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30 Of The Worst Christmas Gifts People Ever Received, As Shared In This Online Group
Christmas is just around the corner, meaning that a lot of us are already planning on how to decorate our home, what to make for the holiday and how to surprise our loved ones with beautiful and meaningful presents. Surely, Christmas isn’t just about the things we get, but who doesn’t like to get something they really wished for? Gifting and getting presents provides a lot of joy, especially when you get to see the face of your loved one being happy with what they received. However, sometimes the gifts that we get can be quite sad and disappointing.
Having this in mind, Reddit user @Jalb101222 asked others online to share what kind of presents they received that could be added to a worst present list. The question with more than 33k upvotes was answered by sharing some hilarious stories that revealed what interesting yet distasteful things people got for Christmas.
Which one of these presents do you find the worst? Maybe you have your own story to share? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below!
More Info: Reddit
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#1
One year I got what was actually a super cool present. My parents had worked for months putting together this awesome art kit. It was a big toolbox filled with good scissors, glue, paint, colored pencils, glitter, and every other thing a crafty little kid could want. The problem was, every time they would go upstairs to add to it, they had a running joke where they would say "we're going upstair to feed your present" or "we need to take your present for a walk tee tee tee". So of course on Christmas morning instead of being a little kid who was stoked to get a huge box of art supplies, I was a little kid who was devastated that I didn't get a puppy.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
Awww!!!! That's understandable the way it was worded to you! I hope you got your puppy too
Strawberry Pizza 4 years ago
I mean this is fair enough. They didn't know their parents were joking.
SuAlfons 4 years ago
Oh, had something similar. As a kid, I would build plastic model airplanes from kits. My mom did not like them and called them "dust collectors". So when Santa brought me an F16, I got my presents taken away from me for being ungrateful. I uttered "Oh, another dust collector", my mom's own words...
Rick Hoppenbrouwer 4 years ago
Why do parent use stupid words for natural functions. Drives me nuts.
RELATED:
#2
My extended family used to do this thing where you'd put your name on a piece of paper and put it in a hat, then draw someone out and that's who you'd get a gift for. It was supposed to be anonymous.
I got two terrible gifts on consecutive years.
The first terrible gift was a DVD of Fast and Furious 3. I'd literally never watched even a second of those movies, and I'm pretty sure the franchise was up to like.. episode 4 or 5 at that point.
The very next year, someone got me a cheap pair of fake leather driving gloves. They were about two sizes too small.
So me, not being a 'car guy' at all, has somehow convinced my uncles and aunts that I'm secretly a tokyo drift racer or something.
The year after that, my mom got my name. You're supposed to put the name back if it's immediate family, but she kept my name knowing I got screwed two years running. She got me a Kindle Fire. :)
Vicky Z 4 years ago
Why that stupid rule? So you make sure you will have a crappy present? Well done to mum
April Stephens 4 years ago
Maybe all the immediate family members exchange presents already, and the gift exchange is to get one extra present from an extended family member.
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Wilson. 4 years ago
Many people do secret santa with large extended families because it would be too expensive otherwise - while doing close family presents separate. Nice way to show a sheltered opinion from someone with no notion of how others may be living, or the financial toll xmas might be making on them! *eyeroll*
Rebe 2 years ago
We play a version of secret santa where each person writes their name and a list of ideas or likes. We started tbis after a couple of years where those of us who watch and pay attention made others very happy while at tbe same time being politely disappointex. Before starting secret santa the sensations were the same but it cost everyone a lot more money.
Thomas Turnbull 4 years ago
I spent £10 on a secret Santa gift for work i i received a soap holder from a pound shop. Yes David I'm talking about you!!
Mark Kelly 4 years ago
I'm a car guy but only like the first F&F and don't use driving gloves.
Susan Reid Smith 4 years ago (edited)
It is what you do for people with large extended families and limited budgets. It works well.
Load More Replies... #3
Instead of received I’ll switch to gave. I bought my whole family tickets to see James Brown live. Literally within minutes of them opening their presents it was announced on the news Christmas morning that James Brown died.
Holly Stevens 4 years ago
This happened to me, my Dad was a huge fan of Pavarotti and I managed to get him a ticket and I was so excited and then Pavarotti got sick and the concert was cancelled and it turned out to be cancer and he died shortly after
Peculiar hedgehog 4 years ago
Damn look at the ticket was $20! I remember when concerts were affordable. Sadness
Alex Boyd 4 years ago
The ticket in the picture is absolutely not for the James Brown concert--I'm pretty sure "Hollywood Undead" is the name of the act. (I'm also familiar with the venue--Lancaster is a few towns over from where I grew up--so it's kind of neat to see it on here!)
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#4
My husbands step mother gave me, a 36 year old at the time, a kindergarten size back pack and when I opened it she said, “I actually bought that for ——- (a child) a few years ago and she hated it so I threw it in a closet and I saw it and thought you’d like it. None of us did, we all think it’s ugly.”
That same year they gave my 3 kids gifts totaling all together $15 with the clearance stickers on them while her biological granddaughter opened a $300 unicorn. Which they made sure we knew cost $300, and then they pointed out to everyone our clearance stickers and what great deals they were (they weren’t), and then they made my kids leave the room so the grand daughter could take pics alone with her unicorn.
It was the last Christmas we visited them. lol
Aeon Flux 4 years ago
I do not understand how people can justify treating non-biological children as... not family?!
Leeds Lass 4 years ago
When i was 8 i wasn't allowed to be in the same room on a night time as my step-dad and his biological children - my half bro and sis! (my mum worked from tea time till midnight - so wasn't home, she knew tho)
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Thomas Biorogue 4 years ago
Being the stepkids was the worst. We went to my step-grandparent's for Christmas one year. My grandmother worked at a hosiery and the 3 of us step-kids got, for the 3 of us, 1 box. It was a big box, so we were excited. What could it be? A tv and Atari? A stereo? Nope. A big box of castoff socks from her plant. Just a big box of unmatched socks that weren't good enough to be sold so they were castoffs. We have to fake excitement over this box of socks while our cousin, their "real" grandkid, is outside doing donuts on his brand new motorcycle dirt bike they gave him. Really showed us our worth. To be fair, my step-dad was pissed to the ninth degree because he treated us like his own kids.
slurping noods 4 years ago
When I was 10 we went to my dad adopted family‘s hometown. And I remember one morning an aunt gave all the children a silver necklace with their name one it. My dad‘s adopted parents have 9 children and soooo many grandchildren, so yeah I have soo many adopted cousins and she gave them all necklaces except me. That aunt told them she gave them necklace because she loved them (my cousins) like her own children. And it happened in front of me, my dad and mom. After that one of my cousin asked me if I get a necklace too, because everyone got it. I answered even if I got them I can’t wear it anyway because it’s not gold (I’m allergic) and walk away to play outside. Later that night my mom and dad were crying and hugged me. I honestly wasn’t sad about the necklace, but it still makes my blood boil until today to see my parents cried that day.
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
That would have been the time I would have packed up and said goodbye.
Paula Creighton-McCool 2 years ago
I don't understand mistreating step(grand)children. Tell me, what makes you people such AHoles? These children are innocent and have done nothing to you but you treat them less than and have no qualms admitting it like it's a point of pride for you what a c*nt you are.
Donna Leske 4 years ago
They did that on purpose, they won, you never visited again. But, you won, you don't need such people in your life.
