With Christmas around the corner we’re starting to make lists of who’s naughty and who’s nice.  It got me to thinking about some of the depressing gifts I received from well meaning friends and family following my divorce.  One that stands out is the subscription for a recipe/entertaining magazine.  Normally, I would truly enjoy this but since my social life had been essentially cut in half if not to 1/4 what it once was, I had little need for a year’s worth of recipes entertaining ideas. The only entertaining I would be doing is a half dozen 12 year old boys for a sleep over, not exactly gourmet.  That being said a recipe book full of recipes for ‘1’ would be very depressing if not outright insulting.

Here are some top gifts NOT to give;

1. Martha Stewart anything – we aren’t doing anything Martha Stewart style during divorce, trust me on this

2. Recipe book for 1-depressing…

3. Best Love Songs ever recorded CD- never!

4. 50 Shades of Grey– No, this will not entertain us,  we don’t need Christian and whatever her name is taunting us about our sex life

5. An electric mixer or any kitchen tool- we have no motivation to cook see #1

Here are some better GIFT IDEAS;

1. gift certificate to a clothing store, coffee shop or wine store-did I mention wine?

2. Booze

3. Bottle of wine– see #2

4. Anything to do with hot bath or spa treatments

5. flowers-always en vogue

6. chocolates-anything edible

7. lunch/dinner date with you – time spent with friends is much needed about now and the gift of your time is invaluable

Happy Christmas shopping everyone!

  Did you get a bad post divorce gift? What was it?