I’m sure you’re wondering why I named all of these occasions and holidays right? Don’t worry, it will all make sense soon.
I come from a family who loves giving gifts. We never went to a birthday party, wedding, baby shower etc. without a gift to give.
I know this may sound crazy but sometimes I didn’t show up at events because I didn’t have a gift to give. I just felt bad showing up empty handed. That’s how we were raised; to always bring a gift even if we had to handcraft one ourselves.
On the flip side of that this caused me to always expect a gift from my parents on special occasions. My siblings and I knew that we would always receive some kind of present from them on our birthdays, graduation and all of those days we consider to be special.
I haven’t met anyone yet that doesn’t like to receive gifts. It never got old for me to open them and even to this day I still get an exciting rush when I receive things. I love getting something new that is just for me.
Especially when it’s something I don’t have to share with my kids lol! I tell them it’s mine, mine, mine. 😝
After my dad retired things drastically changed. There was no more getting gifts for every special occasion. We started receiving a gift for combined occasions. 😩
It became
Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas!
They would tell us it’s been a rough year so we would get one nice gift for the rest of the year and it would be for our birthday and whatever holiday was next. 😄
Of course back then when I was younger I didn’t take it well. When you get a child use to getting gifts on certain days (to where she, meaning I, would count down and calculate the days remaining) it’s gonna take a minute for her world to make sense again. I remember thinking it would only last for a short time and then things would get back to normal again.
It had to right? Gift giving on every occasion was our family’s tradition.
So much my young mind didn’t understand. The responsibilities and struggles parents went through were like an invisible world to me. All I saw was what my parents were able to do, I didn’t understand nor cared to see the ways in which they were limited.
As of today my parents still combine gifts when necessary. Only now in my adult life it’s sounds more like
Happy Birthday and Mother’s Day!
My parents loved to make us feel special. It brung them so much joy seeing big smiles on our faces as we opened up presents from them. I love how they always strived to make sure we had something new to cherish on our special days.
Of course now as an adult I understand better why things changed the way they did. Realistically you may not always have the monies on hand to gift people with something for every event that takes place.
When I look back it was so ridiculous of me to miss events just because I didn’t have something to give. My presence, me showing up and showing that person I wanted to be there with them to celebrate should have been good enough. My husband had to help me with this, I had it so bad.
I love showering people with gifts when I’m able to but I don’t feel bad anymore when I can’t.
I can only give when I have to give. I can only do what I’m able to do.
I even pulled one of my mom and dad’s combined gift giving moves on them this year. I said
Happy Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Anniversary!
It was during a really tight budget time so it called for it. They surely didn’t mind because it was a nice gift. 😆
I have learned not to expect anything but appreciate everything that is generously given to me.
Well, now the cover photo should make sense to you. 😁
What are some of your experiences with gift giving and gift receiving?
All photos are my own and were taken with our Cannon EOS Rebel T6.