Online gift registries miss Mother's Day manners Elizabeth Weise For other columns by Elizabeth click here . One would at least hope that something this crass might guarantee slightly more creative presents. But let's start with the truly dreadful. I have bad news for them. There is no way for anyone to send a list of gift demands and have it be polite.
Gifts are presents.
Voluntary is a key word. Gifts are by definition given of free will, merely for the joy of giving. To celebrate an occasion, one is obliged only to celebrate. There is no requirement that a gift be given, ever. People are supposed to be born, stay alive year to year, marry and give birth because they want to, not to acquire wealth.