| Okay boys, all of you must have come to the | | | | might feel it lacks thought romance and originality, |
| same conclusion by now, that there are a few | | | | Which if the truth be told for most ladies it does, |
| occasions each year where you just can't escape | | | | but seeing as it appears truly romantic men are |
| shopping for gifts (no matter how hard you may | | | | few and far between most ladies feel it |
| try). | | | | preferable to forgo the romance and originality, |
| On her birthday, At Christmas time, | | | | than to find themselves standing in the lineup at |
| On your wedding anniversary, | | | | the customer service desk come the new year |
| And some of you might sometimes even | | | | returning the gift that he thought she would love |
| remember Valentines Day. | | | | as much as he did. I don't know about you but |
| You procrastinate and procrastinate until that | | | | when I receive a gift, I really enjoy getting |
| special day itself has actually dawned ,and then | | | | something that I truly want, I don't enjoy it or |
| rush out and panic buy either something you | | | | want it any less just because I had to tell |
| would like to receive yourself or worse still | | | | someone that I wanted it. |
| something "practical" like handkerchiefs, stationary | | | | But, on the other hand just because I know what |
| or a gift certificate, things so impersonal that your | | | | I am getting does not mean to say I want to be |
| poor lady wonders have you been paying "any" | | | | handed the cash and told to go get it and gift |
| attention to her at all. | | | | wrap it myself, this is not the same thing. And it |
| Over the years that my husband and I have | | | | does not let you off the hook of spending "your" |
| been married, he's made just about every gift | | | | time and "your" energy going to mall, traipsing |
| buying mistake in the book. | | | | round the stores in search of said item and |
| Lingerie (to which I inquired "I thought it was my | | | | presenting it on the appropriate day attractively |
| birthday") have you been guilty of this? | | | | gift wrapped, with a card you have actually |
| Candy or chocolate as a present when she is | | | | opened and read the words. |
| finding it all too hard as it is to stick to a diet plan. | | | | The presentation, to most ladies is the bigger and |
| Have you ever been found guilty of this? | | | | more important part of the gift perhaps even |
| Purchased clothing of the wrong size .....a most | | | | more important than the gift itself, it is proof to |
| grievous crime | | | | us, even if it is only two or three times a year |
| There are several gifts you should avoid buying | | | | that we are loved and that what we want has |
| for your wife at all costs, they include tools you | | | | been acknowledged and acted upon (for once) |
| would like to own yourself tickets to sporting | | | | that we are important to you after all, and that |
| events that you would like to see and anything | | | | you do care, even if most of the time you don't |
| else that does not match her interests and tastes | | | | show it. |
| but matches you're own, such gifts as pool cues | | | | If you are blessed with teen daughters who |
| and bowling balls. | | | | enjoy shopping and you have realized how clever |
| However, a much worse crime than the above, | | | | and convenient it would be to utilize this god given |
| the number one gift you should never buy your | | | | gift buying /wrapping tool, and how foolish it |
| wife is clothes. It ranks right up there with lingerie | | | | would be of you not to employ it to its fullest |
| and will do nothing but cause you both grief and | | | | capacity. Don't be stupid enough to let your wife |
| heartache as you try and figure out what looks | | | | find out you did not put in the effort yourself, |
| good on your wife and what size fits her. | | | | (guilty or not guilty) |
| It is something you should never attempt, it's a | | | | We want to feel that we are special to you and |
| task apparently too enormous for the average | | | | worthy of your time. |
| guy. There are too many pitfalls involved with | | | | When you ask your wife what she truly wants as |
| buying clothes for your wife. | | | | a gift, for the second time, as the first time her |
| Picking a size for your wife is like playing Russian | | | | answer will probably be that she doesn't want |
| roulette. Guess wrong and you will pay dearly for | | | | anything (yeah, don't fall for this one ...this is the |
| it. Unless you are actually certain of your wife's | | | | biggest sin of all) |
| measurements, you are going to be guessing and | | | | Don't be crazy enough to not buy your lady a |
| that is dangerous ground. If you guess too low, | | | | gift. |
| then she will see it, as an indication of how you | | | | Ok guys I am now divulging one of woman kinds |
