The Brother-in-Law Dilemma
The first time I needed to buy a Christmas gift for a male other my father was in high school. The gift recipient was my first boyfriend, the slightly older, nerdy musical type I would be drawn to for the rest of my dating life. I had not one idea what to get a guy for Christmas. He wasn't a thing like my dad, who was happy with the latest Updike novel or a new sweater. I agonized over what to get him, and I'm sure whatever I settled on was a dud. I do recall what he got me for Christmas that year: the Julian Lennon tape I wanted. My parents also got it for me. You can guess which copy I kept.
Gift-giving to guys never got much easier, until I met my future husband. Finally, I knew a bit more about men and what this man in particular liked. But then a new Male Gift Recipient joined the family: The Brother-in-Law.
As happy as I am that my sister and my sis-in-law have found special men who match them pretty much perfectly, it sure would be easier if they fell for the the more standard model of male. Someone who likes NASCAR or football (American football. One of my brother-in-laws is a English soccer fan). Someone who can never have enough beer shirts or pint glasses or whatever other stereotypical male gift there is.
I don't really like to give standard gifts. Yet I admit to falling back on certain themes. The brother-in-law that likes irreverant animation probably has plenty of Simpson and Futurama schwag. The one from London doesn't need another kitchsy British item. But what do you get the gadget guy who has every gadget? Or the man of your father's generation who owns four properties and has a full lifetime of stuff already?
I imagine the women in my family find my husband just as challenging to get a gift for. My guy is not aquisitive. He has a basement full of tools, a wall full of instruments, more books than he can read.
But another year's gifts are purchased and off in the mail, hopefully to reach their recipients before 12/25. And maybe I should start thinking about my brothers-in-law and next Christmas now, instead of waiting another whol year.
Gift-giving to guys never got much easier, until I met my future husband. Finally, I knew a bit more about men and what this man in particular liked. But then a new Male Gift Recipient joined the family: The Brother-in-Law.
As happy as I am that my sister and my sis-in-law have found special men who match them pretty much perfectly, it sure would be easier if they fell for the the more standard model of male. Someone who likes NASCAR or football (American football. One of my brother-in-laws is a English soccer fan). Someone who can never have enough beer shirts or pint glasses or whatever other stereotypical male gift there is.
I don't really like to give standard gifts. Yet I admit to falling back on certain themes. The brother-in-law that likes irreverant animation probably has plenty of Simpson and Futurama schwag. The one from London doesn't need another kitchsy British item. But what do you get the gadget guy who has every gadget? Or the man of your father's generation who owns four properties and has a full lifetime of stuff already?
I imagine the women in my family find my husband just as challenging to get a gift for. My guy is not aquisitive. He has a basement full of tools, a wall full of instruments, more books than he can read.
But another year's gifts are purchased and off in the mail, hopefully to reach their recipients before 12/25. And maybe I should start thinking about my brothers-in-law and next Christmas now, instead of waiting another whol year.