Looking for a gift idea for my mother-in-law. Our relationship is extremely strained. My husband does not want to insult her by not sending a gift at all, but wants it to remain pretty impersonal. Because this is not a healthy relationship, I do not want to send the message that we will patch things up, but I want her to know that we are thinking of her during the holiday season. Because of her choices in life partners, I’m not comfortable with giving pictures of my daughter, and she is allergic to smells, so perfumes, flowers, candles and bath salts are not an option. She does not garden or cook, so those gifts are out also. She does not drink, so wine or wine related things are also out. She loves to travel and that is pretty much what she does. Any ideas on gifts for this situation?
Please, I only need gift ideas and not relationship advice on this one. MIL is not well mentally and refuses to seek help. She takes part in activities that we cannot condone, nor allow into our lives. We really just want her to know that we are thinking of her and nothing more. Thank you.
Fantastic and thoughtful gift ideas. Thank you all so much. I knew you ladies would be the ones that could help with this. My husband loved the idea of the travel mag. I'm afraid that anything like a photo frome or album would just rub in the fact that she doesn't get photos of our girl. Gift cards are a good idea also, those they are a pet-peeve of mine, they would be suitable in this instance. Thank you all again.
A photo album from her travels. Picture frames. A gift card to Target, Macy or a restaurant.
A gift card is pretty impersonal... or a gift card to a restaurant;
A wreath for the door (Michael's sells decorated artificial ones if real fir would be too smelly)
or a christmas bouquet of flowers (Poinsettas don't smell);
A CD of christmas songs...
A box of chocolates
Honestly though, a christmas card with the message, 'Thinking of you. Best wishes for 2009' would be appropriate... And you can decide whether or not to sign it with "Love,"
The only thing I can think of is a subscription to a travel magazine if she already doesn't have one =) Or film if she uses a 35mm camera. Perhaps a gift card to a favorite restaurant?
We live in Austin, but you can find places in your MIL home town to send gift certificates. We are in slightly the same situation this year. My MIL also has everything.
We usually purchase gift cards to Alamo Drafthouse to watch movies and have a meal. Esthers Follies is a comedy place here in town and located on 6th Street so we give her gift certificates to a show and to Pecan Street Cafe or the Driskill for desert. We have given her gift certificates to the Paramount Theater and Zachary Scott Theater.
At Costco they sell $100. gift cards for $79.99 to restaurants, Spa's or Bed and Breakfast's around the country.
I like to photo album of picture frame idea. Depending on the types of places that she travels to binoculars or a compass might be a thought. They sell different books at B&N that have the "best places to visit" in certain areas.
Since your relationship is strained, maybe a nice card would be enough to say that you are thinking about her. It doesn't have to be a personal card with a heart filled message, just a simple "thinking of you during the holidays".
I would get her a gift card to somewhere. Be it walmart or JCPenny. Gift cards can be pretty impersonal but do give the "we were thinking of you" that you want to send. And if you keep it to $50 or less I would think that it would do what you're looking for.
