Gold Pile Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I've managed to avoid such things all my life, but refusing to go would rock our all ready stormy relationship. They were having twins, a boy and a girl. I purchased 10 shares of a health care REIT geared to senior citizens, for the boy. For the girl I purchased books on cooking and sewing. Initially they were very pleased with the REIT gift, dare I say it was the priciest gift of the day (with enormous potential too)? But I got the cold shoulder after the books gift. I'm thinking I broke some protocol by spending more on one kid than the other. Really I think $340.00 would have made for an excessive quantity of books. I try to be a nice guy, but it never works out. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
CarrieT Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Because you were being incredibly sexist. Why shouldn't the girl child be worthy of shares and stocks as well? You exalted the boy and demeaned the girl and they are only infants. 8 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Gold Pile Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Because you were being incredibly sexist. Why shouldn't the girl child be worthy of shares and stocks as well? You exalted the boy and demeaned the girl and they are only infants. Well, Stocks involve the calculation of things like Dividends, yields, earnings per share, qualified and non qualified distributions, etc. I hardly think this would be of interest to most females. I suppose it's possible that the boy won't like finance either but I'm playing the odds that highly favor him growing up to be a straight male. I do wish I'd spent an equal amount on both gifts, it was thoughtless of me. Link to post Share on other sites
preraph Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 All I'm thinking is that you went way overboard on the presents, and yes, buying a baby cookbooks is nuts. Normally, a baby shower, it's baby stuff only. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
GunslingerRoland Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 This is so incredibly wrong... men should never have to be subjected to baby showers. Clearly your girlfriend has no sensitivity towards gender issues. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Gold Pile Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Those were probably the two worst and most inappropriate gifts anyone has ever given at a baby shower. I mean, wow. How could you not know what sort of gifts are given at those things? Next time, before you give a gift to anyone, for any reason, be sure to ask someone, preferably a woman, what kind of gift is best for that occasion. Your gifts are kinda like giving your mother a huge dildo for Christmas. Actually, because of the baby boomer demographic, those senior healthcare shares have loads of growth potential, a great gift! But as I said....I've never been to such an event before. Someone suggested I but them a couple of mobiles, but I imagine that by the time they're ready to use the phones...the technology will be out of date. Thanks for your advice, I now know what not to buy my Mom for Christmas. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Gold Pile Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 This is so incredibly wrong... men should never have to be subjected to baby showers. Clearly your girlfriend has no sensitivity towards gender issues.You're right Roland. I grab a shower everyday, but I'll never attend one again. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Don't know if they still have them, but savings bonds used to work for me. Back in the day I'd buy a bunch of 50.00 ones and put them in shower, birthday and other cards. I think they cost me 25 bucks each to buy, not much money these days but it was 20-30 years ago for a kid's or baby's gift. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Gold Pile Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Don't know if they still have them, but savings bonds used to work for me. Back in the day I'd buy a bunch of 50.00 ones and put them in shower, birthday and other cards. I think they cost me 25 bucks each to buy, not much money these days but it was 20-30 years ago for a kid's or baby's gift.That's great idea for any occasion! and it's like giving a $50 dollar gift that only cost you half. Link to post Share on other sites
BlueIris Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 Well, Stocks involve the calculation of things like Dividends, yields, earnings per share, qualified and non qualified distributions, etc. I hardly think this would be of interest to most females. I suppose it's possible that the boy won't like finance either but I'm playing the odds that highly favor him growing up to be a straight male. I do wish I'd spent an equal amount on both gifts, it was thoughtless of me. Oh, man.... :laugh: Yeah, kinda sexist. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 That's great idea for any occasion! and it's like giving a $50 dollar gift that only cost you half. Thrifty, yet encouraging a life-long habit of saving and gender equality. Win! Link to post Share on other sites
spiderowl Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 It's not usual to invite men to baby showers so you were very privileged (which fits with your image of course ). You should come to the UK. People are only just starting to have baby showers here. In past times, we used to give the parents and baby(ies) gifts after they were born, not before. It was considered bad luck to do too much before the baby arrived. Baby showers are an American import here. Link to post Share on other sites
johan Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I've managed to avoid such things all my life, but refusing to go would rock our all ready stormy relationship. They were having twins, a boy and a girl. I purchased 10 shares of a health care REIT geared to senior citizens, for the boy. For the girl I purchased books on cooking and sewing. Initially they were very pleased with the REIT gift, dare I say it was the priciest gift of the day (with enormous potential too)? But I got the cold shoulder after the books gift. I'm thinking I broke some protocol by spending more on one kid than the other. Really I think $340.00 would have made for an excessive quantity of books. I try to be a nice guy, but it never works out. I think you're right, it was unfair. Maybe you could go back and offer an additional gift of a doll as a way to try to smooth things over. If they don't accept it, throw it through their front window and then run as fast as you can. They will appreciate the gesture. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