Jayne Probets-Martin 4 years ago
my mother in law did much the same however my niece who got the big pressies told her one day she hated her i so love that niece my kids were always nice polite kissed her and gave her a gift even though they stopped getting even the value ones ... she bought me some paper knickers once .. i did consider wrapping her next gift up in them but think they got lost with among the christmas trash
#5
A set of miniature butter knives with ceramic fruit and vegetables as the handles. From an aunt who said that I was "So hard to shop for"
I was 7
Vicky Z 4 years ago
I was like okay that sounds interesting and special until i read the age🙄🙄🙄🙄
Miss Cris 4 years ago
That's why they're butter knives and not butcher ones.
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Philenzortia 3 years ago
This reminds me that an old family friend came to my house because one of my great aunts told her we were celebrating a birthday, but they didn't told her whos birthday was. She thought it was my mother's so she bought her a bread basket... It was actually my 17 years brother birthday. So yeah he got a bread basket and he's going to take it with him when he leaves the nest 😂😂
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Ckothes, a set of Crayolas or some age-appropriate jigsaw puzzles, or—my always personal favorite—BOOKS!
AzKhaleesi 4 years ago
Idk... I'd have put it in a hope chest (if I were their mom) so they could have the set when they were older. Use it as a family heirloom and pass it down.
#6
A dishtowel.. I was 8 years old.
Sammie 19 2 years ago
I was 17 and was no longer living with my alcoholic, abusive mother but was still invited to Christmas at her place and as my eldest cousin was going to be there I said OK. He had told me that my mother had bought a present for me that I'd love. So I get there and everything seemed fine. Just 1 gift for me under the tree while my cousin and 3 siblings had a lot more but ok, I'm not making a fuss. I put all the gifts I'd bought for them under the tree. I spent about £100 on them which for me was a lot of money. My cousin opened his main gift which was the same size as mine and I was really happy to see that he had gotten a Walkman which was what I really wanted. Then my 15 year old sister opened her main present and she had also gotten a Walkman. By now my hopes were really high and I was given my gift and opened it. 3 tea towels.... I cried. I got told to STFU by mother so I left. Walked 16 miles home as the buses weren't running. I was devastated.
Kelly Hartle 4 years ago
My grandmother got me a handtowel for Christmas a few years back, but to be fair she had Alzheimer's. I'd give a lot to have her be able to give another one to me this year.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Some people could afford only stuff on sale. Why ridicule that? Remember, there are 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 DAILY in U.S....so parents had 6, 9 or more kids to help w/the farming, shopping, &c.
Load More Replies... #7
Looking back, it wasn't a bad present, but when I got a pair of pants for Christmas when I was 6, I started crying and screamed out "You're supposed to get me these anyways!"
Vicky Z 4 years ago
Well, you are not wrong and who wasn't disappointed as a kid getting clothes for presents?
RK Barbo 3 years ago
I liked getting clothes for Christmas cause that meant they weren't hand-me-downs.
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Jo Davies 4 years ago
We got Christmas clothes as a kid. They always has a little more thought out into them, usually fancier and cost a bit more than regular clothes. After opening our presents we would put them on and sit down to read the books we also received, while chomping on the Christmas sweet boxes. I still love it
kim morris 4 years ago
Every year for christmas we got a new dress. Store-bought. That we needed to sing in the school christmas concert. All of our other dresses Mom made.
tabithapaquette98 2 years ago
Kids hate getting clothes as gifts! I remember well. Socks and underwear? Really? I didn't care if I " needed them". I wanted toys!
Eglė Bukauskaitė 3 years ago
my parents used to be very poor when i was growing up and tried disguise it from us, children, by all means possible. I use to get school supplies for christmas.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
This is true, and most kids have been onto these lame gifts for generations. Parents are supposed to provide clothing all year long. Holidays are for presents, not necessities.
Onion rings like to make your breath smelly 4 years ago
I'd be extremely happy if i got clothes for Christmas!
#8
A Lamborghini calender. My brother got a guitar and amp. My two sisters got a bike each. F**k i hate Lamborghinis now
Dirk Daring 4 years ago
Should have made a big show of excitedly running out to the driveway to look for your new Lambo.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Much preferable to a sexist calendar~~whether of chickadees or firefighters.
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Harri Ellis 4 years ago
My brother got a reel to reel tape recorder, my sister got a church organ, I got an album
#9
So I was dating a guy for a few months when Christmas rolled around. He had recently started a new job that required travel and this was before smart phones and built in GPS in your car were common, so I splurged a bit and got him a Garmin to help him find his way. Thoughtful, useful, but not too sentimental; it felt perfect for where the relationship was at the time.
Due to schedules, we couldn’t get together until a few days after Christmas. In my haste to go see him, I walked right out the door without his gift. I didn’t realize it until I got to his house and I felt terrible, but he said, “No worries, I’ll give you your gifts now and I’ll just get mine later.”
Cool. So he goes into the other room and comes back with two wrapped gifts. I noticed some of the paper was messed up like it had been rewrapped, but didn’t think much of it in the moment.
I carefully unwrapped the first package. It was a MMA magazine. That had clearly been read. I was… confused. I do not like MMA. Not even a little bit. Nor have I ever expressed interest in MMA. Not once. He, on the other hand, loved all things MMA.
Trying to move on, I politely thanked him, set the magazine down, and refocused on the next gift. I could tell it was a DVD from the shape of the package. And indeed, it was a DVD. A Forrest Gump DVD. With the cellophane wrapper missing. Now don’t get me wrong, Forrest Gump is a solid choice. Except, I already owned a Forrest Gump DVD. And now here I was suddenly the proud owner of a second copy that appeared used.
I again thanked him and sat there quietly, trying to wrap my head around how he could have arrived at the conclusion that a used magazine on a topic I didn’t like and a secondhand DVD of something I already owned would make for good Christmas gifts.
He also got a little quiet, then sheepishly volunteered, “I, uh, got bored so I watched the movie yesterday.” I just stared. “And then I, uh, hadn’t seen that issue yet… so I went ahead and read through it. I think you’ll really like it!” I slowly responded, “So… you got me a magazine because you wanted to read it and then watched the movie you got for me because you were bored?” His only response was, “Well yeah, I guess so.” I left not long after.
The next day, I returned the Garmin for a full refund. About a week later, he called and said he didn’t think it was working out. “No problem,” I said, “I don’t think it’s working out either.”
As we were wrapping up the call, expressing well wishes and all that, he paused for a beat and said, “Hey, uh, were you still going to give me that Christmas present?”
April Stephens 4 years ago
"My Christmas present to you is the magazine you read and movie you watched before giving them to me."
GoddessOdd 4 years ago
The correct answer is "I was going to, but on the way I got lost, so I'm using the GPS myself"
#10
Every year my aunt gives our family “Thrift Santa” gifts, like a bunch, from thrift stores. The thing is, nothing relates to anything. The worst I’ve gotten are among a Kama Sutra book when I was 13/14 (awkward), and a New York Yankees baby onesie. I don’t have kids, I don’t watch baseball.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
I like how you didn't find kama sutra useless just akward at 13 but the baseball related gift was completely useless😅😅
Gerard Neaux 4 years ago
A kid getting a sex guide is right to feel awkward. In some places that'd count as abuse rather than just "useless".
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Donkey boi 4 years ago
The Kama Sutra is a book about living well, understanding love and finding happiness. While it's contents do include a section about sexuality and eroticism, It is NOT a sex book. It can be a good read to a pubescent young adult exploring their feelings.
GoddessOdd 4 years ago
But it doesn't sound like Auntie was thinking along those lines. The baby baseball onesie kind of make it look as though she wasn't giving a lot of thought to the gifts.
