But the reality is that getting a gift is like being set up on a blind date. Like it or not, your friend or family member is sending you a message telling you in a coded way what they think you want, what you deserve and, on some level, who they think you are….

“Just give me the sweater,” my brother said, angrily grabbing it back.

We walked out to the car and started driving. I turned to him and quietly said, “Mom spent $1 on you.”

— The Sweater Only a Mom (and Analyst) Could Love - New York Times