Hey that was an awesome gift and I know if my sweetie had given it to me I would have been through the roof in excitement. Don't let it get you down it was very thoughtful

Just my $0.02 ...

I don't know her but from what you've said about her here, it sounds to me like she's just ungrateful. Plain and simple.

I'm the same way. I would LOVE a body massage *but* I can't stand the thought of some stranger touching me. So I understand that. But if my husband (or S.O. in this case) was sweet, kind, and thoughtful enough to put as much thought and time and consideration into a gift as wonderful as this one, I sure wouldn't have reacted the way she did.

Again. Just my $0.02. Some women don't know when they have it good.

I agree, she should be MUCH more gracious and not so snarky! How sad that your SO focuses solely upon the present given and not upon the sentiment involved. Geez, there are A LOT of women who would LOVE any type of thoughtfulness! I sure hope she doesn't cut the kids efforts down like that! Side note: we do not celebrate these Hallmark holidays around my house. EVERY day is Mother's Day and Father's Day and Valentine's Day to us, not just the single designated day each year! :-)

My hubby gave me a "homemade" Certificate for an hour long massage lotion and all by him. This option would have cured her "stranger anxiety". I, on the other hand, am not modest in any way shape form or fashion when it comes to a massage. I don't care who you are if you are willing to massage me! She is focusing on the molehills and calling them mountains because of the problems that are existant in your marriage. Scapegoating. Keep your chin up. I would have loved that gift.

I think it was a sweet idea:)

Darlin, I think it was a simply lovely gift. It was well thought out and you put alot of love into it. If she insists that you return it, go buy her a plant and keep the certificate for yourself... (((hugs)))

Speaking as someone who has also been told by my husband that my gift-giving abilities are severely lacking, I did feel that you put thought and effort into this gift!

The issue of her being touched by a stranger, granted, may never have come up between the two of you. Although it's tempting, I'm not going to make any judgments as to her character, but I will say that don't feel you were at ALL overly sensitive in your interpretation of her remarks.

I think I could get past my lack of desire to have a stranger touch me if it meant a trip to a spa.

She may well have valid reasons for not wanting to visit a spa or have her body massaged but I think she could have been more gracious about not wanting to accept your gift.

Send it to me, and come with it, will ya? I'm still open to that picnic suggestion from last week's Monday Mission. ::wink::

Spas are wonderful - I think you did your best in getting her a gift for her.

Perhaps the spa may offer other services (such as sauna, hot tub, etc) that don't require her to be touched?

If not, try getting her "spa products" for her very own "home spa".....bath products, oils, etc. The spa where you got the gift certificate from probably has products that you can buy with the gift certificate.

And if none of that works - hey, why don't you take advantage of it yourself?? I know guys who thought spas were ladies only - but why can't guys go for a massage? In fact, I know guys who do like spas (granted, they go with their wives - but still!).

Anyways, I'm sure that the gift certificate could be put to very good use in the end.... ; )

Umm... can you talk to my husband?? I would have LOVED something like that!!!

I'm sorry your gift idea didn't work out as planned. I think it was a wonderful idea. Take it from an over-stressed SAHM with a husband that can't even say "happy Mother's day"!!

you know what? i was thinking the exact same present for my mother for mothers day but i wasn't sure. so i asked my dad for his opinion. he said he wasn't sure. so i thought about it some more and then i asked her if she wanted to go to the spa. and she said that she loved the thought but she wasn't really interested. she was happy with bacon + eggs, a robbie williams CD and a new nightshirt.

Wonderful gift Promo, I'd love that kind of gift, I think it is thoughtful, and the breakfast is bed is not corny in my books - but a great sign of caring and thoughtfulness.

Your Sig. Other does not share my sentiments though, and her response to the gift-giving was a little harsh. It sounds like she really does have issues about being touched by others so maybe she can be convinced to use the gift certificate to help cure this phobia, or as already suggested you can use it for yourself.... or she can give it to a friend? Who-ever uses it in the end if not her should give her feedback on how wonderful it was so she can have some appreciation of what it was meant to give her.

Wonderful gift Promo, I'd love that kind of gift, I think it is thoughtful, and the breakfast is bed is not corny in my books - but a great sign of caring and thoughtfulness.

Your Sig. Other does not share my sentiments though, and her response to the gift-giving was a little harsh. It sounds like she really does have issues about being touched by others so maybe she can be convinced to use the gift certificate to help cure this phobia, or as already suggested you can use it for yourself.... or she can give it to a friend? Who-ever uses it in the end if not her should give her feedback on how wonderful it was so she can have some appreciation of what it was meant to give her.

OOps... didn't mean to say it twice! Well... message sent all the same!!

Y'know what?

Regardless of whether or not she felt you put thought or effort into it (and, of course, not putting thought or effort into a gift is a faux pas), her rudeness in accepting it was... well. Jawdropping?

I'm still a little stunned. Whether or not it was an appropriate gift, her snarkiness was uncalled for, and obviously hurtful, as you come across in this post as rather hurt.

As a really tired, frazzled, in-need-of-a-break work at home mom of four, I have to sympathize with your wife. I am the same exact way about strangers touching me - it just doesn't and wouldn't happen now matter what the possiblities are for relaxation. It was a nice thought, though!

Yesterday my gift was not having to cook for ANYONE, I got served breakfast and dinner - but here's the best part: I got 4 hours to myself. I went to B&N and walked around picking out books for 2 hours, and then sat at Starbucks and read them for 2 straight hours. When I got home, my soul was refreshed. I haven't had four hours to myself in, well.... I couldn't even tell you!

I had a boyfriend years ago who gave me a gift cert for a full body massage a few years back. It's definitely in my top 10 of best gifts ever--wow. I'm so sorry to hear your SO didn't like it...you know, I'm thinking that the women who say they aren't hard to buy for are actually the women who ARE hard to buy for. (oy! So many prepositions, so little regard for good grammar practices on my part--hee!)

You know, your best bet may be to sit down with her and tell her you have trouble buying her gifts and it's making YOU feel badly. I don't have a problem with telling my husband--ooo! See that? THAT'S a good birthday present for me. She may enjoy doing that, too.

But I could just be a greedy woman.

I think it was a fabulous gift! I agree with what someone said above- maybe it's time to have a discussion with her, since she is apparently very fussy about gifts.

Hey, I think the important thing to remember is that YOU know you put thought into the gift. And if she's not convinced that you did- well, maybe there's something else going on in her heart (low self-esteem, stress, etc.)

awww Sorry that didn't go well. I think it was a great idea!

Wow, that was a sweet & fantastic idea. Maybe they do other things there like hair styling, etc? (In case you can't return it.) My mom is impossible to by for too, and last year on her birthday she LAUGHED at the gifts my Dad gave her and just went on & on about how he bought the wrong thing, she already had something like that, etc. - and not only was my Dad really hurt, she was saying it in front of my son. I had to stop her. I pointed out that the LEAST you can do when someone gives you a gift is say THANK YOU. From there, a smile would be nice. And after that, when you are alone, ask them if they would mind if you returned it or whatever. I think she finally got it then. Maybe. We'll see next December when her birthday rolls around again.