Gift-Giving Glitches

How to deal when you have different attitudes about exchanging presents

- RACHEL ZAR, L.M.F.T., C.S.T.

Let's be honest: Exchanging gifts can be one of the more stressful parts of the holiday season for couples. Yes, when you give the "perfect" present or receive something incredibly thoughtful, it can help you feel connected-but there are also a lot of opportunities for stress, conflict, and complicated emotions beneath all that colorful wrapping paper.

We've all experienced glitches, like when one partner springs for an engraved watch but the other hands over a card. Or when, after having hinted for months about a tennis racket, someone unwraps a blender. Such experiences can leave you feeling hurt or misunderstood. How can you avoid these situations?