Throwaway account for obvious reasons.
My partner and I have been together for 3 years. We‘re both not huge gift-givers (finances are tough) but on occasion when we have some extra spending money, we will get each other something small.
I should say that I don‘t expect big things in general…for me, gift giving is about the thought/time that goes into it. I will always treasure a badly made craft over a mass-produced trinket. I myself try to be as socially conscious as possible when I‘m giving gifts, and would 100% rather support a local artist than order something online. I realize that receiving gifts is a little different, I‘d just hoped that in observing my character and having at least a bit of a clue about my taste would lead to him giving thoughtful gifts…especially since I am vocal enough about what I like/don‘t like. I‘ve never shied away from saying when I felt something was tacky but somehow my comments aren‘t landing.
For example…Mother‘s Day is coming up, and he was really excited about his gift to me: a very obviously AI generated image with Best Mom written above it. I don‘t even know where to begin…first of all, I‘m not against using AI as a tool, but I don’t like AI 'art' and HATE the idea of my son‘s photo being used in that way. We don‘t post him at all on social media, and so that action alone seems so careless. The 'Best Mom' thing is just so generic. I don‘t go my Mom, I‘m Mama, so it just feels so impersonal in the worst way. Oh and the big kicker…he somehow managed to send in a photo of my sister holding my son instead of a photo of my son and I. Honestly that part made me laugh out loud and I‘m relieved I have a reason not hang this print up.
I feel like such an ass every time I can‘t get genuinely excited about a gift he‘s giving…especially since even though the gifts suck, he‘s excited to give them. It’s a sweet gesture and I’m trying so hard to see it as such. Especially since we‘re not in a position to be showering each other with expensive gifts all the time, it irks me to think that he spent money on something he could‘ve just as easily gotten for free, and that that money could’ve gone towards something special for both of us…a date night or little treat we both could enjoy.
TL;DR
My partner of three years keeps getting me gifts I have no use for/find tacky and impersonal
How can I gently and without hurting his feelings draw his attention to this?