Load More Replies... Donna Leske 4 years ago
So....... you wrap them up and give them to her next year. Problem solved.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Cruel, vengeful, nasty, penalty-seeking, tasteless great-niece & you for repeating this old tale slamming your great-great aunt. Are you dispensing lessons on how to be an ingrate? Be grateful your elderly aunt is still able to attend reunions~~not measure the gift her great-niece got.
Load More Replies... Riley Quinn 4 years ago (edited)
Some people don't even try to find appropriate gifts. A relative handed me a pair of cotton panties (no bag, no wrap, just panties) and wished me a happy birthday. My birthday passed months earlier.
Kelly Hartle 4 years ago
At one family reunion my great-great aunt gave a used Christmas ornament as her grab-bag gift. The person who got it was her great-niece who had planned and coordinated the reunion for about 300 people.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
And your point is...? One who throws a party should get a lavish gift? Great-great aunts were born around WWII; many women lost their jobs 'cuz guys returned home & took all the women's jobs. A "used" Xmas ornament can be used for a century. Put it on e*Bay.
Load More Replies... Z Alexi 4 years ago
Is that all AzKhaleesie got~~vengeance w/a sprinkling of violence? “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”~~Gandhi.
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Jackie Nettleton 4 years ago
My eldest cousin that I’m in contact with, his dad got him a sweatshirt for his Christmas present from the charity shop that was at least two sizes too small and when he asked for a receipt to exchange he was told about it being from the charity shop. They don’t speak much anymore
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Perhaps his dad had little $. [Being a perennial cheapskate is another matter.] Did he deliberately buy gifts from a charity shop for everyone? Sounds new~~because cuz asked for a receipt. Sometimes, it's the best one can do...don't sling this crap around for decades~~try to understand. Polish your heart.
Load More Replies... Pepper Pots 4 years ago
I cant stop laughing, I would feel bad for getting family gifts like these
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Poverty ain't funny, ouch. Have you been to war or lived thru one?
Load More Replies... #11
When I was 18 my grandma gave me the card label from a gift card (no actual gift card) shoved into an empty toilet paper tube and wrapped like a gift. All of my siblings got actual gift cards. Grandma never liked me much.
Tom Spade 4 years ago
Yup. My cousin's always got the toys and games. My brother and I always got an UGLY red sweater. Or some socks. We didn't show up barefoot and cold, wtf...
GoddessOdd 4 years ago
Are you sure it was deliberate? I recently found a gift card from several Christmases ago, it was tucked into a flap of the box. I thought I had just received gardening gloves from them, not realizing I got a $50 gift card also.
AzKhaleesi 4 years ago
I can't wrap my head around a grandparent not "liking" their grand child.
Riley Quinn 4 years ago
Looks like someone won't be visiting Grannie in the nursing home when the time comes.
TheReader19 4 years ago
In my opinion that's really cruel and bad minded. Even though your not found of your grandchild you still should be fair
Mark Kelly 4 years ago
That's just mean. My grandma gave me and my siblings equal gifts like cash.
#12
One time when I was 10 my mum gave me & by brother a packet of plastic rainbow bendy straws each for Christmas.
She was mad at our dad for having brought us back 3 days late from his part of the holidays & took it out on us.
Being a contrary soul, I happily took my brother's discarded pack & proceeded to make a million rainbow flutes that I would incessantly try to learn to play, for the next two months.
I suspect she lived to regret her choice since I also never cleaned any of my discarded flutes up.
Shelby Jackson 4 years ago
Never take it out on the kids. It's not their fault. Side note:yes, I bet she did regret that choice of gift.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
There's this great invention called a telephone. Why didn't dad call mom to ask for additional time? The kid seems to know no facts~~all surmises. Mom may've not had any $...divorced dad may've been late on his child-support payments...there are many parts this kid doesn't explore. Tell us the WhoWhatWhenWhereWhyHow b4 you slam your mom w/decades-old gossip.
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Patti Vance 4 years ago
can't stand it when parents use their kids as weapons or punish them for the idiocity of the other parent.
#13
My cousin once gave me an autographed picture of himself. Which was funny as hell so I didn’t mind.
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
Ooh, I gotta remember this. Will do this for one of my brothers lol.
#14
A box of top ramen. Just a standard grocery box of ramen bags. It was wrapped up with a nice bow too, and it was not gifted as a joke. My family knew I was having financial troubles and was only eating one meal a day, they honestly thought they were helping me out.
GoddessOdd 4 years ago
If you really want to help someone out, maybe getting better food would be most considerate.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Small grocers [near residential areas] which don't require car/gas to get to don't sell gift cards. A piano "would have been better."
Load More Replies... Jackie Nettleton 4 years ago (edited)
At least they were trying to help you in times of struggle, not well granted but at least they did try
My Name Is Mars 4 years ago
I like black bean with seaweed ramen. It's kind of expensive but worth it.
#15
A pack of cigs and a roll of trash bags. I don’t smoke.
Cristina Speluzzi 4 years ago
I was given a huge, and I mean huge, bronze ash tray. I don't smoke.
Mark Kelly 4 years ago
If my family the only normal one? My parents and relatives tried to make sure me and my sibs got equal presents/cash and stuff that interested us.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
That's why you're a U.S. Senator. P.S. "Normal" is relative...you may mean "typical."
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#16
My mom asked what my 13-year-old daughter wanted for Christmas and I said, "she likes to sew." How this led to our entire extended family buying her nothing but yarn I do not know. That was 2 years ago and there's still so much yarn.
Yort 4 years ago
Man, I crochet but I’d be annoyed at getting nothing but yarn for Christmas.
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Riley Quinn 4 years ago
Well Mom, be a bit more explicit next time. A list of sewing equipment would have worked out better.
#17
My grandpa was planning on giving me a tissue box with money in it (still not sure why). Anyway he wrapped the wrong box and I opened a box of tissues on Christmas morning
#18
The time I was really into Green Day and the emerging "alternative" music of the mid 90s. And my mom bought me a few CDs (back when CDs were something stupid like $20 each). Wow! Awesome gift! Except the CDs were Toni Braxton and Mariah Carey and something else I've completely forgotten.
Or the Christmases when my brother would get a pile of presents or something pretty expensive (foosball table, air hockey table, etc), and I'd get a couple books and lipgloss. I love those things, so the gifts themselves weren't bad, but I was clearly not the favored child.
In the aftermath of gift opening, mom would look at the pile my brother got and the few gifts I got, then make a big show of stomping around the house claiming she knows she got more for me, she must have misplaced all the other gifts! Without fail, for several years in a row, she "misplaced" my gifts. Because she realized in the moment that she spent waaaaay more on my brother than me. Never once did she find these "misplaced" gifts.
And to make it worse, my birthday is shortly after Christmas, so I never got much for my birthday because the budget was blown on Christmas. My brother claims he remembers me getting s**tty birthday gifts and I was always jealous of his. I don't have any memory of that, but it very well could be. (The worst birthday was the year I only got a Bible with my name stamped on the front in gold lettering. That's a birthday I remember quite clearly.)
Winx 4 years ago
I have three sisters and the gifts are always disproportionate. I guess that's what I get for living far away and providing no grandchildren lol
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Some siblings have a rule of no gifts who won't physically be there at Xmas...our family lives on both coasts so many who don't fly 3,000 miles to get her crappy gifts don't give a hoot. But do resent her silly discriminatory rule. It's like you don't get her $25 gift if you don't spend $500 to visit her [punishment].
