Help! My Husband's a Major Grinch

Help! My Husband's a Major Grinch

Monday, December 15, 2008

Guest blogger mom-on-the-edge: The Grinch isn't just a character in a Dr. Seuss book. He's a 175 pound, 6'1" man that sleeps next to me. He's my husband.

We were driving to the store to buy the baby a few things when I said, "What do you want to do about presents for..." "We shouldn't give each other presents this year," he snapped. "We can't afford it." I was going to say, "What do you want to do about presents for your family?" It never crossed my mind that we wouldn't give each other presents.

I grew up in a family that spent tons of time planning, buying, wrapping our holiday gifts. The ceremony was monumental, lasting even hours. My brother would open new ski goggles. We'd oooh and aaaah. Then he'd dive into the present heap and pick one from the bottom. The paper always had an intricate print and my dad would write our names somewhere small in pen so half the fun was just figuring out who the box was for... Me! Yes! A Barbie Plane. Ooooh. Aaaah. And so on...

I know that times are tight. I know that we have a baby. BUT, I also know that giving your spouse a gift is important. Yes, I said it. It doesn't have to sparkle and need its own insurance, although there's nothing wrong with that. And, it doesn't have to take ten hours to bid on it on eBay. It needs to say "I appreciate you. I thought about you. I love you," for all those times you don't say it.

I guess I don't have to go out now and buy that itty bitty book light so my husband can read in bed. He'll just sleep there.

4 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

Ave Maria Purisima si eso hace que los hombres se conviertan que importa lo que muestra. No ay nada mas lindo que lo que se ve con puresa y sin pecado concevida

- emma

Posted 12/15/08 05:37 PM

How about you make him a present? Agree to do something nice. He’s not a Grinch to not want to spend all your cash on stuff you don’t need.

- Uly

Posted 12/15/08 10:47 PM

Our husbands must be brothers! After eight years of marriage, I’ve learned to tune him out and just do it anyway.

- K

Posted 12/16/08 12:31 PM

My husband is your husband’s twin… 6 ft 4 and 200 pounds of Bah Humbug. I wrap all of our kids gifts and even pick out my own through the year and have the children select with get this… our babysitter to give 1 to me. I don’t know what they pick so it is a bit of a surprise for me on Christmas Day and I think it is important to teach the children to appreciate Christmas and giving their parents’ a gift. I get depressed from time to time but just tune him out. I get him a small gift and Santa brings “family” gifts such as a new toaster for Mama. I suggest family gifts as an alternative to getting each other gifts. It has worked well for our family. I’d tell your husband to remember Christmas is a time to appreciate your family. My husband gets off easy in my opinion but he stays happy through the Holiday which really is what it is all about.

- AP

Posted 12/23/08 09:17 AM