Will Crappy 2020 Claim Christmas This Year Too

Say what you want, punch my man card if you like, but I'm the type of person that is usually done with my xmas shopping by this time each year. There's no shame in it. Buying gifts for your family isn't, just like cooking, something that should be viewed of as lame or unmanly. Granted, I usually make the gifts I give each year, but this year my family is changing the game.

I'm not sure if it's because I blow everybody out of the water with my handmade gifts or not, but they've stated that everyones gift has to be handmade this year. I know my sisters, this is a world that doesn't exist in their vernacular. They'd rather pick something up, wrap it, forget what it was, then be as surprised as you when you open it later. This puts me in a rather weird situation. I really do put thought and effort into the gifts I give each year. I am the greatest gift giver there is. Literally making everybody cry, even my father, with how heartfelt my handmade gifts are... but here's the rub... I don't think anyone in my family actually knows me well enough to make me something that could be heartfelt. Mom usually just says "Order yourself something and I'll pay you back." While it'd be nice for her to come up with an awesome present on her own, I'm OK with surprising myself. But my sisters really just don't know me well enough to come up with a meaningful present because, as I assume it's normal, as well as my sisters know each other, neither of them really know me beyond the younger brother with a smart mouth.

Here's the other problem... How do you come up with a handmade gift for kids that aren't mature enough to appreciate something homemade yet? Am I guilty of the same thing? Do I not know my niece and nephews well enough to craft them something they'd actually want? I normally get them all the same thing. It's usually unique and super weird... ie - One year, I bought them all Otamatones. They were just kooky and odd enough to put smiles on their faces if not for the look of pure confusion. I got a kick out of it. Last years burrito blankets were really popular, but I hate to recycle an idea. I wouldn't be putting thought into it, I'd just be buying something to mark them off my list. You know what I mean?

Maybe, at the end of the day, I'm showing the truest of human traits... Fear of change. Handmade stuff was my jam at christmas, and now it's everyones and, perhaps at a subconscious level, I just don't like that. Maybe I feel that my title of King of Christmas Presents is being threatened as they'll now rise to my level. Maybe I'm just expecting it to all fall apart since 2020 has been a banner year for suck. I'm not really sure. Either way, I don't even think the over-reaching Lawton city council or mayor can ruin the holidays... I'll just have to make the best of it.