Christmas gift shopping is a daunting task, but the challenges don't end with the last receipt. You also need to wrap them.
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It might not sound that terrifying if you have only a couple of pieces to put under the tree, but Reddit user Rosexknight has 4 in-laws as well as 10 nieces and nephews who she spends the holidays with!
Naturally, the woman streamlines the whole process to save herself the trouble. However, the presents don't always end up looking the same and she overheard the relatives saying that it's because she expresses favoritism through it.
To highlight how ridiculous that is, she decided to play a little game with them. Continue scrolling to read her post from the subreddit 'Petty Revenge' where she explains how it went down.
Christmas gift wrapping can be a nuisance as it is, but this woman thought hers was causing family drama
Image credits: Karolina Grabowska / pexels (not the actual photo)
So she set out to take revenge on the gang
Image credits: Antoni Shkraba / pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo)
The woman released a few updates on the situation after she found out what was really happening
Image credits: Gustavo Fring / pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: rosexknight
This post is a vivid example of why the holidays can be so stressful
People are largely feeling joyous but overwhelmed this holiday season. For example, nearly 9 in 10 (89%) Americans say that concerns such as not having enough money, missing loved ones, and anticipating family conflict cause them stress at this time of year, according to the results of a new poll by the American Psychological Association.
While nearly half of U.S. adults (49%) describe their stress levels during the period between November and January as "moderate," around two in five (41%) say their stress increased compared with other parts of the year. Sadly, 43% also say that the stress of the holidays interferes with their ability to enjoy them and 36% claim the holidays even feel like a competition.
Still, for many of us, tension seems unavoidable during the holidays. Karl Pillemer, a family sociologist and professor of human development at Cornell University and the author of Fault Lines: Fractured Families and How to Mend Them, says there are things people should remember during this time of year to limit the chances of getting under each other's skin.
First, we should remember that family gatherings are not the time to fix anyone. Yes, it's tempting to wade into heavy or personal topics to make them see their mistakes, but we should avoid using a holiday meal for these affairs.
Image credits: Antoni Shkraba / pexels (not the actual photo)
But if someone is lured into an uncomfortable situation like the Redditor was, they need to "embrace the strategy of underreactivity,” Dr. Pillemer said.
Instead of responding immediately, observe what your loved ones are doing and listen to what you are feeling. You could view the whole ordeal as if you were a researcher watching a family's interactions unfold, rather than someone engulfed in the drama.
There's also no rule stating that we need to spend every minute with our relatives, so if we feel like we need some space, there's nothing wrong with booking a hotel room or visiting a friend when the tension is building up.
"The goal," Dr. Pillemer added, "is to focus on underreacting — and stepping away when you need a break."
As for the Redditor's in-laws, not only could they be more appreciative of her efforts, but they should also realize that there are much easier ways for her to show who her favorites are if she chooses to do so.
After all, a 2021 survey of 2,000 Americans identified wrapping gifts to be the absolute worst part of the holiday season and nearly as many (51%) people hate the task so much that they prefer having a professional do it for them just to avoid the hassle!
Image credits: PNW Production / pexels (not the actual photo)
As her story went viral, the author of the post (OP) also joined the discussion in its comment section
As people continued reacting to it, some even made a few suggestions for the woman
