Christmas Gift-giving Pet Peeves

When I was a kid, I used to go to my relatives hoping for a Christmas present: a gift wrapped in a box, or money. On the other hand, my mother does the giving part. When kids or adults come to our house during Christmas, she lines up the gifts that she had prepared for them in advance for easy gift-giving.

It’s only 8 days before Christmas and I have made a listing of my pet peeves when it comes to gift-giving:

#1. “Hey, someone’s asking if you’re going home this Christmas, you know what to do about it.”

One of the things that make me unhappy is receiving a text message like that. I was like, “Hey mom, do I owe that person anything that’s why they’re asking me for something this Christmas?”

I love giving gifts to people but at times like this, I do not feel like giving because the essence of giving is ruined by the act of asking.

#2. “Hey it’s Christmas, go to your ninang and ask for your Christmas gift.”

First of all, I have not read in any book that one of the duties of a godparent is to give their godchildren gifts, especially during Christmas. Godparents’ duties, to my knowledge, are to give guidance to their godchild and to teach them God’s commandments.

Kids, I would love to give you your presents but please, if your parents tell you that, remind them that godparents are not ATM’s nor Department Stores.

#3. “Hey it’s Christmas, can we forget about my debt and just consider it as your Christmas gift?”

Hey, that was not the condition we agreed upon when you asked me that money. You said you’re going to pay me after two weeks. It’s been 6months already. Are you really gonna wait for Christmas everytime to escape from your debt? Shame on you. Seriously.

#4. “Hey it’s Christmas and you just arrived from abroad, can I borrow some money?”

Friends, you should know that like you, I work to earn money and working abroad doesn’t make a difference. Yes, I earn more (because of peso exchange rate) but at the same time, I also spend on my daily necessities so if you want money, please learn to work hard and save!

The essence of gift-giving is to give whole-heartedly; asking for a gift is a different story.