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Anniversaries are meant to celebrate love and commitment. But for one Reddit user, their second wedding anniversary was a painful reminder of the unevenness of their efforts.
In her post, the 31-year-old wife described weeks of planning: “I spent weeks saving up to buy him the smartwatch he'd been wanting. I wrapped it up beautifully, cooked his favorite meal, and set out candles.”
Her husband's gift? A $100 gift card to his favorite gaming store. “He laughed and said, 'We can both use it, since you watch me play all the time.'” The gesture was painful for her.
“For our anniversary, my 'gift' was literally something for him,” she wrote. After expressing her disappointment, she was told she was “being ungrateful.” She then left and stayed the night at her sister's.
The woman's husband said the gift card was intended for both of them because she “watches his game all the time.” (iStock)
The story struck a chord with readers, who did not mince words.
One commenter summed it up: “It's not a gift. It's him buying himself something and trying to pass it off as something he's buying for you.”
Others urged her to reconsider the long-term trend she had identified. As one user put it, “The problem isn't the gift card, it's the message. If he sees anniversaries as 'what's convenient for me' rather than 'how I can show I appreciate us', that's a big red flag for the long term.”
Several commenters even suggested turning the tide, suggesting ideas like buying yourself something with the gift card or donating it to a children's hospital.
The woman (not pictured) left to join her sister during dinner after learning she was exaggerating. (iStock)
Another user went even further.
“Just go to a game store and give the card to a kid,” the man said. “Really make him happy. Or… if you want to really shock him… buy some stuffed animals and put them on his bed. He’ll have to take them off every night before bed and remind himself of his bad behavior. Every. Day.”
The original post's author confirmed she didn't leave empty-handed: “Oh I definitely kept the gift card, no way am I leaving that here.”
Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert at the Texas School of Protocol, told Fox News Digital that the real issue wasn't the cost of the gift, but the lack of thoughtfulness.
“Silence and withdrawal are equally destructive to a relationship, if not worse.”
“This woman, the wife, went out of her way to recognize her husband's importance and make their anniversary special. He gave her a gift certificate for something he was interested in, not really caring about what she wanted.”
Gottsman noted that while his wife's disappointment was justified, her decision to leave in the middle of the celebration may not have been the best decision.
An etiquette expert noted that the real issue between the couple (not pictured) was not the cost of the gift, but the lack of thoughtfulness. (iStock)
“Even though the wife was unhappy and conveyed this to her husband, getting up from the table and going to her sister could have been considered too much,” she said.
Gottsman described the moment as a potential turning point for the young marriage.
“They both need to work on their communication skills and try to have serious conversations about thoughtful gestures and expectations,” Gottsman said. “Marriage is about working through problems, and this can be a great learning opportunity. Silence and withdrawal are just as destructive to a relationship, if not worse.”
She continued: “Ultimately, this post paints a picture of how anniversaries can symbolize more than just gifts. Judging from the comments, they are often about caring and recognition. The mixed messages may even be indicative of a deeper imbalance in respect and care.”
As one commenter put it bluntly: “Your husband knows who really ruined your anniversary. And it wasn't you.”
Sourse: www.foxnews.com
