiving presents from family members — I told him this just to keep him aware of the situation and in case he wanted to do anything in return. He said he had already thought about it, and planned on getting something for those people anyway. Problem solved.
What is your take on it? Do you automatically bring presents, or do you wait and see?
It may seem like the latter choice is the way to go, because after all, Christmas is the GIVING season, but I don't think it is that cut and dry. For example, if you are spending the Holiday with your significant other's family for the first time, and you get them something and they don't recipricate, it can get a bit awkward. At that point, one or more people feel guilty about being giftless. On the flip side, if you show up to the house with nothing and then receive a gift, you feel like the worst person ever — even if it was unintentional.
My BF is coming to my house for Christmas, and will be receiving presents from family members — I told him this just to keep him aware of the situation and in case he wanted to do anything in return. He said he had already thought about it, and planned on getting something for those people anyway. Problem solved.
What is your take on it? Do you automatically bring presents, or do you wait and see?
posted by Anonymous at 2:17 PM
2 Comments:
I think you should always bring a gift. The best bet would be to get something the whole family can enjoy. Also, that way no one will feel awkward if they didn't get you anything because you can say it's a "thank you" gift for them letting you stay in their home.
I am in this situation this Christmas. I am solving the problem by bringing gifts for the family-- a board game I know they'll enjoy, and Christmas crackers for Christmas dinner. Since I will be a guest in their home, I figure that's the least I can do.
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