By Shauna Scott Rhone
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Nobody likes to give bad gifts, but sometime, it just sort of happens accidentally. Consider these stories from readers:

The worst gift that I ever gave was one year when I was young and wanted to give my little brother something for Christmas. I didn't have any money to spend or any way of getting to the store, so I went down in the basement and wrapped up some old toys that I thought he wouldn't remember he had. Well, he did.

Shannon Grieme, 17, Villa Hills

I don't know who is going to kill me first for exposing the worst gift ever given: my sister, the recipient or my brother-in-law, the giver.

About five years ago, the six Roesener sisters (now we all have different last names) were comparing the year's Christmas gifts from our spouses and children. One sister shared (bravely, I must admit) that she had received - are you ready - a mole trap. Amazingly, she actually defended her husband for giving her a mole trap, explaining to everyone that they needed one. No one heard her explanation, however, because we were all on the floor laughing hysterically.

To this day, all anyone in my family has to say is "mole trap" and the giggles begin. Unlike many terrible gifts, the mole trap was used and the recipient and giver are still married. With a little unsolicited advice from his sisters-in-law, my sister's husband has greatly improved his gift choices over the years.

Mary Rieke, 43, Anderson Township

There was one year when I wasn't happy with my now ex-husband's parents.

Watching one of the TV shopping channels, they were showing this ugly vase, it was really inexpensive and soooo ugly, about 20 inches tall and had ugly flowers all over it. I decided this thing was so ugly I would pay them back for whatever they had done to make me angry and give it to them for Christmas.

They went to unwrap it and my in-laws had said how beautiful it was. That was so many years ago and as far as I know (ex-in-laws) now, it was still sitting proudly on the top of their TV in the living room. Every time I would see it when I was visiting, I would think of how angry I was, and, like their son, they just didn't get it.

Fran Ruegg, 57, Loveland