| want her to look. Guess to high, and she will think | | | | biggest secrets ,what she is really doing when she |
| you see her as too fat. It is a no win situation. | | | | says she doesn't require a gift is giving you the |
| Don't be foolish enough to think you can get | | | | opportunity of expressing your fonder feelings for |
| around it by trusting the labels inside her current | | | | her, what she wants to hear you say ,is |
| clothes, as there are no guarantees that it is still | | | | something like " honey of course I'm going to buy |
| her size, and not all clothes bearing the same size | | | | you a gift, how could you ever think I wouldn't I |
| really are the same size, trust me. | | | | love you so much I didn't want to screw up and |
| I could go on and on but I won't, I'll save you | | | | pick out something you didn't really want ,you |
| from mental humiliation of reliving your entire past | | | | know how clueless I am when it comes to |
| gift giving blunders. And tell you how to keep out | | | | shopping so help me out and tell me what you |
| of the doghouse on future gift giving occasions. | | | | would most like, you are very very special to me |
| Revelation #1 Listen | | | | I should be buying you gifts everyday not just on |
| I know that is a jaw dropping revelation but I | | | | your birthday". |
| promise you ,at least a few weeks or maybe, if | | | | By asking your wife what she would like for that |
| your wife thinks you're particularly obtuse a few | | | | special occasion, you will avoid the risk of |
| months before that special occasion, your wife will | | | | misunderstanding the hints she had been trying to |
| be dropping you hints, left and right and center in | | | | give you for weeks and save yourself from the |
| casual conversations everyday. All you have to do | | | | panic of rushing around the mall on the night |
| is listen. | | | | before or morning of that particular event, as you |
| Unfortunately, you are usually trying to listen to | | | | abuse your brain trying to remember anything |
| something else. Like "the Match" on the TV or | | | | that she might of said to you., when you were |
| "Howard" on the radio while only pretending you | | | | giving most of your attention to the sports on |
| are hanging on her every word (yes guys we do | | | | TV. |
| know) More often than not, you miss these | | | | Following these simple two steps comes with the |
| "hidden" suggestions and end up buying a gift that | | | | guarantee that you will purchase a gift that |
| you think she wants. There is a slim possibility | | | | makes your wife happy. If she isn't happy with |
| that your wife did mention on a single occasion | | | | the gift, then you didn't follow this guide. |
| (fluke! just happened to be the only time you | | | | Now this is the biggest revelation yet All ladies no |
| were actually listening) that she would like to buy | | | | matter how down to earth and practical they |
| a new set of pans. But even if she did, that | | | | may appear on the outside on the inside we are |
| doesn't mean she wants to receive them for her | | | | all suckers to a greater or lesser extent for |
| birthday. (Have you sinned in this way?) | | | | sentimental romantic displays of affection and |
| A good rule of thumb where gift giving is involved | | | | happy endings ,even though a few of us would |
| is to never ever buy your wife a tool or appliance | | | | rather die than admit it. |
| as a gift for a special event, if it is associated | | | | The best gift any woman can receive from her |
| with her doing more chores; it is probably not the | | | | significant other particularly if you have been |
| best gift idea in the world, not even if they are a | | | | together for awhile is a surprise gift , not a |
| set of gold plated pans once owned by Betty | | | | birthday gift or a Christmas gift not even a |
| Crocker herself. | | | | Valentines day gift but a gift that she perceives |
| If on the other hand you would just like to buy | | | | as one you don't "have to" give, if this can be a |
| the new pans or appliance for her for no | | | | sentimental romantic gift all the better, because |
| particular reason then this is a beast of a different | | | | most of you guys don't tell us how you feel, or |
| nature. (And boy would you score big points) it | | | | forget or just plain never realized that we need |
| would show her that you are listening | | | | to hear you say how you feel , Women need to |
| (sometimes) after all. | | | | be told they are loved we need to "know" that |
| Revelation#2: Ask | | | | we are loved, I know that you don't understand |
| Again, such a simple thing to do yet you often | | | | this ,but just because you don't understand it |
| overlook the glaringly obvious. While some ladies | | | | does not make the need any less real. |