K.O.
If times are tight - why would you give her a couple of weeks pay? I am new to having a daycare provider, so I find it incredible that people give several weeks pay to them(and can afford to do so)? I have to rationalize here for myself - we pay our provider holiday pay for that week and other days that she will not have the kids, also, several hundred dollars is more than my husband and I spend on each other or our parents - so why would we spend that much on our daycare provider for a Christmas gift? That's my perspective, but again, I am new at this.
As for gifts from your son, what about a hand painted ornament from a paint your own pottery place - or take him to a holiday store and let him pick one out to give to her. You could also give her a nice frame with a picture of your son it or a pciture he has painted(then she can switch it out for whatever she wants later).
I'm very curious about this topic - our daycare provider also gives care to three other families - so I don't want to be the "jerk" that doesn't give cash to her, but we simply can't afford it.