I have just been honored with the opportunity to be the GodMother for my nephew. I was trying to think of an idea of a gift I can give him every year as he grows up that is from me to him. For example, my daughters God Mother gives her a piece to a nativity set every year. By the time she is a teenager / young adult she will have the full set. I think that is meaningful and also a keepsake - something she can cherish from her God Mother for the rest of her life, and also something special between the two. I have thought of using that idea - but was hoping to come up with something different. Does anyone have ideas that maybe appropriate ?
A photo session every year? Then when she's 18 you can put them in a book or make a video slideshow set to music. Seems so far away but it goes by fast.
I'm 30 now but I still remember what my Godmother did for me. Nothing meaningful but let me tell you I miss it! Every little holiday, Valentines Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Sweetest Day and my birthday I would get a card in the mail, decorated with stamps and stickers and $5.00 inside. I don't think I ever got one for Christmas because I did always get gifts. When I turned 16 she got me a birthstone pinkie ring. I looked forward to those little cards so much and even now that I'm much older, she still will send me the cards, (just no money.) I think she paid for my senior portraits too come to think of it.
When I was 10 my parents were celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary and I wanted to do something special for them. My Godmother was the one I called - she took me grocery shopping and "helped" me make a nice candle lit meatloaf dinner for them. What I'm mostly saying is that she was always there for me and always in my life and letting me know she was thinking of me. Today all of that means more to me than one specific gift I ever got.
Good luck with your quest, no matter what you do.
What about a Christmas ornament each year? I plan to start that with our boys. I think if you pick something nice enough each year, then by the time he goes off to college, he'll have enough for his own tree. You could go in many directions with it, especially if they have any strong interests as a family, etc. For example, we own a bike shop, so I'm sure our boys will in some way be connected to cycling for years to come. So I have found some nice bicycle ornaments, something that is collectable and won't be tacky or childish when they're older. If the family is into camping, sports, anything you can think of then you can find ornaments for almost anything. Or you can always go the religious route with a cross ornament, bulbs with bible verses, etc.
Another idea, is a mini photo album or scrapbook. Each year you can give him a small photo album with picutres of the two of you doing things together throughout the year - at the park, beach, backyard, etc. He'll be able to look back at the albums and watch himself grow up with you and remember the fun times. Then you've not only given him the album, but all those times and memories that the pictures came from. The scrapbook would be the same, only each year you'd give him pages to add to the book. You might even have him help decorate the pages as he gets older, another event to do together.
Just a couple ideas... Good luck to you...
Hello J., Every Year, Starting at age 1, my God Children and Grandchildren get a Christmas Ornament. They make great cloth covered boxes with handles, a space for the name. (any big store has them) I start with cloth ornaments, then go to wood, puter... something solid, usually homemade, Art and craft fairs are great for that, glass when they get to be teens. They are dated and have an initial on them. That way when they move out on their own and have their first christmas tree, they have their own ornaments, with sweet memories. I ask the moms to give me "1st" day clothes and favorites, (when they grow out of them of course) when they graduate from H.S. I make a quilt with all of their fav's .
I also give them a "car bank" for each birthday they get a small gift and a Savings Bond to put in the bank, when they turn 18, they have money for a good car. I encourage them to put their own money in too! (glue the bank plug) Just a few ideas. Good luck! K.
Start him a coin collection!
My Godmother always got me savings bonds!
I love the idea of a collectable! You might look at the Family Christian Bookstore. They have some great stuff like that.
S.
PS: Comparison shopping is really easy at www.marketamerica.com/thevoiceoftruth!
J.,
You've received so many wonderful ideas, but I thought I might share my story with you. My brother's godparents gave him a beautiful wood bank box and every year for his birthday (besides taking him to lunch) he would receive a card that held a silver dollar. He is grown now, but he still treasures those silver dollars.
My eldest son's god father (who does not know my brother) sends silver dollars for birthdays too. I still don't understand it, it must be a boy thing, but they adore receiving that card, knowing it will contain that special coin.
When I was young my mom started giving my brother and I each a Hallmark Ornament for Christmas. If there was a series that "yelled" our names she would do the entire series until it ran out (I have a lot of cats). When we became adults, we had enough ornaments to do a good size Christmas tree - it came in handy that first Christmas that my husband and I were married!! You could do something like that, I still cherish those ornaments. Now she gives my husband and I one as a couple ornament and each of my girls gets one. So when they get older, they will have those to cherish.
How about a Bible with the babys name engraved, or a nice crucifix. Either gift they will have and cherish their entire life!
J.,
Just remember that boys will find different things "special" than girls. A nativity set for a girl is wonderful and will bring back special memories of receiving each piece. For a boy it will be neat, but not momentous.
I know this may not sound really special, but what about government savings bonds? My Great-Great Aunt and Uncle never had children but were very close to my family. When my sister and I had a birthday they would send us a nice card, a note telling what was happening in their lives, and a savings bond for $25 or $50. These bonds came in handy when we went off to college and needed to purchase our first computer. This might be something your nephew would really enjoy and appreciate.
I hope the suggestion helps!
-C..
Hi J.,
The Christmas orniment thing seems to be a popular idea! That is what I did for my Godson every year!
One idea that my dad did for my cousin who was born on his 40th birthday (his "birthday buddy") is to buy him a special book each year that goes along with what he liked at the time. On their birthday, my dad would give him the book. He would write on the inside cover about what "new" things occured that year. Every year, my aunt would read the inside cover of the book aloud at his family birthday party, and it was a very special tradition. When my cousin got old enough, he actually asked his mom if he could buy a book for my dad too. He did, and he wrote in it as well.
My cousin is now 22, and has 22 books that not only show his development over the years (of what he liked), but they are all personalized with a message from his "birthday buddy". I think this would be an awesome gift for a Godchild!
my son's godfather always gives him a savings bond for his birthday and christmas. He can use it for college when he gets older.
In Great Britain some god parents get a barrel of whiskey or port to put down for 20 years so it will be ready to drink when they are legal to - check with a quality vintner or wine merchant for details. This was very popular in the last century. When I was made a godparent I got a tree planted in a preserve with a dedication - out of little acorns mighty oaks grow. Not really a year on year thing but good for the environment and they can watch it grow over the years...!
