It's hard not to freak out about the various Christmas expectations. Someone gives me a present and instead of being grateful, I feel guilty because I didn't get them something and stressed because now I should get them something.
I fight that!
What's the worst possible outcome? They might be offended and they won't get me a present next year and then I won't have that stress. Whew!
What's the best possible outcome? They receive joy from the giving and have no expectation of receiving a present back. Whew!
It's not easy to shut up that nagging voice in my head.
Take a deep breath, remind myself that a gift isn't worth it if it isn't a pleasure to give.
Then my daughter texts me: her boyfriend's parents just gave her a gift. I knew what she was going to say next.
I tried to head it off with, "Aw, that's so sweet!"
She says, "Yeah!"
Then she says, "I should get them something."
"No," I told her, "It's not traditional or expected."
"If I come up for New Years, I'll bring some food," she compromises. Good choice.
I tell her Dad about it. "It's not traditional or expected," he says.
"They're a unit," I start to say that a gift from him is a gift from her.
"I'm not ready for that," he says. I laugh. I am!