When I was married, my responsibilities included choosing, buying and wrapping birthday and Christmas presents for all the family, including in-laws. My husband had the task of finding two presents per year, both for me, one at Christmas and one for my birthday in July.
Now that my 3 sons are grown up and married, I notice that the girls are less willing to let their partners off the present-buying hook and the trend is for each partner to find presents for his or her own side of the family.
While my sons' wives appear to be both generous and imaginative in their choice of gift, my sons seem to be modelling themselves on their their father, who was often to be found in Boots at 5.00pm on Christmas Eve. Consequently, while I know of women who, over the years, have received fine jewellery, iPads, spa days and even holidays, I have accumulated enough shower gel and body lotion to float a battleship. My heavy hints about desirable gifts fall on deaf ears. I know it's the thought that counts but ......
Am I alone?
