And all I need is tights! Every relative believes that we probably live in an age of commodity shortages and are unable to buy our only daughter's clothes-shoes-toys on her own.
I remember a nice, friendly smile from a dear relative who solemnly handed me a bag of things. Looking into it, I almost recoiled from the smell of dirty laundry long before it was washed.
Having pulled out one "work of art" into the light, I was swollen: blue pantyhose, which had seen a lot of things in their lifetime, were covered with suspicious brown spots, the size was only suitable for a three-year-old big boy and generally looked disgusting.
-Thank you, but we don't need pantyhose at all, it's uncomfortable to wear them, and our daughter is showing off in diapers... - I tried to get away from unnecessary things.
-Oh, well, what are you talking about, is there something pathetic for your daughter, - quite illogical answered the giver, - In general, there are many pantyhose, just for the period of accustoming to the pot, and throw not pathetic will be then ... And diapers out - one evil from them.
Slanting bunny (in the dark makes a terrible impression), leaky jacket, things in the spots, salad bowl with broken edges, yellowed from the decrepitude of a towel, synthetic bedding for 100 rubles - that's what we received as a gift in the first year after the birth of her daughter.
It's a shame.
Don't get me wrong. I never expected expensive gifts from anyone. And in general, the price does not matter to me. I will be very happy if I am presented with an ordinary thin book in a paper binding. New!
But to receive a gift that was used for its intended purpose for many years? Give low-quality things to keep in your own house is somehow embarrassing, but for a gift they are suitable? Handing over broken dishes, dirty clothes, torn shoes without any remorse?
And at the same time, to feel like benefactors, throwing an expensive coat off a man's shoulder on the palm of their hands. And wait for this dubious generosity for a gesture of gratitude in return. Sincerely wondering why we do not throw our feet and kiss the white hands.
I will explain to you why.
Because we told our relatives at once in Russian: we do not need things. We have a lot of them. All the more so because children grow out of clothes very quickly, and I don't want to make a garbage dump at home.
We were not heard.
I remember a couple of years ago, after the school ruler, a mother from a parallel class was indignant that she found her bouquet on September 2 in a litter bin in the ladies' room.
-How do we give you flowers, and you throw them away? - she screamed.
The teacher, who had worked at the school for many years, calmly answered:
-Thank you for the flowers. I threw away all the stale flowers, I love fresh ones.
-You can imagine, they gave me a rotten asterisks, torn off, apparently, 3-4 days ago, and also take offense that I didn't keep their bouquet on the table for a week," a colleague told me later.
For me, the gift is always the energy of the giver. I love to choose a gift myself, taking into account the tastes and interests of the person to whom I am going to present it. It's nice to understand that I'm pleased with the gift, it's nice to see happy faces. When I give a gift, I also give myself a good mood. Giving something from the bottom of my heart, I know that the universe will appreciate this gesture. And she will be a little sympathetic to me.
"Give the best to people, give the best, and you will never lose," my mother told me. I stick to her advice.
But broken plates? Will it be okay?
I won't be offended if I don't get anything for my birthday.
I don't think it's any better than a lame, old-fashioned thing.
And if young parents say they don't need to give them worn things, then they should listen to them. And give them to those who need them.
Also, these baby things are so cute. So I want to buy the whole shop...