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Sa Ruuu 4 years ago
I feel that but with my aunt gifting presents to my sister and I. Best example was when she came back from a trip with boxes and boxes of designer and boutique clothing for my sister...then gave me free plastic boxes she got from the airline and said "because you like these types of things right?" Hmmm yeah totally loved them, especially after watching my sister open her many gifts first 🙄
Kari Marine 4 years ago
My mom claims that she spent equally between my brother and I. The one year I actually thought she was right she said she had forgotten one gift for him that was out in the garage. It was an entire stereo system.. so no, it was not equal and he was most definitely the favorite lol
GlitterQueen541 4 years ago
My grandma got my sister a bible for her 16th birthday with her name embossed in gold on the front. It was a little late because they spelled her name wrong and she got a new one with the right spelling. When I turned 16 I also got a bible with my name embossed in gold on the front from my Grandma. If you look closely, you can see my sister's name (misspelt) under my name.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Toss your book of fairy tales. If GlitterQueen's female, you should wonder why there are chapters titled MatthewMarkLukeJohn but not StefJenShaquilaGlitter. Or why Noah's wife or Lot's wife didn't have surnames [they were a guy's adjunct, shadows who didn't deserve names]. Or all the other sexist, homophobic, violent junk in that book written by guys w/wee warts in their perineal areas. Really.
Load More Replies... Mark Kelly 4 years ago
What the hell is wrong with people? I'm a triplet and we all got good gifts on our birthday.
MikeWheelerFan 4 years ago
My birthday is 5 days after Christmas but I got lucky because I’m an only child and my parents make sure to separate Christmas and my birthday
Zina Monceaux 2 years ago
My family pulled names when I was pre-teen through 19. I’m a size 2XL! I’d get size Large every clothes item. Never had pierced ears-got ears & necklace that were heavy zippers. I was 19 and got American Girl stationary because I liked to write letters. About ten yrs old I got a box set of the LOTR books. I had no interest I wasn’t a 10yr old boy. I have kept very few Christmas gifts. And this year I was asked make a list, make a list. I did I only got the 2 books I asked for….won’t mention the rest. Will not make lists May quit exchanging gifts.
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
It isn't easy, Both my husband and my daughter are the 20th December, I had always strived to make sure that my daughter at least, had a Birthday party.
Cass Thomas 4 years ago
My parents always celebrated my Christmas brother's birthday a week before.
#19
Started loving computers at age 7 in 92 (ZX Spectrum and then 186, 286 etc) at our local kids club, kept on going, learned to code early, was addicted to everything related to them. Grandma called me and told me she had sent money to my parents to buy me a PC ( at 11, in 96). I was so excited, al my friends could not wait to see it and play with me, I could not sleep for days on end. Then Christmas Eve came ( we do the gifts in the evening). Rushed under the tree aaaaand … surprise .. I .. got .. a mobile electronic organ player.
My Mom told me “ it has buttons right ? Just like a computer” … ( she took the money and bought an automatic washing machine). I’m still f***ing upset Mom !
Wanted to clear something out. I was/am a bit upset only on that particular situation. My family is fantastic, they made sacrifices above and beyond for me. We were almost on the poor poor side. I love both my parents and I admire them and I did not want to paint a monster picture of my Mom. I love hear and respect her like nobody else in my life. I did reply to this question to explain that certain situations that happen during your childhood will have an impact for the rest of your life, even more if they are connected to an event celebrated by many others. I remember it and get a bit sad but then I remember my childhood and my family and I smile, knowing that I grew up in a positive environment and that they gave up so much for me to grow and allowed me to have my own jurney. I tried my best to reply to all the comments. I am dyslexic and sometimes I do not write the words correctly, apologies for that. I did however notice one fantastic thing - You guys are supportive ( each in his own way), and that is wonderfull!! These days people like you are a rare. Thank you and I do hope that you all have a happy life and that you will be able to learn from others ( as I also do) and avoid making some mistakes. Be safe and stay awesome.
Adrian Palotáš 4 years ago
i f*****g laughed my ass off, im so sorry but the "it has buttons just like computer" is pure gold
Ivana 4 years ago
This reminds me of my family. They had a rule that if you did the laundry and found any money you could keep it. It was a great incentive to get kids to do laundry. I found $20 and it felt like I hit the lottery. However, we were so incredibly poor that my parents really needed that $20 for gas to get to work. They set me down and said they needed it and I was absolutely devastated. I never helped with laundry again. I did all the other chores but never the laundry.
vivioh 4 years ago
So did you learn to play the electric organ player? I mean that sincerely. You sound like an appreciative person and quite smart. So was just wondering. (Btw. I play the organ. 😂)
Wandaluzt 3 years ago
They posted this on Reddit over a month ago. You can't speak to them from this site.
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Z Alexi 4 years ago
So the last book you ever read you were forced to read in h.s.? Or didja drop out 'cuz you were too lazy to read [50% of U.S. minorities are h.s. dropouts.] If you can't read one page, what kinds of people invite you to lunch or dinner? And what do y'all talk about? Or don't you socialize, just click on computer all day, not reading anything? Solitaire, anyone?
Load More Replies... #20
A comic book that was laying around the house for several months which I read twice in this period. I didn’t know it was supposed to be my surprise present.
Peppy Piplup 4 years ago (edited)
When I was younger, the family car had three rows of seats: the drivers seat, the passenger seats and one seat in the boot of the car, right next to where we usually stored things, like shopping bags. One time I sat in the boot seat while my mum was going shopping with me and my brothers, and I spotted a Zhu Zhu Pets book that was sitting right out in the open. Not even hidden or anything. So I read it, and didn't say anything because I assumed it was a Christmas present for someone else. Suprise: I got a Zhu Zhu Pets book from Santa that year! My parents are extremely lucky that I didn't get suspicious that Santa gave me a book that my mum also bought.
Rachael Sampson 4 years ago
If it's a surprise then why did someone leave it out? You're supposed to HIDE surprise presents!
#21
Last year my mom.bought me a can opener. Wrapped it and gave it to me when everyone was gathered around exchanging gifts too so theyd all see and get to share in her laughter. Unfortunately she was the only one who found it funny, everyone else just thought it was f**ked up.
ChariotLee 4 years ago
My mom's can opener broke on Thanksgiving one year in front of the entire extended family. So guess what she got for Christmas? A can opener from every member of the family. Luckily she found it quite funny.
best turtle 4 years ago
my cousin did the same thing he got me a pizza cutter (probably how my dad got his pizza pan idea)
#22
An ex gave me an engagement ring for herself, on the idea that I would use it to propose to her. She also gave specific instructions on how and when I should do it, as well as stipulations that she would be the one planning our wedding. We had a terrible relationship and I had been planning on breaking up with her right after the holidays (which I did). I couldn't understand how she thought we were even close to being on the same page, and once it was all over I realized the obvious and what everyone was trying to tell me for 3 years--I was in an abusive relationship. Still, who the hell buys a ring for someone to give back to them? It's just bad gifting.
Ozymandias73 4 years ago (edited)
Sounds like he got saved in the nick of time. She sounded like she would've been very controlling and manipulative if they were to become married. YIKES!!
#23
"I'm taking $500 off the debt you owe me." - written in a Christmas card from my adopted mother.
Edit for context: She kept a running tally of money owed in the time I lived there. Swearing-$10, $15 if I was in the house when I supposed to have waited for them to come home first, stuff like that. IIRC she still had the notebook/ledger 5 years after I moved out.
K W 4 years ago
Ok that's terrible. Parents who make their children feel like they owe them for existing are A-Holes.
