I have a friend, known her for 23 years. We worked together up to 3 years ago, its how I met her. We worked together for 8 years then I moved on to a new job and when I moved again 3 years later got her one there too and we worked together for 10 years.
My DH has given me a certain little gift from my Dd2 every year since birth. She is now 13 and in to shopping for said something every year. Its become an exciting tradition, her looking on line at whats available and going out with Dh the weekend before Christmas to the big mall to get one for me. I look forward to it every year.
My friend found out about this tradition about 10 years ago. She has bought me a bigger, way more expensive version of my Dds gift every year since. I have to say that I have always been "good" to her. Nothing expensive though. She cant boil water so I was always cooking for any special occasions she had, I used to bring a home cooked lunch for us both every day, sending home made bread every week, nothing huge and I knew her and her family appreciated it and I enjoyed doing it.
I love her dearly and would never hurt her feelings but every year at Christmas, there it is, the bigger more expensive version of Dds gift. I have told her it really is not necessary, I dont need/want anything. She insists I have given her so much she needs to get me something I love.
I thought it would stop when we stopped working together 3 years ago. It has not.First year was because I helped her find a new job. Last year it was cos I helped her drop 60lbs and it was to show her appreciation. This year it happened again, due to our schedules we have not met up this year and keep in touch by text, last time was end of August when she said she would be in touch in a couple of days cos she was going away for the weekend. Heard nothing till the Sunday before Christmas. I missed her text as I was out and about. She went into my Dd1 place of work to drop a gift off for me as I hadnt replied to her text. ( Ive text her 3 times since then and got no reply).
I do love her dearly, shes is an awesome human being. I need the gift giving to stop. Ive hinted and out right asked over the years . The gifts she gives are beautiful, they look fabulous in my cabinet but they overshadow what my Dd2 gives me, other people remark on her example and not Dd2s. Now shes older Dd2 has started to comment too. It bothered me on a much lower level when it first started, and I hoped it would stop after I said stuff but now my Dd2 is noticing I need it to stop now. I just dont know how to do it without hurting her feelings ( she really is a lovely lovely human being)
God that was long and such a minor issue, sorry but I need help