Lighten up, lady: He bought your Christmas gifts way before I started my shopping

This time of the year I generally have to talk with celebrities about the holidays. When they come on the radio to promote something, it’s almost sinful to not ask them about the holidays and have a discussion about it.

Generally we cover the basics: What’s your favourite treat, Christmas song, movie, etc. What family traditions do you have? What’s the best Christmas gift you ever got? You know, the hard-hitting stuff.

In recent years when it comes to the gift receiving question, several people have commented that they don’t focus on the presents anymore. As they get older it’s about spending time with people they love.

Is it an age thing? Is it a maturity thing? Often we think those two go hand in hand but for one woman who posted on a message board that she’s pissed at the gifts her boyfriend bought her (after finding them weeks before Christmas) she isn’t getting much sympathy from people online.

Her original post said, “Last night I was changing the bed and my boyfriend had hid my presents for Christmas in the blanket chest. I am grateful but it’s just the usual crap basically. He’s got my 2 fav bottles of perfume,a dressing gown,pair of slippers and a no7 skincare set. It’s the same thing pretty much every year. I try and spice it up for him but he sticks to the same thing.”

Here’s the deal. She posted the comment on Nov. 28. She can complain all she wants but it’s well into December and I haven’t started Christmas shopping for anybody. As much as she wants to anonymously shame him, she should be grateful that he’s gone out and bought all that stuff already and not left it to be a last-minute scramble. Plus, she admits that some of it is her “fav” things. Soooooo… what’s the problem?

Secondly, I’m happy he’s still a boyfriend and hasn’t put a ring on it yet because if she’s going to be that superficial and trivial about gift giving and what a lousy haul she gets, he’s better off finding someone who truly is grateful and not just saying it to try save face. I sense her being the type of person to judge how big the wrapped gift is to determine its importance – or count how many presents are for her under the tree.

I’ll admit that every year I get gifts from people that I don’t want or need but I’m not calling it “crap” and bitching about it publicly. If I do, on the radio as mentioned, it’s something from years ago that was laughable. I certainly don’t rant about how it emotionally hurt or pissed me off.

What’s the old saying? It’s the thought that counts.