ThEboRedEsTpANdA 4 years ago (edited)
Also, ADOPTIVE mother. She doesn't have that excuse. Plus, ngl I so many times I have heard parents/kids arguing in public and the parents say 'Don't yell at me, I'm the reason you exist' but the kids just comeback is, without fail 'I didn't ask to exist though, did I?'
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Nicholas Kraemer 4 years ago
Awwww, that's a mom who is really hoping for a crappy nursing home.
Lara Verne 4 years ago
If your adopted mother did this sh*t, she deserved nice gift card with "f*ck you " written on it.
Debbie Burton 4 years ago
Wow... I used to joke that I would make my son pay me back for his Chiro appointments once he got a good job! Now he has a high paying job he pays for his own Chiro but also grabs household bills and pays them without me knowing or gets my car serviced and pays for it and stuff like that... :D
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Vengeance is Azure Adams'~~that's all you got? Not happy unless you're slamming strangers? Grow up.
Load More Replies... Z Alexi 4 years ago
Az' double-digit brain strikes again...you know a person's whole life from reading 4 sentences. Have you raised a kid for a decade or 2? 365? Then say something relevant or get thee to a library, quick!
Load More Replies... Z Alexi 4 years ago
Heather Menard knows someone's whole life from reading 4 sentences. So I'll analyze hers from 2. Heather confirms she's a B-word by calling a stranger that. Whatta room-temperature I.Q. contributing nothing but bile & pejoratives. Grow up, ugly.
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Z Alexi 4 years ago
Yep, the kid [now allegedly an adult who hasn't learned grammar (If I were..., &c")] is stoopid [sic]. A mom is a mom [step/adopted] & ifs/ he continues to feel she's 2nd best, he's asking for it. I'd send him a bill, then Small Claims Court~~not deduct it as a gift. The kid's a whining mess. Rules are rules~~ask any boss, teacher, cop, judge. Boo-hoo.
Load More Replies... #24
When the tomagotchi craze was in full swing my siblings and I asked for one. My sisters both got one, and I got a jacket because mine was torn up and small. When I asked my dad why I didn't get one and if Santa thought I did something bad that year. He told me I was too old for Santa and needed to learn life isn't fair. I was 8. My sisters were 7 and 5. From that point forward I only ever received clothing.
Lane Smith 4 years ago
Damn. I'm not big on the whole Santa fabrication and lying to kids about it, but I'm all about letting kids be kids for as long as possible. That means cool toys for an 8 year old.
willi santiago 4 years ago
Ugh, I got that "you're too old" crap ALL the time. I think it was just an excuse to treat me like sh*t. I still give my kids, 24 and 30, Easter baskets, stockings, etc. You're never too old
My Name Is Mars 4 years ago
That's tragic. Imagine being robbed of your childhood because your parents are callous jerks who shouldn't have had children in the first place 😭 My son is going to be 18 in February and I still buy him toys when he asks for them because, well, he likes toys. I turned 40 in October and I still like toys, too.
Pam Page 4 years ago
The Christmas I turned 10 my brothers received brand new bicycles and enough matchbox cars to fill the new wagon they also received. I waited and waited and was finally told that my gift was back-ordered. It never came. Things never improved. Left home when I graduated and never looked back.
Atopher Bot 4 years ago
Wow.. I am proud of the fact that my 9 year old still has doubts about whether or not Santa is real. We got him some durian candy last year and he said "That has to be from Santa because there is no way you would ever get that for me"... lol
willi santiago 4 years ago
One year, I got my son, 7, a little hockey/foos ball table. He hadn't asked but who wouldn't want one? Turned out, he had secretly asked for it from Santa, to test if I was Santa. Of course he was convinced Santa was real after that!!
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Kelly Hartle 4 years ago
Jeez--I'm 58 and my parents still sneak in a few presents from "Santa" every year!
vivioh 4 years ago
Damn. That’s sad. I’m sure it was disappointing but just keep telling yourself, there’s another boy out there that would cry for the gift of a coat.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Hell, yeah. Gimme a jacket since I outgrew mine [& it's raggedy]...Tomagotchis died so easily & are beyond sick~~nothing but a ticking pet rock. Worthless. Since 2010, parents caught on being hoodwinked & mfgs cldn't sell 'em~~even at highly discounted prices. Nobody knows the name of the inventor except that s/he's red-faced & a disgrace.
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#25
My aunt is very eccentric and would always ask for a Christmas list from me, so, for a few years, I would send her a list, only to realize that she would give me something from the Dollar Store, wrapped in re-used wrapping paper from the previous Christmas. I once got cologne from the Dollar Store when I was 8 or 9.
And she wasn't poor; quite the opposite. She had a lovely house and a pretty high-income job. She was just a little messed up mentally.
So, one year, when I was 11 or 12, I thought: I'm only going to ask for one thing and see what happens. A Seattle Seahawks t-shirt. The package arrived, and the day came, and it was indeed a t-shirt! A used Buffalo Bills t-shirt with some stains on the logo.
It was the right size, though.
Softball05 4 years ago
Aww! Sounds like she was trying, but her mental health thing stopped her:(
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Why would Neil Batel toss his hate around so frivolously? That's the 1st thing outta his empty head~~that a team you don't cheer for whips up hate inside you? This brat's greedy...what did he buy his aunt all the years he's beefing about? Zip, or he woulda noted it to show he's entitled. jeezus
Load More Replies... Z Alexi 4 years ago
Sure, if you don't get me the gift I demand, you're "messed up mentally." How tired is every1 of entitled kids? Did he say he got his aunt lovely gifts? Nope, it's all about me, Me, ME! He has no idea what her salary was [or he woulda said it] or what her $ obligations were [Did she have a handicapped child she had to pay for? A parent she was caregiver to]? Whatta s}{itty, greedy, immature nephew.
#26
My deadbeat dad brought nine year old girl me motel shampoo and an adult mens shirt he got for free. Wish I was joking.
My Name Is Mars 4 years ago (edited)
My ex husband straight up ignored our son from the time he was 10 until he turned 15 and thought he could just pick up where he left off five years prior. Our son was not only completely heartbroken that his dad didn't care about him but justifiably pissed off to no end. Fortunately where we live, at the age of 15, the child can legally decide whether or not they want any contact with the non custodial parent and our son permanently cut off all contact with his father. He'll be 18 in February and has not seen nor spoken to the deadbeat since going no contact with him.
Peg Gy 4 years ago
My dad gifted me the complimentary towels from the local casino (where he was a regular) with their logo on it.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Casino towels~~like hotel towels~~aren't "complimentary." They're stolen. They increase prices of rooms, liquor, everything when customers steal them. Dad was/is a thief. We hope his gifts improved w/maturity [his].
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Denise Lewis 4 years ago
my parents were divorced and my father never bought any gifts for Christmas birthday etc the year they split up i was three they did this the day before thanksgiving there were six kids i was the youngest for Christmas me got white tube sox and hangers as a fact after that the inly time i remember getting anything for Christmas was a radio to which my mother came into my room with scissors and cut the cord because she thought it was to loud so much for that gift
Mark Kelly 4 years ago
Sad. For Christmas me and my sibling got video games and a computer, Lego and a Gt snow racer and other cool stuff.
#27
I participated in a voluntary office Christmas exchange in 2012 with a $30 limit. My gift was a CD-R of the givers favorite album. I was less than enthused, but nonetheless slid the disc into my car to check it out only to find out that it was blank. The person had written the band name/album title on the disc, but forgot to actually burn a copy.
Edit: it was supposed to be the album “Spit” by Kittie.
