I think I skipped having these experiences because I was both specific and vague.
As a kid, and back when ToysRUs still had stores, I would take the booklet they'd have around Christmas or Birthday seasons, and I would cut out all of the toys or weird things that peeked my interests at the time. Legos, art supplies, Barbies, space -- you name it. I'd just cut them out and paste them on a piece of paper and present them to my mom. She'd know exactly what to get based on my current interests, and if she didn't get that exact thing, she got something within the same brand, which was all the same to me back then XD
But as I got older, I became vague: "Just give me money or gift cards to X,Y, and Z, and we're good to go". That way, I'd just buy whatever I wanted with no troubles