To feel oddly hurt about this?

[shouldntbeaskingthis]

Work Christmas do last week, very small team (3 including my boss), we met for a lovely meal. I am a good baker and made people homemade truffles in beautiful boxes together with other little bits. My one colleague had a big present for my boss but only a card for me and was very embarrassed when he only had a card for me so he gave me money on the spot and said to "buy the children something with it". Aibu to feel weirdly hurt by this and really awkward?

Buy your kids something nice and forget about it.

Yeah I am feeling a bit wobbly and wondered if I'm just being precious. Definitely won't go through all the hassle again myself though!

I bet he feels more awkward! It’s a bit embarrassing when someone gives you something and you haven’t got them anything. I wouldn’t be hurt I don’t think, it may just have not crossed his mind you would give him anything? And he’s panicked and given you the money. Just an awkward little human to human interaction all round!

Yes, especially as he got my boss two presents and none for me🙈I certainly won't go to so much trouble again, I made the truffles despite having a very stressful week and feel really stupid now. Or I might just be feeling a bit stressed and wobbly before Christmas!

I wouldn’t have accepted the money. A card is more than ok.

Why did you take the money? 🤣 I’m sorry, it must have been so awkward for you and him. You’ve done nothing wrong, your colleague has just been really weird.

I didn't want to accept it, but he walked off! and of course usually a card is more than enough, but I find it odd to give a big/ two presents to one person and none to the other

This.

It was a spur of the moment thing to cover HIS embarrassment. Nothing to feel hurt about.
Buy the dcs something lovely. Or buy a splendid box of chocolates for your family to share on Xmas evening.

I really didn't want to take it but he just walked off and wouldn't take it back! I don't know why I felt so embarrassed and weird about this🙈

Thank you so much. I will buy something really nice. I think I'm just feeling my usual before - Christmas - overthinking - everything fear!

Aw don’t dwell on it. Sounds like an awkward moment. He probably felt embarrassed. You did a lovely thing OP.

In time, it will be funny. For you…perhaps not for your excruciatingly awkward colleague.

If you feel weird, imagine how it must feel to be the person who forced cash on a colleague who had simply given you (and others) some lovely home made truffles 🤣🤣

Not one but two presents for the boss? So he brown noses one colleague and is awkward with the other? He's got more to be embarrassed about than you!!

What a toady buying a big present for the boss. I never buy presents for bosses on the basis that they earn more than me and I can’t afford to.

People get hung up over the weirdest things these days. Acknowledge the money, smile, but politely decline it. They probably can't afford the cash gift anyway, so let them keep it.

In fairness to him we've been in the company for ages and are all quite friendly so I'm not sure he's trying to impress the boss....

Ah this will be fun. Next year you won’t bother because he didn’t and he’ll get you something because he’s feeling awkward about this year. So you can relive the cringe in reverse. Make sure you have a few notes to press into his hands and tell him to buy something pretty 😂

He just walked away, I said several times I don't want it! I'm hung about putting lots of effort into something and being thoughtful....

You didn’t do anything wrong. When you are such a small team it’s weird to present your boss with a present and nothing for you. Did he give it to your boss in front of you??

Honestly, OP, I think your behaviour is almost as odd as your colleague’s — it’s very unusual to make homemade truffles for colleagues and other presents, and to wrap them in ‘beautiful boxes’. Even if he’d got you a token box of Quality Street, he wouldn’t have put in anywhere near the effort.

🤣 Love this!

Gosh yes I would feel really awkward if someone did that .

Next year organise secret Santa.

Big gift for the boss 😆 how bum licky

awkward situation but it’s done now don’t waste time thinking about it and maybe buy something for yourself 😊

It's very odd of your colleague to buy two expensive presents for your boss and nothing for you as you are only a small team of three. There is no way I would go out for a meal as a group of three colleagues and just buy something for one of them, leaving the other empty handed. It's rude and thoughtless and the optics are awful.

I hope he felt really embarrassed.