Gerard Neaux 4 years ago
I've never been that disappointed receiving an email without attachment
Load More Replies... Patti Vance 4 years ago
i hated the office christmas exchange which was supposed to be anonymous but never was. one year, i got the name of a lovely lady who most people didn't like to work with. why? because 1. she knew her job backwards/forwards; 2. was honest & outspoken; 3. she was a little too liberal w/her views; & 4. she was a self proclaimed hippie at heart. she was into crystals & 'raw' materials. i has a siberian amber & silver bracelet & earring set that she admired. it was over $100 & the limit was $25. i came across a similar bracelet whose silver was tarnished so badly it was black & marked down to $20 (guess they were too lazy to polish.) she was over the moon but i got a lot of crap for it because everyone thought i had bought it at full price since i had worked a couple of days w/polish & q-tips. in fact, she didn't want to accept because she also thought i has spent too much money until i finally confessed the price. after that, she was fine with it.
Snorkeldorf 4 years ago (edited)
Only thing I asked for was an album (back in the vinyl days) of a popular rock/pop group. I was 9 years old. Mom and dad both worked and mom did the shopping. She always waited to the last minute and apparently the album was sold out. When I unwrapped my present it was "Pecos Bill Tells Tales of the Old West". I cried.
Thomas Turnbull 4 years ago
I spent £10 on a secret Santa at work and Gita soap holder from the pound shop as my present.
#28
Office supplies. I was in the 2nd grade. It was the class gift exchange. Imagine being a kid, watching everyone else open dolls, and cars, and glitter pens. While you're sitting there with a calculator, tape dispenser, and stapler. Apparently, the girl who drew my name was in the hospital a lot and her parents just grabbed things from the gift shop? No idea why a teddy bear wasn't on the list. I ended up giving everything to my Nanna since she was a teacher.
Softball05 4 years ago
Awww. I bet the parents were preoccupied and thought it was for the teacher. And I bet your Nanna appreciated it! (My nana was a teacher, too)
K W 4 years ago
It's completely understandable how disapointing this would be for most kids. Unless you're my 2nd grader who would be stoked. He's obsessed with tape, which he gets as a stocking stuffer, and he asked for a calculator for Christmas. He'd love to have a stapler too if I'd let him. Definitely a boring gift for most kids though.
Natalie 4 years ago
Haha my seven year old loves tape too! And pens and pencils and paper. She'd probably also love a stapler:)
Load More Replies... Mewton’s Third Paw 4 years ago
I got a pencil sharpener from a family member one year. She was poor and I don’t think understood Christmas too well and apologized as she gave it to me. But I didn’t mind it at all. It wasn’t a gameboy or anything but it was decent among the other things I got. I think about it all the time though. More for her sake than mine.
Tuna Fish 4 years ago
Oooh I remember when I was in third grade all I wanted was office supplies. My mom got me stuffed bears (Papa, Mama, and Baby bears which were adorable) and I cried because I had told my friend who had a play house in her back yard that I would bring us office supplies for the desk in there. Too bad we didn't know each other that year, we could have helped each other out!
vivioh 4 years ago
It would make the gift so much more special to me knowing the parents picked up a few items in the HOSPITAL gift shop WHERE their own daughter was in said hospital. I’m sure their minds were on more important things so even the fact that they did get something is very considerate.
#29
When I was 10 years old my grandparents gave me an unwrapped suitcase for Christmas. In the interests of convenience, they used that suitcase for the wrapped presents for my sisters.
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
When My two girls were 5 and 3, my MIL played favourites with my 5 year old. She was bought a gorgeous pink bed spread with a Ballerina on it, while my 3 year old got the Ugliest doll I have ever seen, 'Baby Drowsy'. After being told that Ness was too young for a Bed Spread, I retaliated. To combat and get my own back, I just said that, I would put the bed spread away until Nessa was old enough to have one for herself, and left it at that, Thinking that I would be able to find one the same and buy it for her birthday. February 1 came and we had her Birthday Party, I had not been able to find the same Bed Spread at all, MIL came up with an identical Bed Spread for Nessa, so they could BOTH enjoy the same pretty things together. MIL never left Nessa out after that. She knew I wouldn't allow it.
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
To put things into perspective, When Tammy was born, she was worshiped like a queen. When Nessa was born, MIL stood at the Nursery window and said, "We DON'T have Red Heads in OUR family. My response was, Well you do now. She seemed to always make sure that Tammy had that little bit extra than she gave Nessa. It hurt, But I never let her see that.
#30
50 pounds of russet potatoes.
Kelly Countryman 4 years ago
We lived in Germany for 3 years, being from the states we love russet potatoes but the German potatoes are small and starchy (amazing for fries! but not so great baked or mashed). The first thing we bought when we returned to the states was a bag of russet potatoes, butter and sour cream.
#31
A case of Slim-Fast. Was I overweight? Yes, but my (not so) passive aggressive ex sister-in-law was a b***h. She fairly soon after was talking about weight loss items and specifically told my then-wife and I we should never use products like Slim-Fast as they will poison you. I can't decide if she was trying to kill me or was just a stupid a**hole.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
That's what we need~~another guy griping about his in-laws complete w/bitc}{ & ass}{ole. Allow me 2 words for this hateful, heartless, bullying control freak: small dik...a/k/a wee wart in your perineal area. All women can tell at once when you talk women-hating smack. Shuddup.
#32
A $100 bill. I was dating and living with an ex at the time. For Christmas he wanted a very fancy and very specific looking button up shirt. I spent a month making him the shirt and making sure it was perfect. I also made us a nice Christmas dinner with some fun drinks. Christmas morning rolls around and I give him his shirt, he tries it on and loves it! Yay! He then gets a panicked look and his face, reaches in his pocket, pulls a $100 out of his wallet, and says "Um....here ya go. My friends are coming over today so...you have somewhere to be, right?" Basically he was paying me to leave. But the bright side was, I knew right then and there how he actually felt about me. He was dumped before for the new year.
Cold Contagious 4 years ago
Maybe she wanted to get all of her ducks in a row before dropping the bomb on him. Exactly what I would have done.
Load More Replies... Z Alexi 4 years ago
He told you on Xmas morning to go away? No notice, no discussion b4 then? You took his Xmas order but didn't give him YOUR order? [Nice guys finish last.] Smells greedy. The moving-out part must've stung...betcha he didn't help you. Who raises vulgarians like that? They can't all be Trumps.
#33
I was six years old and I really really wanted an electric train set. I was like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" harping on about his BB gun that he wanted. The big day arrives and there's a large box that looked pretty close to electric train set size but my parents would dictate in which order the presents were opened and of course it was saved for last. I don't remember the other gifts, but I do remember the big electric train set sized box. I'll give you a hint. It wasn't an electric train set. It was a box filled with sweaters and socks. No joke. Just what a six year old boy wants. Sweaters and socks. Worst part was that the person giving me this wanted to see me model the sweaters and my parents forced me to. Yes, because a six year old boy with his heart set on an electric train set really wants to be disappointed and have to model sweaters he didn't want in the first place.
the bean master 2 years ago
im writing this because i know i will be the top comment no matter what, just don't look at the others
Diana 4 years ago
Are you...ok?? You sound so bitter on all of your comments...