basil67 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 The thing with cookbooks is that they go out of fashion very quickly. A cookbook given to me when I was a baby in 1967 would have had the most appalling food choices by the time I married at 20 and started cooking for my husband. This poor girl may find herself serving her future husband food on timber boards and thinking that it's fashionable! 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Timshel Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 That was a super long away time.......:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Popsicle Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 You should have bought the baby girl stock in something like ShoeDazzle. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
deckard11 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) I've managed to avoid such things all my life, but refusing to go would rock our all ready stormy relationship. They were having twins, a boy and a girl. I purchased 10 shares of a health care REIT geared to senior citizens, for the boy. For the girl I purchased books on cooking and sewing. Initially they were very pleased with the REIT gift, dare I say it was the priciest gift of the day (with enormous potential too)? But I got the cold shoulder after the books gift. I'm thinking I broke some protocol by spending more on one kid than the other. Really I think $340.00 would have made for an excessive quantity of books. I try to be a nice guy, but it never works out. Well you're officially whooped. Edited January 30, 2016 by a LoveShack.org Moderator Link to post Share on other sites
Author Gold Pile Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 It's not usual to invite men to baby showers so you were very privileged (which fits with your image of course ). You should come to the UK. People are only just starting to have baby showers here. In past times, we used to give the parents and baby(ies) gifts after they were born, not before. It was considered bad luck to do too much before the baby arrived. Baby showers are an American import here.That's very interesting Spider. I would say that the quality of socialized medical care in Europe makes it wise to wait and see if the births go well. I would say that but everyone knows I hate to offend anyone. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Gold Pile Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 The thing with cookbooks is that they go out of fashion very quickly. A cookbook given to me when I was a baby in 1967 would have had the most appalling food choices by the time I married at 20 and started cooking for my husband. This poor girl may find herself serving her future husband food on timber boards and thinking that it's fashionable! Your words are wise Basil. At least you and I are on the same page, she needs to develop her cooking skills to find herself a husband someday. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Gold Pile Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 You should have bought the baby girl stock in something like ShoeDazzle. Yup, a stock purchase in a feminine company would've been the best way to go. Link to post Share on other sites
almond Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 That's very interesting Spider. I would say that the quality of socialized medical care in Europe makes it wise to wait and see if the births go well. I would say that but everyone knows I hate to offend anyone. Considering the fact that the UK has a lower infant mortality rate than the US, your statement isn't offensive - it's just completely inaccurate. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
spiderowl Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 That's very interesting Spider. I would say that the quality of socialized medical care in Europe makes it wise to wait and see if the births go well. I would say that but everyone knows I hate to offend anyone. Very funny! I'm thankful for socialised medical care (I presume you mean the NHS?). It would be awful having to prove you could pay before giving birth. I've never been to a baby shower but I heard colleagues talking about one so I presume they've started over here. Halloween seems to have become very American too and seems to be mostly about sweets than witches. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Author Gold Pile Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 Considering the fact that the UK has a lower infant mortality rate than the US, your statement isn't offensive - it's just completely inaccurate. The US is one of the few countries that "count" births from the 1st moment. Many countries do not count a birth until a certain period of time has elapsed. It skews the statistics. An African country that doesn't count a birth for 24 hours after the true birth time, will statistically look as good or better than a country that starts the clock at the moment of birth. An infant that dies before the 24 hours never existed on the books. I don't know if England delays or not. I have many friends and business contacts all over Europe (oddly enough none in England), they gripe about the quality of care, the long waits, and the wealthy bribing their way to prompt & better care. The staunchest defenders of Euro health care systems (besides Euro Nationalists) are Americans that have zero experience with it. The US certainly has major issues as well. If Dianna's car wreck happened here, she'd still be alive. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Gold Pile Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 Very funny! I'm thankful for socialised medical care (I presume you mean the NHS?). It would be awful having to prove you could pay before giving birth. I've never been to a baby shower but I heard colleagues talking about one so I presume they've started over here. Halloween seems to have become very American too and seems to be mostly about sweets than witches. Sadly, impoverished people here can breed like rabbits and the tax payers foot the bill. I assumed Halloween was started by British Dentists trying to drum up even more business Sweets, Witches, and pumpkins are in abundance here on OCT 31st Link to post Share on other sites
Furious Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) The thing with cookbooks is that they go out of fashion very quickly. A cookbook given to me when I was a baby in 1967 would have had the most appalling food choices by the time I married at 20 and started cooking for my husband. This poor girl may find herself serving her future husband food on timber boards and thinking that it's fashionable! Perhaps that was why the expectant parents seem offended by the gift cookbooks for their baby girl and it would ruin her future chance of a suitable marriage if her recipes were outdated, it could be means for divorce and she'd be left on the shelf as a spinster. GoldPile your gift was from your heart but perhaps you could have gifted this baby girl with books on ageless topics such as of how to be a good hostess and cleaning tips for a sparkling clean home. Edited January 31, 2016 by Furious 2 Link to post Share on other sites
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