My husband is going to visit his mom in Italy for Christmas and I'll be in the States, so we celebrated the holiday together yesterday. To say it was a disaster is an understatement. He basically liked two of his stocking stuffers and none of the other gifts I picked out. He's convinced the button-down will make him look fat and swears he never wears sweaters even though I know he wears at least one while he's with me in the States. I already decided to regift, so relatives and friends who fit into an extra large should get ready for goodies. In the end, I declared I would never buy my husband another article of clothing again. I cried. And then I felt like I don't even know this person -- my husband -- at all. It put me in a foul mood and had me feeling like a grinch all day.
Those of you who celebrate Christmas have a few days to make sure that you don't make the same mistakes I did. If your husband or wife is particularly picky about clothes, don't buy them for him or her. Come up with another gift idea. You could do something, such as a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant, spa treatments for two (which is a gift for you, too), or some sort of electronic gadget (think flat screen, Wii, etc.) Or you could opt to make a more sentimental gift or give your spouse a freebie (think massages, kisses, and hot sex).
If you are courageous enough to buy clothes for your husband or wife, refrain from picking items in which you would like to see him or her. Choose items that you think he or she would like and that match their taste. I mistakenly chose a sweater and shirt combo that I thought would make my husband look even more handsome, but the look made him feel fat. If I had just thought more about what he likes and less about what I like, I might have chosen better. Learn from my mistakes.
As I was crying because of my disappointment that these gifts I spent hours picking out and wrapping did not bring him pleasure, my husband came over, hugged me, and told me I was the greatest gift he ever received. That's something special -- and we should all be grateful for our spouses everyday but especially during this time of year. The gift isn't as important as the meaning and sentiment behind it. Indeed, it is the thought that counts.