Not sure whether to be glad or not...

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Not sure whether to be glad or not...
3
Tue, 11-22-2005 - 9:42am


I had planned to bake lots of cookies for Dh's co-workers and bring them down in little tins that I'd gotten for a great price. He has over 20 co-workers, and this is a cheaper alternative than buying individual gifts for everyone.

Well, I was showing my son the decorative tins that I was going to be putting the cookies in, yesterday, when my Dh walked in. He asked what they were for, and I told him how I was going to do cookies for his co-workers to save a little money this year. What he said shocked me! He said, "No, forget them. Don't bake them anything. Don't waste your time." I said,"HUH?? But it's Christmas!"

He admitted he was feeling like a bit of a grinch this year as far as his work is concerned, and that with the exception of his two closest friends at work(who we usually send gifts to seperately), the only person he would give cookies to is his secretary(I agree, she's wonderful!), and beyond that, no one else! He said, "Every year we buy gifts for everyone there, and have we ever gotten a single 'thank you'??" Now the answer, truly, is No. We have never been thanked, but I've just figured it's part of the spirit of Christmas to at least bring cookies or something to his co-workers. We have done this for probably 7-8 years! It feels odd to not want to do it this year, ya know? His co-workers actually call me the "Cookie Lady" because they love my cookies so much!

So I told him that, honestly, I'm torn on this one. One, it's Christmas, and I do enjoy baking cookies for the gang at the office, but Two, this will be a money savings to not do it.

He suggested I do my traditional baking this year, but just keep the cookies in the house for guests who come to visit or for he and our son to enjoy. Wow....bah humbug or good deal? LOL!

Pat :-D

Avatar for cl_phocid
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 11-22-2005 - 10:42am
Hi Pat - I'm with you on this one - baking is fun, it's Christmas, and with a moniker like "The Cookie Lady" - that in itself is a bit of a "thanks" - you know?

All my best,
Danni

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 11-22-2005 - 1:20pm

I dunno, call me Grinchette, but I think I agree with DH on this one...

Years ago, when I had a paying job...Being of Irish descent, I always make a big Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner for St. Paddy's Day, and the first SPD I was on my job, I spent the night before cooking up a couple of briskets and cabbage, schlepped it all to work the next day in Crockpots, and they ate it up in no time, with a rather luke-warm thank you. I was happy to do it, and share my heritage with co-workers (I'd been there for six months, so I wasn't kissing up to anyone!). My CB&C takes a total of 48 hours to prepare (no kidding!). The following year I had decided not to do it again, because my duties at work had changed and I was just too tired, not to mention the expense. Two days before SPDay, co-workers started asking me if I was cooking, because it was the best CB&C they ever had...I guess it would have been nice if I had gotten that kind of response the year before! So I went ahead and did it again. Shame on me, because until the day I quit, six years later, I ended up cooking this meal every year (not to mention an entire sep meal for my own family to boot!).

I don't think I would have minded it so much if after the "tradition" began other people would have said, "Well, I'll bring some rolls/salads/PAPER PLATES". But no one ever did (though one year a co-worker of Scottish descent showed up with his own Colemans mustard and a shamrock plant for me)!

I'm with your DH on this one (sorry!!). Skip it this year and see what happens...

Kathy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2005
Tue, 11-22-2005 - 2:23pm
Hi,
It sound like your DH is a "boss" of some kind since he has a secretary (?) so maybe the boss person is expected to give some kind of holiday gift -- if so, I'd go with your individual cans of cookies. If he is not in charge of this group of people, I'd skip it. If everyone is equal, my question would be "what did they give you last year?" -- if they gave you nothing, then that's your answer.
Enjoy the cookies and give them to real friends.
Megan