The biggest fight my husband and I had in the early years of our marriage was his gift buying. He would go out the same day as the holiday to buy it! My first birthday after we were married, he went out the front door. ’I’ll be back honey!’ Me, ’Where are you going?’ Him, ’Be right back! Honey!’ I didn’t know then, but I knew after the third time. He was buying me a gift the same day!
I would be thinking about a Christmas gift for him 4 months before December. He is going out same day and bring back(Ok it’s the thought that counts, but he wasn’t thinking) stuff I never said I wanted.
Every holiday his eyes would pop out, and he would say, ’How did you know I wanted that?’ I would say, ’I listen.’ When we are sitting and talking or in the mall, and he would say, ’That would be nice to have, ’ or’I really could use that, it would make life easier.’ I would log it away in my head.
When I was getting rugs, (which I can use but never said I wanted) or a DVD player(which he wanted). I finally said something.
Me, ’Honey, why do you think I always get you what you want?’ Him, ’I don’t know.I say something about it?’ Me, ’Yes, and what have I been saying I would like?’ Him, ’this and that.’
After our 4th year of marriage he has caught on, and has learned to listen. I might not even be dropping hints. I will just say, ’Honey, I really need a new watch, ’ or I see at the store, ’Look Honey! The Godfather! On DVD!’
Now he remembers. You just listen to our ramble talking. Listen for this, ’That would make life easier, ’ Or’Look honey!’, or’I would love that.’
We’re not saying we want it, we’re just saying it would be nice to have it. That is what a gift is. Something that is nice to have.
Everything I have bought my husband is something he didn’t ask for, it’s just something I noticed him looking at, or saying something about.
We have been married for 7 years. Things are looking up. He isn’t going out same day!