Presents for ungrateful dad

Kay_Peel

I wouldn't go to any great trouble. Some men of his generation get embarressed and coy over receiving gifts.

They are not good at showing their feelings anyway, some of them. My grandad used to say things like 'I'll open it later' or he used to disappear upstairs to unwrap his presents in private - he just didn't like everyone watching him and expecting a reaction - it was all an embarressing fuss and palaver that he'd rather have done without. He preferred to be handed a bottle of something nice, unwrapped and when no-one was around.

On that basis, I'd recommend a bottle of wine.

building_with_lego

Spendless wrote: »

I also remember this from a thread last year.

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/nothing-nothing-gift-gift-of-nothing.html?gclid=CLfs6NnE66sCFUEY4QodD1Oeew

blue_monkey wrote: »

Fantastic. 10% off too, LOL. 10% off nothing. Quality.

Also nectar points and Topcashback/Quidco on the nothing

meritaten

codemonkey wrote: »

I have told him that what he does upsets me. My mum has also told him off about being ungrateful about presents in the past. He just grumbles and then does the same at the next present opportunity.

He does get emotional - he cried when he was giving me away at my wedding - but I don't think that's it. He didn't even look at his birthday present.

doesnt that say something to you? my OH was the same. I think they get emotional overload and shut down emotionally. Its something to do with presents which causes emotional upset!

elsien

Spendless wrote: »

I also remember this from a thread last year.

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/nothing-nothing-gift-gift-of-nothing.html?gclid=CLfs6NnE66sCFUEY4QodD1Oeew

I got my miserable sod of a brother one of these last year. He said he didn't want presents, (and he meant it) but I didn't feel as if I could sit there and not give him anything at all when I'd insisted on a present from him.:D
I got him one of those, and a bah humbug hat and mr grumpy socks from poundland. It did actually bring a smile to his face and he opened his prezzies off the rest of the family which he'd refused point blank to open at all until that point. And I only spent a fiver on him so I didn't feel I was wasting lots of money.

sophieschoice

My Dad was exactly the same with gifts my brother gave to him. One Christmas my brother and his wife called to see him to give him his present.
He took hold of it then went outside and put it straight in the bin! In all other ways he was an excellent Dad it was just gifts he was strange about.
We solved the problem by buying joint gifts because he was more forgiving of me, being the prodigal daughter I guess.
If I were you I'd get him something interesting like one of those 'newspapers on the day you were born' as old people like to reminisce.
My Dad died this year so we won't have the gift problem. Although I wish with all my heart that we did.

Toto

Spendless wrote: »

Awwww. That obviously made an impact for it to be one of few stories repeated to you. Get him a Terrys chocolate orange and a message 'Dad, This IS for you' love codemonkey xxxxxx

I love this idea, it gave me the warm fuzzies. I'd hand it to him and tell him to open it later in private so he doesn't need to show a reaction when he opens it.

lollipopsarah

Oh you poor thing, I have no answers, but do have a hubby like your dad.
No matter what my lovely son gets him (and my son is a very thoughtful shopper) it's always wrong - grrrrr, so he now gets vouchers from a certain shop where his dad can choose what he wants - ie trainers/socks etc.
Just a thought how about a voucher for your local theatre?
We did this the other year and both parents loved it.
good luck
xx

jellyhead

We gave FIL a lump of coal once (as a joke - he's not grumpy). It came in a presentation tin, I think it was from firebox

Would he mind if you gave him nothing? or an oxfam goat?

sock-knitter

my dad always says dont bother getting me anything, but he has started doing a lot of word searches, while my mum sits knitting, this year he is getting a collection of word search books bought throughout the year at various pound shops lol

codemonkey

Thanks for all your kind replies. I think I'll just stick to novelty type or charity presents rather than wasting time and money looking for something he'll like.