Originally Posted by
Chicken lady
Well, as a parent, I'm going to say, that's not going to happen.
Your dad expresses love by giving you a gift. You tell him not to do that without giving him an alternative, so basically, to him, you're saying "keep your love to yourself". You can't just say "don't buy me stuff.". I, chicken lady, do not buy you stuff and I do not love you. (no offense, I hardly know you)
So you need to acknowledge that he wants to give you something and then tell him what you really want - clean air? Clean water? - donate to ths charity in my name. His time? Set a date to come fishing with me and bring lunch.
If your father giving you gifts truly makes you feel that he thinks you can't provide for yourself, tell him that. But I doubt that he thinks you NEED a lunar fish gizmo.