I could’t make any sense out of the OP either. I still can’t. I understand the content now that little Eric has clarified and expanded on it but the how and the why still escape me. This has got to be one of the most screwed up twist of logic rants that I have ever read. Eric, quit watching so much television and pay more attention to your writing homework.
Actually, my parents did that for me and my brother one year. The reasoning was that we were going to Florida for Christmas and since we were flying, we wouldn’t be able to lug everything down. So they gave us the choice to either open presents early, or wait until after Christmas and we could choose some things then. We chose after Christmas because of all the sales and we knew we could get more. We did get a few small things at Christmas, which was fine with us, but we actually had fun shopping after Christmas, and I ended up with more clothes than I would have gotten otherwise (which I needed because of a recent weight loss). Since we all love going to Florida at Christmastime (most of our family lives in Palm Beach), it was more fun just being there.
This year, my entire family knows that they’re more than likely getting gifts after Christmas–not because I’m cheap, but because I’m coming off of a two-month unemployment stint, and I’m still trying to catch up with some of my bills. The paycheck I’ll be able to use for Christmas presents won’t come until the 20th, which means nothing will make it to my family on time (they’re in VA, I’m in NYC, and I can’t go home for Christmas because of my new job). They completely understand, and my mother even told me to wait until after Christmas and hit the sales to do my shopping (actually, she told me not to buy anyone in the immediate family anything, but that’s just not going to happen…I love buying presents and Christmas shopping for people).
Ava
Let me get this straight. You give mom and dad a list of the things you want for Xmas. After giving them this list, you are at the mall, and decide to HELP THEM OUT by buying these things, never bothering to pick up the phone to ask Mom if she’s already done so.
And now you want us to feel bad for you because YOU have to take all the duplicate shit back? What? You think Mom should do it?
Nothing like another kid discovering the true meaning of Christmas…
For the love of…what???
I still don’t get the point of what you did.
On some years, my mother and I would go to the store, and she’d ask me to pick out the books or CDs I wanted, and she’d buy them there. Or she’d have me try on clothes to make sure I got what I wanted.
But still…this is just stupid.
I don’t think you’re the one who should be pissed.
:rolleyes:
avabeth: That’s great, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about a Christmas where I put up the tree myself, came downstairs alone on the 25th, and found nothing. There was one item I’d picked out myself the day after Thanksgiving, and also wrapped myself, and there was something from Grandma. My parents roused themselves around eleven, I think, and there was no Christmas dinner or anything to indicate that it was a holiday.
To be fair, my mom was completing her degree at the time, and taking a full courseload. I know she was busy. But I also know that my dad was capable of finding the mall and buying stuff. He’d done it the previous year when my sister and nephew were planning a visit, and my dad was coming out of his skin at the prospect of finally giving boy stuff like G.I. Joe. For me, nothing. And for the family, nothing. No dinner, no church, not a damned thing. Just a harsh speech about people who “gloom around” and “feel sorry for themselves”. So the next day, my mom bought me a lot of stuff, and that was supposed to make me happy.
(After the following year, when I got stuff that had been bought secretly but not wrapped up, I told them, “No more Christmas presents. I don’t want anything if it’s going to be like this.”)
Eric, they should have returned you.