Ten Lousy Christmas Gifts that Could Cost You Your Boyfriend

en will always be boys at heart. ... especially at Christmas time.

Just like Peter Pan, most men never want to grow up... and never do ... even if they appear to on the outside.

Some psychologists and pop culture pundits even call it the "Peter Pan" complex anc cite deep emotional or social reasons for this behavior. Other observers just write it off to the effects of testosterone.The plain and simple truth is that men, like boys, like to play with toys.

Ordinary guys who work hard for a living and high powered executives alike share an obsession with toys ... ranging from a power drill or sander to a BMW or Harley Davidson.

Guys like Christmas gifts they can have fun with ... and show off to their friends and associates ... not something their girl friend finds "cute"

"Feminine-Sided" Gifts
No man wants to receive a Christmas gift that is intended for a man to "get in touch" with his "feminine" side. Whether it's a self improvement course, book or DVD, a supscription to "O ... the Oprah magazine", a set of skin care products, or a gift certificate to a spa for a facial, the gift sends out the wrong message. Rather than saying "Merry Christmas, honey", "I love you", or "I like you a lot", it says "There's something wrong with you" or "I want to change you". Getting most men to be more sensitive, more "meto sexual" or more "attuned to their feminine side" is a long term process and cannot be accomplished with Christmas gifts.

The Boring Old Neckties
The necktie is perhaps the most boring, unimaginative and least useful gift any man can receive. Unless the man is really into fashion and wears ties to work daily, it is one of the least appreciated gifts a man can receive. Even then, neckties are risky gifts because fashionable men prefer to pick out their ties themselves. A necktie tells a man, his girlfriend, fiancee, significant other or wife just didn't care enough to shop around for a more meaningful gift.

Wild Colored or Patterned Clothing
Even men who dress very fashionably and trendy tend to be somewhat conservative. Any color, pattern or style that might appear borderline in terms of masculinity will only get returned, re-gifted or hang in the closet, never to be worn. Unless you really know the man well and have seen him where "pink" or "coral" shirts or wildly patterned sweaters, select a more traditional style or color.

Hats
Unless it's a "cap" of a favorite sports team, a cowboy hat (if they're into country), or a down hat or skii cap if they live in Minnesota or some other frigid place ... most men don't wear hats.

Men's Clutch Bags or "Purses"

Metro-sexual is not sexy to most men. Despite their popularity in Europe, most American men won't carry any small leather bag that looks like a like a purse. Whether it's called a "men's clutch" or personal size "carry all" bag, it still looks like a woman's purse and will be perceived as one. If you really want to get a guy a bag to help organize his stuff better, there are other options that are more masculine.

Key Chains
Keychains are purely functional to men and definitely not the key to their hearts. That's why so many men just carry a plaing old metal circular key ring. Unless a guy ir really into the particular model car or truck he drives and wants the world to know he's driving a Corvette, BMW or Ford Pickup Truck ... even when he's not in it ... a key ring is one of those useless gifts. At best, it will wind up in on the workbench in the basement and hold the spare keys to the backyard toolshed.

Underwear
Briefs or boxer shorts make boring gifts. Underwear isn't something you give your man ... even if you've been married to him for 66 years.

Cutesy T Shirts

Custom made matching T shirts with photos of you and your boyfriend and some warm and fuzzy saying are Christmas gifts most men dread receiving. They're juvenile for starters and no guy would wear it regularly. He'll only wear it when you decide the two of you should wear it because you're going to one of your girlfriend's houses for a party or cookout.

Socks
Socks are something a grandmother or elderly aunt give a man for Christmas ... not a girlfriend. Of any article clothing a man wears, socks are the one he cares about least. The last thing any man wants to tell someone when asked what his girlfriend gave him for Christmas is " a pair of socks".

Edible Gifts

Edible doesn't mean an incredible Christmas gift. Because it's often been said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, many women automatically assume that men enjoy getting gifts containing food such as tins of assorted flavored popcorn, cheese boards and sausage and beef jerky trays. Actually this is a major misconception.

Food gifts are usually eaten by the day after Christmas ... often by other people ... and what fun is that. A man can enjoy a power ratchet set, computer printer or giant plasma TV for years to come, but a cheese and sausage board is usually gone and forgotten in just a day.

Boys Like Toys
Always remember your Man Is Still A Boy At Heart ... and Boys Love Toys. Men will always be young at heart and like toys, tools, gadgets and gizmos they can enjoy on Christmas morning and for years to come. Give them a gift they remember and they'll always remember you!