Rebuilding Rob

As WordPress continues to recycle old prompts, I pulled another prompt from The Coffee Monsterz Co to respond to today

Have you ever received a gift you didn’t like? If not, what types of gifts would you not care for?

I’m not talking about a simple miss, but a true “what were they thinking?” moment. It’s likely no coincidence that this topic popped up so close to the holidays, and it forces us to confront the age-old dilemma: Do we have to like the gift if we appreciate the thought?

I’ve absolutely received gifts that didn’t quite hit the mark. However, I am always incredibly polite about it. I genuinely appreciate the fact that people thought enough of me to give me a gift, whether it’s too big, too small, the wrong color, the wrong style, ugly, or something I’m not remotely interested in. After all, it really is the thought that counts.

Clothing: The Highly Questionable Choice

Clothing has always been the one universally questionable gift for me to receive. I am very picky about what I wear, though not in a snobby fashion sense. If anything, I dress very simply: typically, a T-shirt and blue jeans whenever I get the chance. Girlfriends and significant others have bought me sweaters in the past, which I simply choose not to wear because I get too warm in them. There have been occasions where I’ve gotten clothing as a gift and exchanged it for a more preferable article. In these cases, I usually do it under the guise of “it’s too small/it’s too big.”

Tackiness is relative

Another tough gift to receive is something that is just plain tacky. This could certainly go in line with clothing, as some people have even worse taste in fashion than I do. But what primarily comes to mind is something that is simply not aesthetically pleasing.

The Exception: Gifts from My Boys

I use this next example because it illustrates a crucial exception. I’m thinking of the time when Kid 1 was six or seven years old. He purchased a pen holder/desk piece at a school Christmas shop. He was so excited, having picked it out and bought it himself. I’ve never actually used the pen holder, but to this day, I still have it in a box—maybe it is about time I took it into my school to use.

Of course, a gift like this from one of my sons is something I would keep no matter how ugly, small, or tacky. This came straight from the heart, and even though it’s never seen ink, it’s something I will always treasure.

Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like, 👍 comment and subscribe to my blog below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media as well! Check out my most recent posts as well as some earlier, related (and perhaps, not-so-related) posts:

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• A Death in the Family (And My Disposable Income): My Life in Comics
• The Supporting Cast: Navigating the Eras of Male Friendship
• Life is What Happens: A Look Back at My Non-Existent 2025 Vision
• The Moment I Walked Inside a Hallmark Movie

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The article “Tacky Gifts and Too-Warm Sweaters: The Struggle of Holiday Politeness” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.