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#34
My dad played a running prank on me for years where he would either wrap up a toy he dug out of my room I forgot about, or he would do something like fill a small box with rocks and put it with the other presents. Without fail every year I would beg and plead to open a single present early of my choosing, and EVERY time I got the joke box. The rocks sounded like legos which I loved so I opened that one. One year he put one of my forgotten toys right out front begging for attention, bamboozled again. Another year he nestled it towards the very back like he was hiding a real present, he got me again. Without fail he got in my head somehow to guide me towards that present.
vivioh 4 years ago (edited)
What a wonderful thoughtful Dad. And a great tradition and memory.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Not "wonderful"~~prankster. Some people hate practical jokes...like pulling out a chair when someone's bending to sit down, plop. Whatta waste of time [& landfill] wrapping an old item~~just to piss off your kid. Not my sperm donor, he wouldn't dare.
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#35
My aunt. Poor lady. She wasn't in the best financial situation and she had arthritis and cancer. But was sweet beyond what she should have been.
She gave me 2.
When I was 16: a vampire makeup kit. I had never mentioned anything about vampires. I was kind of your run of the mill jock just worried about sports and friends.
When I was 15: a floppy black hat with an elastic piece on the back, with pennies glued to the bill with glitter glue.
#36
My sisters father. I wanted Pokemon sapphire or ruby so bad for Christmas it was the only thing I asked for. A few days before Christmas he came home with a GBA cartridge wrapped in wrapping paper and set it on one of the Christmas tree branches. He said "you can't open it until Christmas" excitedly so my 3rd grade brain assumed he had gotten what I asked for. Christmas day comes and I open it immediately to see Ice Age 2: The Meltdown staring at me. It was the first time I faked liking a present. Edit: For those wondering I did indeed get the game a year later, my moms good friend bought a used version of sapphire for me.
Cold Contagious 4 years ago
Idk why sometimes people just see any other game and decide it's good enough. They just don't want to pay for the ones you ask for or don't really care what you asked for when there's not that much difference in price. I've seen it happen. It's heartbreaking to a kid. We always tried very hard to get what was asked for. Maybe not everything but would explain to them if you get a&b then you won't get c. Or always had them prioritize the most important things to them. And we always made it equal between the three.
Lynn Morello 4 years ago
Whenever my kids would ask for a particular present I would try hard to get what they wanted, My second husband proceeded to Hock all my kids presents in the October and never said anything. So come the week before Christmas, When he told me that I must have stashed the presents somewhere else, I knew what he had done and confronted him. Apparently I was supposed to put him before my kids and shouldn't have gone spoiling them so much. So I was out $1200, he never said how much he was paid at the Hock shop nor did I bother to find out. It wasn't long after that we were headed for a divorce, less than 12 months married, And the Christmas presents were not the reason for the divorce, Just one of many.
#37
The year I gave my ex husband a Tag Heuer watch he gave me a $19.99 Walmart blender. We already had 3 blenders.
Stacy Parker 4 years ago
Maybe he's friends with my ex. I got him 4 new tires for his pickup truck, he got me a $25 starbucks gift card.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
When will women stop over-compensating? U don't hafta lick a guy [like Trump's The Big Lie supporters] to keep him. Those kind are usually bullying, insensitive, cheap, egotistical control freaks. Hope you escaped him on Dec 26 forever.
Load More Replies... Rebe 2 years ago
Mu husband buys things that I have or he wants. Is genuinely excited because he thinkd O will love them. Even more surprisingly is very aware when other people make mistakes. He genuinely wants people to be happy with what they get but choosing is not his super power, he has iots of others. Now I choose he gives (I'm not good with people) and we both enjoy the reactions. Sometimes people buy the same because they are not confident to choose something different. Or sometimes they are not very observant.
#38
Titanic DVD, pirated copy, already seen it before twice, didn't have a case, just had Titanic written in marker pen, it didn't belong to the person who gifted it, the DVD was SCRATCHED AND DIDN'T EVEN PLAY!
Theoretical Empiricist 4 years ago
Just a minute! The iceberg was minding its own business when the Titanic hit it! I am SO SICK of the iceberg getting blamed!
Load More Replies... #39
Cheap cologne (I don't wear cologne) that I suspect was shoplifted.
#40
Since my dad isn’t on Reddit I will share his story for him. When he was young he was hell bent on becoming a drummer. He would make full drum kits out of my grandmothers pots and pans and whatever he could find. Very detailed set ups. After months and months of building drum sets and drumming on anything he could find he woke up Christmas morning…to an acoustic guitar and guitar lessons.
He told me he took a few lessons and would always end up flipping the guitar over in the class with the other students and just play it like bongos.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Kids like noise but when one ages, it becomes intolerable. String instruments are melodious but banging on skins, pots or pans just kills people's eardrums [pun]. To the point where now jumbo apt bldgs are mushrooming in U.S. which don't allow kids [only to visit]. U.S. has 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 daily & their hearing won't put up w/drummers. Tell your dad he's lucky he failed as a drummer & luckier that he's kept his hearing.
#41
A ceramic jar for holding dog treats when I was 15 when we had JUST given him away. Miss u Rascal
Theoretical Empiricist 4 years ago
Why does that matter when the gift was supposed to be for the person and not the dog?
Load More Replies... Rebe 2 years ago
My mum bought me an advent calendar with pictures of dalmatisns and sent it to me the day before my dalmatian cross who knows what died. She phoned me to warn me I live in another country and it took two weeks to arrive. The package is still in the cupboard witb thatmy birthday and my christmas present. She totally understands I never opened it.
#42
When I was 13, I asked for Dungeons & Dragons books. I even wrote out directions to the 4 local stores that sold them. My aunt and uncle were known to deviate and try to give whimsical gifts, and hated pre-planned gifts. I got a He-Man pop up book.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
He-Men are anachronistic. "C'mon, be a woman...be a REAL woman!" See how stupid that sounds, guys? Join the 21st century...macho is out. Porn was never classy~~it degrades women & is watched by guys who can't score a woman. Gay porn also debases~~leave it in your bedrooms. No one needs TMI. As an atheist, it's not a religious thing, it's a dignity thing.
#43
A pencil
#44
A barrel of Quaker Oats. It was f**king hilarious though
#45
My brother’s ex gave me a boyfriend pillow and a stepper one Christmas. Bit of a slap in the face with that combo.
Z Alexi 4 years ago
Stepper~~a portable block used in step aerobics. Now, what's a "b.f. pillow"? It has pic of your [her?] b.f. on it? It's got rocks in it to fill up the holes in his head?
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Ms.GB 4 years ago
I cringe whenever I think of the Christmas when I was 14 or 15 and I got into an argument with my mom so when she asked me if I liked my gifts I told her the truth which was they were the wrong things...not exactly what I wanted and as an adult I think of what a horrible ungrateful spoiled little bi##h I was and I feel sick! My mom and I have a good relationship and nowadays I am her caregiver and there is nothing I wouldn't do for that woman so don't give up on your bratty kids, some of us grow up.
William Moore 3 years ago
While that is unfortunate. It does go both ways ya.
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Treessimontrees 4 years ago
I handed in my notice where I worked at the time, but still went to the Christmas party which was my last day. I won the 'grand prize' which was a massive hamper of food (two guys had to deliver it big) and an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii. Everyone in the room was giving me the most awful stare. Awkward AF.
Rose the Cook 4 years ago
My father's workplace gave a lavish Christmas picnic complete with Santa and gifts. Employees contributed a small amount from their wage to partly cover this. My sister was born too late in the year to be included the first year so there was only a gift for me, aged ten, an embroidery kit. My mother snatched it saying if there was only one gift it was for the baby. She kept it for years and gave it to her when she was old enough to use it.
GoddessOdd 4 years ago
I received a subscription to a magazine that I do not like, and have never read. I keep hinting that I "really don't have time to read much these days" but the subscription appears to be lifetime... and it's delivered weekly. I am thinking of calling customer service and having the address changed to the senior center down the road.
