I need to buy a few small gifts that begin with the letter R for a family gift exchange. My budget is $20, the potential recipients range from an 18 year old college freshman to a 70 year old.
[more inside]
posted by booksherpa
on Dec 26, 2012 -
18 answers
A couple of weeks ago, I moved out of my marital home (details in my posting history). Whilst I seem to be doing okay, most people expect me to not be. In fact, they seem to expect a fragility and sadness from me that I'm not feeling even remotely. This has lead to some judgements from people that I could have done without.
How can I navigate the sympathy of folks during the holiday season without having to pretend to be an emotional mess (which I'm not) and without suffering judgement from people who don't know the whole story (Which I can happily live without).
[more inside]
posted by six sided sock
on Dec 22, 2012 -
27 answers
My little family doesn't care for Christmas like they used to, among other things. How can I avoid or learn to cope with the holiday blues this year?
[more inside]
posted by ohmy
on Nov 29, 2012 -
39 answers
[Xmas gift filter] My mother wants to know what I want for Xmas. I am out of ideas - and there are a few issues regarding shopping & shipping.
[more inside]
posted by kariebookish
on Nov 28, 2012 -
25 answers
Please hope me. Christmas is important to my mother, but it over the last few years it has turned into something that she can’t stand. It has gotten to the point that she doesn’t even want to have the Traditional Family Christmas at their house anymore. She loves Christmas and this is breaking her heart. Our family needs the help of Metafilter. This is anonymous because there’s enough drama already. Christmassy flurries within.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 26, 2012 -
41 answers
I'm looking at renting a cottage around Ottawa from just before Christmas to just before New Year's Day--Dec 22-29, give or take a day. I don't know the area at all, and haven't the faintest idea where to start. Help?
[more inside]
posted by Decimask
on Nov 6, 2012 -
3 answers
How do I handle the reaction of my family and (people I thought of as) close friends to the news of my divorce? Lots of special snowflakes ahead.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 21, 2011 -
27 answers
Best Christmas gifts for nearly impoverished older family members (location: northern New Mexico).
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 5, 2011 -
16 answers
Please help me plan a (grown-up) family vacation for this Xmas in the New England area (Connecticut and north, probably?). This
"Winter fun for the Non-Skier" list is a good start, but I don't really know how to put something together into a reasonable itinerary.
[more inside]
posted by unknowncommand
on Dec 5, 2011 -
5 answers
This has been bothering me for a few years. I'm really sad, and a bit angry, that I don't have my own traditions. What I mean, is that I have no reason to do anything since the "grown-ups" already do everything. I don't know if I can take it much longer.
[more inside]
posted by midnightmoonlight
on Nov 8, 2011 -
68 answers
How can you "fake it" or "power through it" or "put on a brave face" to make the holidays as normal as possible, when other people depend on it?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 3, 2011 -
26 answers
Suggestions for non-partisan charities that I can tell my siblings to donate to in lieu of a a Christmas present and advice on telling them I'll be doing the same for their presents?
[more inside]
posted by otherwordlyglow
on Oct 27, 2011 -
36 answers
How do I deal with multiple large family Christmas gatherings as an extreme introvert with some sensory
thing about large groups of people, loud noises and too much happening? Complicating factors are as follows.
[more inside]
posted by geek anachronism
on Dec 28, 2010 -
34 answers
Help me pick a great gift for my boyfriend’s dad. I’m spending Christmas Day with my partner’s family. They do a Kris Kringle for the adults, and I’ve drawn my partner’s father. I’ve only met him twice (the dad, not my partner). He seems lovely but I have absolutely no idea what to get him. I’ve asked my boyfriend of course, but he is not exactly brimming with ideas. Help!
[more inside]
posted by t0astie
on Dec 1, 2010 -
20 answers
My family decided in November on not buying Christmas gifts this year as we are all adults and have what we need anyway. I get paid once a month and right now am living cheque to cheque. So I spent the money I had saved up on extra credit payments. Now they've changed their minds and all want gifts. I have 25 dollars to last me til the 30th. How do I get through this holiday without being as bitter as I am now? And not feel like a loser for no one having a gift?
[more inside]
posted by beautifulcheese
on Dec 12, 2009 -
27 answers
Christmas dinner in Toronto - need some crazy recommendations for something out of the ordinary.
[more inside]
posted by rmm
on Dec 8, 2009 -
3 answers
Help me have the most awesome themed gift this Christmas! A pound of _______
[more inside]
posted by Rallon
on Dec 7, 2009 -
31 answers
What's the best way to stand up to my mother about Christmas and to handle her jealousy about our better relationship with my partner's parents? She's determined to make the holiday season into a zero sum game with my partner's mother
[more inside]
posted by Flitcraft
on Nov 22, 2009 -
42 answers
My husband lost his job, we're not sure how we're going to pay the rent in January, and my family is being assholes about Christmas gifts.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 19, 2009 -
64 answers
What techniques can you use to avoid falling into the family dynamic trap?
