Valentine's Gifts for a Grump

It can be a challenge to get a Valentine's gift for a grump. A grump is someone who won't be happy with anything you give them.

If you're tired of feeling unappreciated for your Valentine's gift-giving efforts, here are a few suggestions to make the situation more bearable.

Give your favorite candy
Give a box of your personal favorite Valentine's candy. If the grump doesn't like it, then there's more for you. At least one of you will be happy.

Negotiate for no gifts
Ask if you can skip the gift giving this Valentine's Day. They don't give you one; you don't give them one. That way no one's disappointed. And you can spend the money you would have spent on the grump on yourself instead. One of you will be smiling.

Give the same gift you gave last year
Go for efficiency. At least this way you'll save yourself some time and the mental stress of trying to decide what to get. Just give them what you gave them last Valentine's Day. In fact, you may be able to find the very item languishing in a closet somewhere. Giving the exact same item instead of one just like it is the ultimate form of efficiency.

Give them something good for them
This could be warm wool socks or an exercise bicycle. Choose a Valentine's gift they could use to improve their health. They may not like it, but they don't like anything, so it doesn't matter. At least you can hope it'll help them.

Give them whatever they give you - direct version
If they give you flowers or something else, say, "Oh, this is so lovely! I want you to have it!" Say it with a big sincere smile. After all, if they chose it, they must think it's a wonderful gift.

Give them whatever they give you - indirect version
When they give you your gift, say, "How wonderful! I got you the exact same thing! Let me go get it!" Then leave the room with the gift. Have a gift bag handy in the other room so you can "wrap" it instantly. Return and give them the gift with a big sincere smile.

If they don't give you a Valentine's gift, then you're off the hook. You don't have to give them anything.

Have Some Fun

The above techniques are not for the faint of heart. It can be useful to keep in mind the fact that a grump doesn't mean to be hurtful. They're just trying in their own way to tell you they're uncomfortable with gifts. Since you can't win, you might as well have some fun with it.