Oh god yes
Personally I'd not "do" xmas for the adults, just the kiddies. But the wife insists on turning it into a battleground, just like you say. Birthdays, too.

One year, near the beginning of our relationship, she said "No, don't get me anything". Now, I knew this was WomanSpeak(tm) for "Spend an absolute fortune and all your waking hours trying to out-do the Sultan of Brunai in generosity and conspicuous consumption", but to try to make a point, I took it at face value. And got her nothing.

I'll let you guess how that went down.

Last xmas, I tried to be "more spontaneous", as frequently requested, by getting her a complete surprise gift. 10 months later I'm still in trouble for not getting anything on her list. *sigh*.
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 17:41, 2 replies)

At some point in my relationship
I told the womank to 'Communicate with me properly as this is 100% essential in a relationship', meaning I'm not going to try and second guess whatever she says/be a mind reader when she doesn't say anything.

This is something every SINGLE RED BLOODED MALE MUST DO. It may seem illogical to them at the start as it would to anything that counters sadness with cookies and cream flavoured fatty semi solid sugar filled milk.

But as they realise, and as you point it out to them the issues they cause whenever they expect us to do the near impossible, you will wish you had the chat sooner.
(lemonadegame, Wed 6 Oct 2010, 21:58, closed)

Tried that, didn't help
I have lost count of the times I have tried to explain that, strangely, I am unable to read her mind and discover when the things she says actually mean the exact opposite.
(moon monkey is busy making memories worth repressing, Thu 7 Oct 2010, 9:20, closed)

Last xmas, I tried to be "more spontaneous", as frequently requested, by getting her a complete surprise gift. 10 months later I'm still in trouble for not getting anything on her list.

Did you get her a socket set? Most chicks hate those.
(Gritty, yet fluffy. kipperpillock is obsessed with me =), Thu 7 Oct 2010, 6:54, closed)