By that I mean, for the first few hours/days everything's fine with parents and siblings, my identity is intact, but soon after, somehow, we're all playing the same parts we always played (we've all flown the nest)...
I find it annoying how I find it difficult to rise above this. ie. feeling intimidated by my older brother, oddly belittled by my younger brother ignored by parents. I'm sure I'm a rather oversensitive middle child but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only factor! This year I am determined to enjoy my Christmas without the family dynamics crap. We're all old enough for this not to be a problem, surely? Futile perhaps, but maybe with your rather general advice I may be able to make inroads!
posted by yowza
on Dec 21, 2008 -
33 answers
How do I celebrate my first Messianic Hanukkah? No one else in my family is Jewish, and they're trying to "make me" celebrate Xmas.
[more inside]
posted by hasna
on Dec 15, 2008 -
46 answers
Christmasgiftfilter: I am in England. I'm looking for suggestions for little gifts to take to the American family. Or generic gift suggestion lists.
[more inside]
posted by K.P.
on Dec 11, 2008 -
37 answers
My brother-in-law's domestic abuse is tearing my family apart and I really don't know what to do or how to handle the situation anymore. I need some advice.
[more inside]
posted by csimpkins
on Nov 26, 2008 -
54 answers
My sister and I want to do a gift-free Christmas. What rules should we set? And how do we break the news to our mom? She's big on bargain hunting and spoiling us, so we're sure she's not going to take this well.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 25, 2008 -
16 answers
Where's a warm, sunny, beach-y, relatively inexpensive place for my family to visit over Christmas?
[more inside]
posted by timoni
on Sep 24, 2008 -
11 answers
Where to stay for Christmas? I need snow, a central lodge, separate rooms or outlying cabins (ideally with kitchenettes), and a charming village, in the US or Canada.
[more inside]
posted by Capri
on Mar 3, 2008 -
12 answers
My family members decided to suddenly start celebrating Christmas this year. I feel weird about it. Help me deal with these changes.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 31, 2007 -
27 answers
I missed my two brothers-in-laws' birthdays, and one of my sisters is mad at me. I'll see everyone at Christmas. Help me make things right and prevent family drama.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 21, 2007 -
24 answers
Looking for gift ideas for A Single Guy, with essentially no other information. What to get my dad's wife's son for the gift exchange?
[more inside]
posted by booknerd
on Dec 21, 2007 -
30 answers
RelationshipFilter: How do my wife and I solve the Christmas family dilemma? Specifically, I'm looking for advice and suggestions on how we decide which family to visit each year. Of course, it's more complicated than that...
[more inside]
posted by ranglin
on Apr 30, 2007 -
29 answers
Hotel/Home for the Holidays? My girlfriend and I are facing a major dilemma in visiting her home town for Christmas: Stay at her parents house or stay in a hotel. Any advice or past experiences would be most appreciated. Much much
[more inside]
posted by travis vocino
on Dec 7, 2006 -
44 answers
I've got too many nieces and nephews to buy christmas gifts for this year and not enough money. Please, oh great and wise collective hive mind of the metafilter abyss, grant me some wisdom as to some great cheap gifts.
[more inside]
posted by killThisKid
on Oct 19, 2006 -
31 answers
Fundy-In-Law-Filter: My husband's sister and her husband are hard-core evangelical fundamentalists. We are liberal Episcopalians. This causes a problem every Christmas. What do you say when you get a gift that was clearly meant to make a point?
[more inside]
posted by Biblio
on Dec 27, 2005 -
84 answers
Can you name a reasonable price for a late wedding ring? Family Drama Inside! Come Look! -->
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Dec 20, 2005 -
39 answers
Every year at Christmas, my husband's family has a cooking contest. I don't expect to win, because Grandma is generally a lock. However, I'm a good sport and generally try to make a respectable showing. This year's theme is "appetizers with mint in them," and I am looking for tasty recipes. There's a catch though...
[more inside]
posted by jennyb
on Nov 25, 2005 -
18 answers
The Christmas holiday is fast approaching as we all know. My fiancee is Muslim, and we have always celebrated religious holidays separately. This year, I would like him to be a part of the family celebration. For my family it is more of a family bonding time (and become more of an American Tradition) than a religious event. If I'm correct, the celebration of Christmas is for the birth of Jesus. From what my fiancee has told me of Muslims, they believe in Jesus as a prophet, but have many differences in beliefs from Christians overall about who he was.
So would there be a debate between the two religions over the actual birth of Jesus (how he was conceived, is he the son of God....etc.) that would be conflicting for him to join us for dinner and this particular holiday itself? I want to be well informed when talking to him about it, and try to find a way to celebrate the holiday.
posted by Gooney
on Dec 8, 2004 -
20 answers