Helen Haley 4 years ago
Had an aunt that always asked us for a list of books because she got us each a book for christmas. I loved reading. So, awesome, right? Except every year she ignored the list and got whatever books she wanted anyhoo. I read classic literature as a kid and teenager. I wanted a classic literature foundation (no idea why or how I got that into my head) So Tolstoy, Bronte, Dostoyevsky etc are on my list, and what I end up with is red fish blue fish, and danielle steel. Points for intention, but why she ever deviated from our lists are beyond me. It was such a waste of her money.
Rose the Cook 4 years ago
I had the same experience and found that salespeople convinced the buyer that the chosen titles were, "Far too advanced for a child of X age" and talked them into buying infantile books instead.
Load More Replies... Mewton’s Third Paw 4 years ago
I used to have a job where we did secret Santa for Christmas and the boss would give us gifts too. It was always fun working there most of the time so I looked forward to it! The boss gave me a fleece jacket, half zip, kinda baggy and bright dayglo / neon yellowish green. I thanked him so much but I hated that thing and couldn’t understand why he’d pick that color and shape. Fast forward to a few years later and that’s the style and I would just kill to have that thing. I couldn’t find one that cool if I tried! I gave it to charity so it’s not a total loss but I really wish I still had that.
Patti Vance 4 years ago
there is a big age difference between myself and my two older siblings. because of this, by the time i was entering my teens, things financially were much more stable than they were when they were the same age (they are 7 yrs old and only 11 months apart.) so, i did get somethings that they didn't like an old car for my 16th birthday, concert tickets w/transportation included, things like that. and, because i wasn't a jerk to my parents they trusted me with more things. the crazy thing is that even when i was 50 yrs old they would still be jealous of things that were nothing but acts of love such as mom making a favorite of mine for dinner when i visited since i didn't live close by. i get the jealousy if your are a late teen/young adult but still hold it when you're close to 60? c'mon!
Miss Cris 4 years ago
Where I live there's a Christmas tradition, companies give all their employees a nice basket full of champagne, traditional Christmas sweets made of honey and almonds (torró) and a full ham (un jamón!). I used to work for a company that gave us a kilogram of salt instead. They told us it was special as it didn't make balls with humidity but it was plain vulgar salt. The next year, it was one of those tiny things where you put the salt on salads when you're in a cheap bar. After this, we asked them please stop giving us gifts.
Blue 4 years ago (edited)
I was about 8 years old and the youngest. I begged for this doll that you could record your voice with. Pull the string and talk. Pull again and hear what you said. Pull again and record something new. Christmas morning came and my Mom made sure I unwrapped it first in front of my brothers and sister. With a big smile she tells me to pull the string. And it is the entire family singing....Nadine has a big mouth ( I was a talkative child) I can clearly remember many years later how humiliated and unloved I felt. I remember getting really quiet and looking down at the floor. My Mom laughed and said It was only a joke. Ruined my entire Christmas and I never touched the doll again. That has always stayed with me. Unfortunately I grew up with a Mother who thought humiliating and making fun of her children was funny.
Ms.GB 4 years ago
I cringe whenever I think of the Christmas when I was 14 or 15 and I got into an argument with my mom so when she asked me if I liked my gifts I told her the truth which was they were the wrong things...not exactly what I wanted and as an adult I think of what a horrible ungrateful spoiled little bi##h I was and I feel sick! My mom and I have a good relationship and nowadays I am her caregiver and there is nothing I wouldn't do for that woman so don't give up on your bratty kids, some of us grow up.
William Moore 3 years ago
While that is unfortunate. It does go both ways ya.
Load More Replies... Treessimontrees 4 years ago
I handed in my notice where I worked at the time, but still went to the Christmas party which was my last day. I won the 'grand prize' which was a massive hamper of food (two guys had to deliver it big) and an all expenses paid trip to Hawaii. Everyone in the room was giving me the most awful stare. Awkward AF.
Rose the Cook 4 years ago
My father's workplace gave a lavish Christmas picnic complete with Santa and gifts. Employees contributed a small amount from their wage to partly cover this. My sister was born too late in the year to be included the first year so there was only a gift for me, aged ten, an embroidery kit. My mother snatched it saying if there was only one gift it was for the baby. She kept it for years and gave it to her when she was old enough to use it.
GoddessOdd 4 years ago
I received a subscription to a magazine that I do not like, and have never read. I keep hinting that I "really don't have time to read much these days" but the subscription appears to be lifetime... and it's delivered weekly. I am thinking of calling customer service and having the address changed to the senior center down the road.
Helen Haley 4 years ago
Had an aunt that always asked us for a list of books because she got us each a book for christmas. I loved reading. So, awesome, right? Except every year she ignored the list and got whatever books she wanted anyhoo. I read classic literature as a kid and teenager. I wanted a classic literature foundation (no idea why or how I got that into my head) So Tolstoy, Bronte, Dostoyevsky etc are on my list, and what I end up with is red fish blue fish, and danielle steel. Points for intention, but why she ever deviated from our lists are beyond me. It was such a waste of her money.
Rose the Cook 4 years ago
I had the same experience and found that salespeople convinced the buyer that the chosen titles were, "Far too advanced for a child of X age" and talked them into buying infantile books instead.
Load More Replies... Mewton’s Third Paw 4 years ago
I used to have a job where we did secret Santa for Christmas and the boss would give us gifts too. It was always fun working there most of the time so I looked forward to it! The boss gave me a fleece jacket, half zip, kinda baggy and bright dayglo / neon yellowish green. I thanked him so much but I hated that thing and couldn’t understand why he’d pick that color and shape. Fast forward to a few years later and that’s the style and I would just kill to have that thing. I couldn’t find one that cool if I tried! I gave it to charity so it’s not a total loss but I really wish I still had that.
Patti Vance 4 years ago
there is a big age difference between myself and my two older siblings. because of this, by the time i was entering my teens, things financially were much more stable than they were when they were the same age (they are 7 yrs old and only 11 months apart.) so, i did get somethings that they didn't like an old car for my 16th birthday, concert tickets w/transportation included, things like that. and, because i wasn't a jerk to my parents they trusted me with more things. the crazy thing is that even when i was 50 yrs old they would still be jealous of things that were nothing but acts of love such as mom making a favorite of mine for dinner when i visited since i didn't live close by. i get the jealousy if your are a late teen/young adult but still hold it when you're close to 60? c'mon!
Miss Cris 4 years ago
Where I live there's a Christmas tradition, companies give all their employees a nice basket full of champagne, traditional Christmas sweets made of honey and almonds (torró) and a full ham (un jamón!). I used to work for a company that gave us a kilogram of salt instead. They told us it was special as it didn't make balls with humidity but it was plain vulgar salt. The next year, it was one of those tiny things where you put the salt on salads when you're in a cheap bar. After this, we asked them please stop giving us gifts.
Blue 4 years ago (edited)
I was about 8 years old and the youngest. I begged for this doll that you could record your voice with. Pull the string and talk. Pull again and hear what you said. Pull again and record something new. Christmas morning came and my Mom made sure I unwrapped it first in front of my brothers and sister. With a big smile she tells me to pull the string. And it is the entire family singing....Nadine has a big mouth ( I was a talkative child) I can clearly remember many years later how humiliated and unloved I felt. I remember getting really quiet and looking down at the floor. My Mom laughed and said It was only a joke. Ruined my entire Christmas and I never touched the doll again. That has always stayed with me. Unfortunately I grew up with a Mother who thought humiliating and making fun of her children was funny.
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