How would you handle this?

What’s the difference between stocking and gifts?

@Beatriz for stockings we usually get cheap stuff from the dollar store like toothbrush, socks, hair ties… by gift I mean something more expensive. Like I got him a new pair of sneakers that he’s been wanting and a few sweaters for work.

I'd also be tactfully honest with him and say you've already bought him something since you figured this year you're financially doing better and thought it would be lovely to finally get eachother something as a surprise. If he is an open communicator I'd also venture into mentioning that you felt hurt he hadn't considered it as you actually do like receiving gifts even though you both don't usually do that you'd like that to change... and see what he says🤗

I’d tell him everything that you just put in the post, that you really were looking forward to gifts this year as you’d previously decided to do, that it would be nice to mark your first year as parents (every subsequent Christmas is going to get more and more kid focused!), it’s really important to you, and even that you’d already chosen his gift. But if he still says no, then return the gift and use that money to buy yourself a gift from the baby ♥️

Ohhh I see what that is now. Thank you for explaining tho x Like the others said, just tell him you would like to do something different this year

Can’t you do a mix of both? I always do stockings in the morning & gifts throughout the day but that’s cause I’m a huge Christmas fan and think it’s more fun that way😂 x

Also as for your poll, I’d still give him the gifts you got him & that’ll make him feel bad enough that all he got you was cheap stuff with no sentimental value or meaning x

I'd explain that because you guys already agreed to do gifts and it's like 8 days from xmas... you bought his gift. I'd also express that just the stocking is not a tradition I want to keep moving forward considering you enjoy receiving gifts and this could be the one time a year you get something nice that isn't a necessity like a toothbrush. If he's refusing, then exchange his gifts and get yourself something!

@Rhiannon this! Just talk to him. It sounds like a misunderstanding right now. He probably thinks you both are in agreement

In my family we always did both! A stocking was always full of the tiny or cheap things that fit in a stocking & aren’t worth wrapping, but there’d be at least one - three real gifts for everyone. (Cause when I was growing up we were a family of 4) Some people are just stuck believing traditions need to stick around and stay the same, a conversation and a reminder that you wanted to blend both your traditions will go a long way. 🫶🏼

Being with someone should be a two way street. You both grew up differently and should be able to incorporate both traditions not just his.

I would give him the gift. You got it for him because you wanted to do something nice for him right? That doesn't have to change.