Is it okay to give cleaning-related gifts?
The one thing I know for sure is that the question itself is a controversial one. I also know that what’s considered totally normal and acceptable gift-giving-practice in one family can be considered offensive in another.
I personally come from the well-yeah-I’ll-take-a-super-practical-gift-that-might-just-make-my-everyday-life-easier side of this argument. I married into the no-way-Jose side.
I was just shopping with a friend who told a story about someone being gifted a high-priced vacuum cleaner and being offended to the point of not accepting it.
So the main thing to know before you go practical for Christmas is the feelings your receiver has on this issue. Maybe tell a random story about a blogger who wrote a post on the subject and see how people react.
Flared nostrils and curled-in-disgust lips? No go for that recipient.
Eyes widening and head nodding with delight? Head to the household department.
But what about a book about cleaning? Specifically, my book?
Ideas for De-Awkwardizing the Gifting of How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind:
- Read it first. That way, you can present the book as one you enjoyed and that helped you.
- Buy one for everyone at the gathering, and add it to whatever other gifts you are giving. This way, you’re sharing it because you like it, not because a certain person needs it. (And I sell more books!!!)
- Tell them it’s funny. That you laughed out loud X number of times while reading it. (One of you actually lamented the fact that you’d not thought to mark the “hahas” until you were half way through the book.) Emphasize the fact that you know they like to laugh. This will take the attention off of their need for help.
- Blame yourself. Say, “If you’ve ever wanted to know what goes on inside my brain, read this.”
I’d love to hear how you’ve gifted this book, and about the recipient’s reactions!
You still have time to order it online, or you can find it in many bookstores! Go here to find where to order How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind and my newest book Decluttering at The Speed of Life!
--Nony
I’m a “Heck yeah! A book? Best present ever!!” But there be a little something purple under there somewheres too!!
I would much rather the cleaning book than the money people have wasted on me buying me flowers over the years. My heart sinks when I get them, have to find a jar to put them in, have to cut them, arrange them and then ‘display ‘ them in my dump of a room where they’re frankly wasted and they’re long dead before my slob vision even notices.
Those are some good strategies. We are very practical in my family, but I’m the worst slob so I have no one to give this book to! I did once give the FlyLady book (and a home journal) to my MIL, a great lady who struggled with housekeeping as much as I did, and billed it as ‘here’s what helped me.’ She seemed happy enough–I’ve never met anybody more practical. (Did she find it helpful? I don’t think so. It got worse from there, but turned out to be early indications of Alzheimer’s. 🙁 )
I bought the book. I don’t have “slob vision” so I didn’t need it for myself, though I did pick up some ideas that I have implemented. I got it to help me understand my family. So many of your thought processes are completely foreign to me–ways of thinking that I would never expect. The book has given me more understanding of their minds, and I now have ideas for “work-arounds”. And it’s true–it does provide chuckles!
I had my local bookstore in Brisbane Australia order your book in for me. Was about same price as Amazon after exchange rate. Hot tip, please put your books ISBN online so it makes it easier for book shops to find it from the suppliers!
Can’t wait for it to arrive.
I asked my mom if she would read it if I sent it to her. She said she guessed she would. I’d already been talking with her about it and the changes I’d made. So I sent it to her with another book.
I read your book, and was telling my mom and aunt about it. My aunt has since passed away, and my mom has to clean out her house. My aunt had a clutter threshold similar to what you say your mom’s is. She had everything under the sun, but could find it and it was organized. My mom is like me. Clutter threshold of almost nothing. So, when Mom came to stay with me after I had my baby, I told her it was funny and asked if she wanted to read it when she couldn’t sleep. She’s halfway through now, and her house (and my aunt’s) is looking better and better each day. 🙂