I am a teacher and my oldest son is at a day care set up by the school district for employee kids. I had a second child in December and my mom is taking care of him until the summer and then he will also go into day care when school starts in August. I would like to do something for my mom as a thank you for volunteering to take care of my son, but I am just not sure what an appropriate gift is. What suggestions do you have? My budget is pretty flexible since she has really been saving us a ton of money by keeping him.
don't make it about the kids....make it ALL about her!
My vote is for a Road Trip...just the two of you.
If there is something that she would really love to learn, make arrangements for lessons! Cooking classes, sewing, salsa dancing... whatever! You could purchase 3 or 4 lessons and if she likes it she may elect to continue it herself.
For my 30th, my husband and parents gave me several cooking lessons at the Culinary Institute of America and it was absolutely wonderful! I would never have spent that kind of money on myself, but in the end they all benefited from my renewed love of experimenting in the kitchen!
What's something she wouldn't do for or get for herself?
What about a weekend at even a really nice local hotel? You can arrange for her to have spa services done and make sure she is on the concierge floor, so she receives the extra special treatment. What if you went with her too? That would probably mean so much to her to get to spend some alone time with you!
Good luck!
Time flies by so quickly. My mom is now nearly 81 and has end stage cancer. Each day is she is less well and we expect she probably has 2 - 3 months left. She's wheelchair bound and has an aide that stays with her 24/7. I think back to the days, only a year or so ago, when we could have easily taken a weekend away but didn't think to do so...
When my almost 12 yr old son was a baby she took care of him a few days a week and also saved us a fortune. We had bought her house and she lived rent free in an attached apartment. Since we drove her everywhere (she's been vision imparied since birth), took care of grocery shopping, doctors appointments, we didn't think to do something extra. But I wish I had.
Since Summer is coming up and you'll be off work try to plan a weekend or a couple days away just you and she. Think of how happy you'll be one day to have your DD all to yourself to spend a few days with - that's how your mom will feel. Go antiquing, get a mani-pedi, facial, whatever you think she'll enjoy.
Enjoy it and have fun!
When my MIL watched my oldest son for second semester (age 4-9 months), I made her a small scrapbook with pictures of him and put a note in the front thanking her for taking such good care of him while his Mommy was at work. She cried when I gave it to her!
I also got her a gift certificate for some pampering!
Go online and make her a memory book or brag book. Take lots of pictures and have it made. Grandma's always love brag books. Then have a nice sunday brunch and give it to her with some flowers.
Or you can have a pendant made with both your childrens pictures on it. I have one from our wedding and one with our daughters picture with her birthstone attached to it. They also do them in color. I got mine at QVC and the other was done at Walmart. You can have them engraved too. Good Luck!
I think spa treatments would be nice. My mother-in-law kept our oldest son his first year a couple days a week. We did something like that for her. Of course, a nice card expressing what that means to you guys.
You can see lots of really cute, personalized gift ideas on my website: www.mythirtyone.com/mhc
My contact info is there as well if you need help choosing the perfect item. Nothing says, "I bought this just for you" than a gift with the person's name on it!
Congrats on your growing family!
M.
