Strange choice of advent calendar

[Adtothevent]

DH and I haven't had advent calendars for years, but having had a rough few months, I thought I'd treat him to one with little luxury alcohol samples
It was expensive, but seems good quality and a good way of trying a range.

I told him it was an advent calendar when it arrived in the post, and he didn't say anything, but must have decided then to get me one too.

It's an advent poetry book, which sounds lovely. Except it has lift the flap images. For ages 3-6.

Nostalgia trip, remember being a little kid and being excited to open the flap to see a picture of a bell?

That's kinda cute.

Maybe when he bought it he didn't realise that the advent calendar you'd bought him was an expensive luxury adult advent calendar. It's possible the whole trend has passed him by. When you used to do advent calendars before, was it more like "lift the cardboard flap for a picture of a sleigh and a tiny moulded chocolate" kind of thing?

Advent calendars are traditionally for children though so it sounds quite cute and thoughtful. I didn't even no the one you mentioned existed, he probably didn't realise you'd gotten him such a generous gift really

The Good Old Days...

what no chocolate?

Is he, like my DH, blissfully unaware of the whole advent calendar with gifts in boxes trend?

Although he could still have got you one with chocolate in.

I love a picture advent calendar, I buy one every year. Still remember the excitement of opening it each day when I was little

Oh, is it the National Trust one? I thought it was lovely!

A few years ago DP got me a 'tea' advent calendar. Full of random herbal, fruity and odd blends. I only drink strong Yorkshire gold!

I suppose 'its the thought that counts' applies in both our cases. Maybe he didn't realize it was poems for kids?

No, he didn't know what he was getting, and it's not that I expected one at all, let alone an equivalent.

I want to think the thought was there, but I don't know how he missed it was a picture book of poems to read with tiny children, not for adults!

Does it matter?

No, it doesn't matter. Just he's enjoying his drink again and getting into the subtle differences between each one so far and I don't really want to lift the flap and read today's christmassy nursery rhyme for toddlers to myself. So I posted here instead.

This one?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/National-Trust-Lift-Flap-Christmas/dp/1839946865/ref=asc_df_1839946865?mcid=c49994344f953760bf29ff1bf7490dca&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697250821128&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9468385108003254629&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046395&hvtargid=pla-2250627076007&psc=1&gad_source=1

It looks absolutely lovely and whilst the reading age is stated as Age 3-6 that by no means implies it for small children. In much the same way that a chocolate calendar isn't just for small children simply because small kids can eat chocolate.

Every day I'd open the door on his and hide the alcohol before he can get to it. If he objects encourage him to look at the nice pattern behind or on the door just like you can do on yours.

That's on you not him, you chose that lovely gift for him and he's enjoying it. He had no idea what you'd chosen and you hadn't suggested you'd got a luxury adult calendar, but now your a bit glum he didn't guess. Why not treat yourself to a nice advent calendar? I always buy my own (kids chocolate one), it's not something that needs to be gifted and you can enjoy yours along side his then. Maybe next year express youd like to do this for eachother then he knows what to aim for.

Why on earth would that be a reasonable idea?

Yeah, no. No idea how he's missed that's for children. I think you need to get on and order yourself one. Lots still available. It's one thing not to expect one, but another to have received one that's fairly thoughtless that you have to be grateful for. Just get yourself something you'd enjoy!

Yeah, I wanted him to have it (I know it's not exclusively a thing that's a gift) and it wasn't a thing for each other that I've not communicated.

As other posters get, to be given one in return that I'd rather not have and I think is wasted on me (and takes all month to finish...) is different from not being included.

3 years ago I bought picture only advent calendars, with an actual nativity scene on them (how rare), and have dutifully blu-tacked the doors back down each year for my children to re-open and discover the pictures again each year...! We're living the good old days! (I have such fond memories of my grandmother's advent calendar, which was just like this - cardboard only and doors stuck back down each year).

Anyway, this year 2 sodding people gave them chocolate advent calendars, so there goes that. Now they're going to expect things :D

And yes, that book looks lovely, but definitely an interesting choice for a grown woman!

because then they are equal presents, obviously

OMG I would love it if my OH got me that.

The poems on the first page don't look appealing to my 3 or 6yo. They wouldn't understand half the language and while that doesn't necessarily matter, I think amazon have just put it into a bonkers category - they do this quite frequently. I would find another example but if I do that I will be up all night so I am going to bed

YANBU to be annoyed if you have no interest in poetry generally. But I don't think it's really a toddler's item - it looks designed to appeal to a wide range of ages.

Why does it have this on the listing?
Product Safety
This product is subject to specific additional safety warnings
Warning:Do not use near overhead power lines.

I think it looks charming