That exact same thing
happened to me a couple of years ago. Only I was about 25, not 12. It's still sitting in my room at my mother's place (on the other side of the world) and I promised her I'll use it one day.

The worst bit was when she said "Your aunt told me not to buy it because brief cases are a personal thing and everyone has their own style, but what does she know?". It took a lot of strength not to tell her exactly what I thought the answer to that question was.

That was the year my younger brother and I decided that since my mother insists on buying us expensive presents we end up feeling guilty about, from now on we give her exact specifications and ensure she doesn't waiver for each other's presents.
(xanthine, Mon 30 Nov 2009, 7:02, Reply)