Craftycorvid I think you have hit the nail on the head.
"I can imagine what it’s like to get so much stuff you neither want nor need. There’s something very disconcerting about gifts that suggest the giver doesn’t know us at all."
This is exactly how I feel. I gran inwardly when I see my mother bringing several bags of black bin liners stuffed full of gifts on my birthday.
It makes me uncomfortable and I have to spend an hour unwrapping her gifts with a smile on my face- the whole family watching, and I feel obliged to say "Oh that's lovely", "That will be handy" or "just what I need", whlle cringing inside.
She does the same at christmas time too, although that is a bit easier as everyone is opening gifts- so not so much pressure on me.
I know my daughter really dislikes it too, and she makes eye contact to me that says "please get rid of this for me".
So once gifts are opened I take a few huge bags and fill the boot of my car.
I then take them to food banks, a woman's rescue centre or a charity shop.
It's such a waste of money. My close family give me only a few gifts, but ones they have thought of, and show that they understand and listen to me. The gifts are usually inexpensive, but very meaningful, and my heart is truly touched -I feel understood at a deep level and loved.
I have tried to talk to my mother about it, but it falls on deaf ears. She thinks that opening mountain of presents is "such fun", and "who doesn't like gifts?" and that I am "such an ungrateful daughter". I don't want to upset her and have tried to be tactful suggesting that "we should all cut down on gift numbers this year". But she is an expert flouncer and door slammer.
Sorry for the rant!!
Just off for a rose and geranium spa shower then onto Body Balance.
Bright Blessings friends.