https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 09:01:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-782861 Wed, 15 May 2013 10:59:19 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 782861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have always felt exactly like you! I also have the added problem that I always know exactly what I want to get/do for people but when people ask me what I want? I honestly don't know. </p> <p>I also have the added problem where when I DO finally figure out what I want and tell people, I always get told "No, what do you want for YOU not the house/dog/baby"...</p> <p>My dog doesn't care what kind of clippers I use on her fur! It IS for me! And those nursing tops are super cute and the baby wont care how covered I am while feeding her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-782738 Wed, 15 May 2013 10:37:32 +0000 Periwinkle 782738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: That's excatly what my husband does too! I am very chatty and often compliment people's things. I guess I can't be too critical since he IS listening, but maybe I need to be more genuine about the things that I want versus the things that I think are nice and that I admire.</p> <p>Now that I think about it, it is actually very sweet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-781539 Tue, 14 May 2013 19:24:18 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 781539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We both tell each other what we'd like. We make Amazon wish lists for Christmas, so there's a small element of surprise but not entirely. It works for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-781416 Tue, 14 May 2013 17:53:38 +0000 Cole 781416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband usually doesn't buy me any things-- he sticks with tickets to shows, a cooking class etc. In fact, I literally can't remember the last thing he bought me as a surprise, although he is remarkably good about always ordering me a special birthday cake.</p> <p>I do keep a wish list on pinterest and amazon, I just add things as I think of it or come across them and family and friends know there are some things there that I might like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-781405 Tue, 14 May 2013 17:50:21 +0000 avivoca 781405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually make a list for him and then promptly forget what's on the list, so it's a surprise every time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-781387 Tue, 14 May 2013 17:37:10 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 781387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH is usually good at picking things that he knows I will like. However, I have to be REALLY careful when I say casually "Oh, that's cute" when I don't want it...because he'll remember and buy me that thing for the next holiday. </p> <p>For example...a few weeks ago, we were looking at the zero-gravity lounge chairs for the deck. I said "Oh, that's a neat idea."<br /> Guess what I got for Mother's Day? A zero-gravity lounge chair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780851 Tue, 14 May 2013 13:36:46 +0000 Mrsbells 780851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dont ask for gifts either. I like not knowing and I think to an extent being able to buy what someone would like is a reflection of how well you know them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780768 Tue, 14 May 2013 13:08:21 +0000 chopsuey 780768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dh only gets what I ask for/want.<br /> I'm not a fan of surprises. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780765 Tue, 14 May 2013 13:07:18 +0000 mrskc 780765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband is good at remembering when I casually mention something I want, but sometimes I still send him emails with links to things I want. I just link him a bunch of stuff I want and figure I'll be surprised by what he decides to pick out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780762 Tue, 14 May 2013 13:06:37 +0000 Ra 780762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ask for specific gifts. My husband is clueless and it overwhelms him if he has to figure it out on his own. For my birthday I usually tell him exactly what I want or we go buy it together. For Christmas, I make a giant list and he chooses what to get me based off the list. So, at least then there is still some element of surprise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780758 Tue, 14 May 2013 13:04:23 +0000 aprk 780758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is why we don't exchange traditional "big" gifts on birthdays and holidays. We much prefer smaller surprises throughout the year. Less pressure that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780755 Tue, 14 May 2013 13:03:41 +0000 heffalump 780755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer to be surprised. That being said, he's a good gift giver. Much better than I am.... Which is probably why he tells me what he wants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780752 Tue, 14 May 2013 13:03:03 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 780752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to be like you and wanted him to come up with some awesome idea and surprise me, but I have learned that he needs me to tell him exactly what I want and we are all happier. For example, for Mother's Day, I told him I wanted a night away and I wanted him to put Liam to bed and then bring him back to the hotel in the morning so we could have breakfast together there and hang out by the pool. It worked out perfectly and I'm so glad I just told him what I wanted! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780724 Tue, 14 May 2013 12:53:18 +0000 shopaholic 780724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've learned that if I let him surprise me or say I don't need/want anything, I really don't get anything, or am sorely disappointed. Most of his surprises now are jewelry, but I still have exchanged them more than half the time. </p> <p>Even for Mother's Day, I told him he could get me the Tiffany birthstone necklace for K's birthstone. Well, he got me a different Tiffany necklace and the wrong birthstone. I wish he could be better at choosing sentimental gifts himself, but he is just too practical and literal for that. Can't change him, so better ask specifically for what I want is my experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780600 Tue, 14 May 2013 12:07:10 +0000 BSB 780600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He likes to surprise me but he ,also, wants to make sure he gets something I will like so he'll ask me for a list. </p> <p>I can still be surprised. Also, sometimes he combines two ideas. He puts so much thought into his gifts.</p> <p>As for friends, I don't give them any specifics. Any gift is fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780578 Tue, 14 May 2013 11:58:37 +0000 Periwinkle 780578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: Hahahaha! Maybe we could set up a separate thread for preferences on grits :) I happen to like mine with cheese :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780321 Tue, 14 May 2013 10:41:41 +0000 Freckles 780321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Of course it would be ideal if they could find us the perfect gifts, but alas, life is not a rom-com. DH usually asks what i want, and i'll give him a list of ideas. Or i'll say, "you can't go wrong with anything at these stores." </p> <p>Sometimes if i really want something, i'll ask if if i can tell him what i want and relief will usually wash over his face. