feeling obligated to purchase something every December.
She was not refusing to celebrate birthdays, ignoring relatives, or withdrawing from family gatherings. She was changing one part of the holiday routine that had become difficult to maintain.
Rather than arguing about who had spent the most money in previous years, she kept her explanation simple.
She was setting a limit on her own spending and shopping responsibilities.
She did not insist that everyone else follow her example, and she did not criticize relatives who still wanted to exchange presents.
That approach
