To buy a Christmas present after Christmas?!

[Eatcabbage]

I need to buy my step father an additional Christmas present before we go see them just before New Year. (They are 6 hours away). I messaged my half sister, his daughter, for present ideas as he is notoriously difficult to buy for. For context, it's been really difficult for me to go Christmas shopping this year as I haven't been able to leave my father alone as he had a small stroke a few weeks ago. I've been staying with him, which means that the school run has been taking me nearly 4 hours a day, on top of working 8 hours a day, which luckily I can do remotely.
However, my half sister's response to my request for present ideas was "Eatcabbage, it is many days past Christmas".
I'm really upset by this. I feel like I get nothing but hurt from trying to be nice to my family and it feels like I must be the problem. Am I really that unreasonable for not having bought all my presents already? I've got him something, but I don't think it's enough, and I try to support the local economy rather than buying everything online. Literally my first opportunity to go shopping in weeks and weeks is tomorrow morning.

She sounds like a complete idiot to be honest, and completely devoid of any empathy given the fact that you're obviously going through a difficult time! You have had a at bigger priorities to focus on and, rightly so, haven't bought his gift yet. So what?!

I think it's great that you support local business, but give yourself a break on this occasion OP and order something off Amazon for next day delivery! Is there a bottle of alcohol he drinks that you could get?

If you weren’t due to see him until new years then it’s fine you haven’t gotten his gift yet. Does your half sister know you’ve been looking after your dad? Sometimes you have to let these comments go over your head.

Yes, she knows about my father being unwell.
My step father doesn't drink.

What about:

Wallet
Coffee mug
Tool set
Slippers
Dressing gown
Photo album
Watch

I know they're all pretty generic but if it's just something extra to add onto a gift I'd try not to worry too much about it

On Boxing Day Boots is full of people buying Christmas gifts. There’s nothing wrong in buying gifts after Christmas if you aren’t seeing the recipient till after Christmas. However, you can’t spend your life with your DF and you need to speak to Social Services and arrange some care for him.

YANBU. I will be seeing DD next week and will be going into town tomorrow to buy her presents....I know what I'm getting her so waited until the sales started. As long as there are gifts to give then what does it matter when they are bought?

Get him a bottle of wine or box of chocolates and forget about it.

If you’re not seeing people until after Christmas it makes sense to wait until now to buy extra presents.

I mean its not unreasonable in your circumstances, but i can see why your sister feels he's been left a an afterthought.

Yes, I see that. It's his birthday a few days after Christmas too though, so I do need to get him an extra present to everyone else.
Also, he's just had an affair so I guess he's not been top of my list of priorities, particularly with everything else that has been going on.

Absolutely not being unreasonable. Nearly every year we see some family members after Christmas. Unless there's something super specific I have my eye on, I'll often pop into town after Christmas to buy presents in the sales.

Bit confused how you haven't been able to leave my father alone as he had a small stroke a few weeks ago yet have been able to do the school run when staying with him means that the school run has been taking me nearly 4 hours a day

However, I understand your sister's response. She's not wrong. It's 2024 - we have internet shopping.

I try to support the local economy rather than buying everything online - which is all well and good when you have the time, but this year you haven't. So you either tell everyone you aren't buying anything this year, or you buy on-line. Either is absolutely understandable.

YANBU to buy things after Christmas, if that works for you (when we had 'proper sales' after Christmas, I would often stock up on presents for the year), but YABU to be offended at your sister's response. She's not wrong.

@NewName24 I either take my father on the school run with me, or if he refuses (twice maybe) I call him when I get there to make sure he's ok, because I have no choice but to go. It's slightly different from leaving him to go off out shopping.