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780228 Tue, 14 May 2013 10:10:17 +0000 Grace 780228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with you - it would be so much fun to have DH just be a magical mind-reader and able to figure out what I want. But sadly, it's not reality and just one of those things I've come to accept. So when he wants to know what I want, I make a list. That way, he's less stressed out and I still don't know exactly what I'm getting. Also, my birthday is right after Christmas and that's just too much for him to take, so he takes me clothes shopping every year. To quote one of my coworkers "he follows [me] around with a wallet while [I] shop". It's not a bad deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780224 Tue, 14 May 2013 10:07:18 +0000 Anagram 780224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do both. Sometimes I want something specifically and I tell DH (like for christmas, I gave him an entire list of random things I kind of wanted and told him he could pick whatever he wanted). They aren't specific, so there's still a suprise element. Like I said, "new, really cool I-phone cover" or "small gold necklace I can wear every day". Because I'm too cheap to buy a nice one myself.</p> <p>Other times, he just notices I want something and he buys it for me, so it's a total surprise. He asked if I wanted anything for Mother's Day, and I told him I wanted to spend the whole day Saturday shopping for baby stuff with him (which he normally hates). </p> <p>But he noticed that earlier last week, I'd had to stop wearing my wedding rings because my hands are too swollen. So he bought me a cute stand in ring to wear for now! (probably because I kept complaining last week that I felt like strangers were judging me for being pregnant and not having a ring on my finger--lol) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780214 Tue, 14 May 2013 10:03:44 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 780214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meggo5: Wow - I either need glasses or some more sleep (or both!), but I totally thought you were asking about "grits", not gifts... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780212 Tue, 14 May 2013 10:03:38 +0000 looch 780212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ask my husband specifically for the gifts I want, not because he does a bad job, but because I like what I like and am used to buying it myself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780208 Tue, 14 May 2013 10:02:13 +0000 JerricaBenton 780208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tysonja: I like that - setting him up for success! That's how I feel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780206 Tue, 14 May 2013 10:01:17 +0000 Alivoo01 780206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I drop hints once in awhile if there's something I really want, but normally, he's pretty good on his in the gift giving department lately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780203 Tue, 14 May 2013 09:59:41 +0000 tysonja 780203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love getting a surprise, even if it is hilariously all wrong, but I ALSO love getting something I really wanted and needed.<br /> DH is also not the best (but not totally the worst hehe) at gift giving, so I realized that in order to set himself up for success I need to be boringly specific sometimes and guide him and encourage him a bit in what to get, or even to get something at all. I figure I'd rather help him out these first few years and hopefully as we grow older he gets better! Of course for lots of holidays I let him figure it all out and enjoy whatever he ends up coming with, which is often super sweet, but not really on the mark hehehe:) learning process, I think! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780199 Tue, 14 May 2013 09:58:52 +0000 Foodnerd81 780199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in between.If I really want something specific, I'll tell him (like, this Christmas I wanted to Canon Rebel T3i. Specifically.) Or sometimes it's more like, I would like more slippers, I'd like new silver earrings, or something sort of specific but not like, get me this item exactly. I love a good surprise gift, but it's hard to always think of something new, so we usually give each other some good hints. These are also helpful for our families when they ask-- I have no problem telling DH what I want, but I feel awkward telling his mom, so I like to give DH a list to give to his mom :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780185 Tue, 14 May 2013 09:54:26 +0000 oliviaoblivia 780185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dh is in the go buy yourself something school of gift giving. I wish he were more intuitive and romantic about gifts. If I don't drop major hints, like sending him URLs I wouldn't get gifts. Even then he puts things off and I end up ordering my own presents. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780181 Tue, 14 May 2013 09:52:48 +0000 JerricaBenton 780181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ask for specific things! I guess it depends on your personality - if you're going to be disappointed with something you're not into, you have to give them an idea. I basically hint around for smaller things like Mother's day but I fully give my husband a wish list with links for my birthday/Christmas. He likes to add a few surprises but he appreciates not having to worry that I won't get things I like. He gives me a list too. We also use the lists to tell our sides of the family what the other one wants. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780174 Tue, 14 May 2013 09:50:28 +0000 MamaMoose 780174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I much prefer for him to surprise me. Sometimes he misses the mark but usually he does a pretty good job of getting something great. I agree that asking for something specific takes a bit of the fun out of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/whats-your-position-on-asking-for-gifts#post-780164 Tue, 14 May 2013 09:47:54 +0000 Periwinkle 780164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have never been one to ask for specific things that I have wanted, especially from my husband. While he may not know exactly what I want (I've learned that he's not, in fact, a mind reader as I would sometimes like!), I like the "surprise" element of opening a gift. </p> <p>Recently, I have started to feel like he doesn't quite know what I like (i.e. style of things) and had basically told me that I have to tell him explicitally what I want. I am torn, because while it would be gret to get exactly what I want, this takes all the romance out of it, I fear. I am someone who would rather have a sentimental gesture rather than a material item most of the time, and I worry that asking for specific things will make it like a business exchange. </p> <p>What are your thoughts on asking/hinting for specific gifts? </p>