this is my one family/xmas gripe

Derniermot

my brother: he is very "sensitive" regarding presents he receives. He puts alot of thought into what he gives people and evaluates what he percieves someone put into the gift they give to him (I know, dont even bother responding to that).

So, what I have done is I just ask him what he wants, I buy it,  and he is satisfied by that. But it takes him FOREVER to tell me what it is that he wants. I start asking in October. I call him once every other week in November. He always waits until late in Dec. to finally tell me.

 

EastCoastBride

Not quite on the same level, but every year we exchange names between our 2 families.  We do this on Thanksgiving.  We do this every year.  We tell people ahead of time "think up a few things you might like", and before dinner, we say again "after dinner, be ready to write down some gift ideas" (each person writes their name down along w/ a couple gift ideas, then we put them all in a hat and pull them out). 

Every year, my brother, FIL, and MIL sit there and hem and haw FOREVER.  My brother does it for show, honestly.  but it is so annoying and it really makes me want to say "Lets just all give to charity in each others honor!" if coming up w/ a couple gift ideas is THIS fricking hard. 

I totally get your annoyance over it.

Kris10*

Derniermot:

my brother: he is very "sensitive" regarding presents he receives. He puts alot of thought into what he gives people and evaluates what he percieves someone put into the gift they give to him (I know, dont even bother responding to that).

So, what I have done is I just ask him what he wants, I buy it,  and he is satisfied by that. But it takes him FOREVER to tell me what it is that he wants. I start asking in October. I call him once every other week in November. He always waits until late in Dec. to finally tell me.

You should get pictures together of when you guys were kids and make him a calendar for next year (I know Target does them and I'm sure you can do it online on Photobucket or something like that)...there's definitely sentimental value there and he'll know you had to put a lot of time and thought into it. It doesn't cost that much, $20 at most I think, so if you needed/wanted to something more you could add on monthly gift certificates for getting his car washed (and if he asks why that just say it's something you wanted him to not have to worry about doing himself, again...thoughtful, sort of - lol). I don't know, I'm just thinking that when he comes to you on December 20th with what he wants you can say, "Ohhhh sorry...I actually already got you something" and maybe next year he won't wait so long )