Gifts for parents?

[campermom]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but what are your parent or in law gift ideas?

I thought about Omaha Steaks, but they don't have enough freezer space.

Then I saw chatter about a Nixplay, but they don't have wifi.

[dragon's breath]

This year I'm making a quilt for my parents.

Gifts in the past:

A scenic train ride with fancy dinner on the train.

A metal tree stand and annual hand-made ornaments (my son started with easy ones made from foam paper, popsicle sticks, etc, and as he got older we would go blow glass ornaments at a local glass studio).

Good chocolates/meat/cheese with sparkling cider (they don't drink).

If my dad's health were better, I'd get them play tickets. Those can be hard though, since we never know if he'll feel well enough for the long drive to the good theaters.

Also, a digital picture frame.

[pengy86]

We do gift cards to places they like to eat. Last year we got my grandparents a gift card for cheesecake factory, they had never been before and they enjoyed it.
Otherwise we do food gifts. This year we picked up some soup packs. You can always find food mixes in the holiday gift aisle. We will also do a candy they like. We have also sent them Omaha steaks, cheesecake, fruit or chocolate.
Also, for Omaha steaks, if you order it online you can have it sent directly to them. Then you don't have to worry about freezer space.

[waverly]

My mom is super picky and lets you know about it. She complained that her sheets were a neutral green instead of tan. She never said she wanted tan. She complained on something on her alarm clock that she had asked for and gave specific instructions for. So I am giving her money- F it.

I don't exchange with my dad. He lives in SA, and doesnt want mail.

I got a speaker for FIL and jewelry for MIL.

[erinshelley21]

My mom wants an Alexa. We got FIL and his wife family pictures with them, the kids and grandkids. I've given my mom the gift of monthly family dinners before which was probably one of her favorites. FIL usually gets a car wash book and chocolate covered nuts when we don't have ideas. Gift certificates to dinner out. We did certificates to all the diners in town last year since FIL eats lunch out about twice a week.

Parents are hard to buy for.

[mae0111]

We usually do gift cards to restaurants or concert or show tickets. For my mom and MIL, a gc to their hair salon. I got my dad amazon prime for the series and movies, as well as Netflix.

If they drive a lot, books on CD are good, or Audible books. My moms been talking about joining a gym again, so I've thought about paying for her membership for a few months. I've also tried to pay for their lawn service, or get them an appt with a cleaning service, but have not had luck with that so far.

[supertrooper1]

I have no clue this year for my parents. I've bought them concert tickets in the past. They loved the Elvis impersonator that came to a local casino.

They also liked the weather station I got them a few years ago. It had WiFi capabilities but didn't require it. They're retired farmer's, so they've had a lifetime of watching the weather.

[mommyatty]

Alcohol. A scarf. If I could get my shit together, I would make a calendar of pics of the kids. MIL would love that. Alas, my shit is never together.

[xctsclrx]

My parents I do the hickory farm meats and cheese platter. Usually get my mom something else that is small. My in-laws get alcohol usually movies or TV shows they watch. In-laws are very generous with their gift giving. Last year they gifted us with a trip to the Caribbean. I never know what to get them.

[ilovelucyvv]

FIL told me what he wanted- gun cases. FIL is buying MIL a new ipad so we are buying her a case, screen protector, and pen. When we went to visit my parents a few weeks ago the gift ideas just jumped out at me— my father was walking around with slippers with duct tape on them and my mom was complaining about a lamp shade that broke 6 months ago, so both of those are getting replaced.

[mustardseed2007]

I usually do a restaurant gift card. I'd like to do one of those digital picture frames where you email the pictures to the frame though. They're like 300 bucks so...

[librarychica]

My parents get a set of themed gift cards. Past themes have been date night (movies, restaurant, Starbucks), beach trip (Mariott and a local beach ice cream place), gardening (Home Depot and some new yard accessories) and shop-a-then (this one was lazy — just their favorite stores.) they don’t really have much in the way of hobbies and they don’t collect “stuff.”

H handles his parents. Usually his dad gets a tool of some air and his mom gets a nice gift chosen by her daughter that we chip in on.

Everyone gets a photo ornament of the kids.

[msn06]

My mom gets a calendar with pictures of the family and lots of DD. It's got everyone's birthdays and anniversaries printed. I do it in Shutterfly because everyone's dates are saved.

My dad and FIL get travel coffee cups with DDs pictures on them.

MIL last year received a sign with a poem about being a grandma. She's a wild card each year.

Everyone gets a handmade gift by DD and an ornament.

[saraml13]

Each year I do a photo calendar for both sets of grandparents. When we’ve had a newborn I’ve also done handprint ornaments.

My dad is outdoorsy. I’ve done flannel shirts, camping gear, and a nice map of all the national parks where you can put pins in all the places you’ve visited. Last year I ran out of ideas and made a donation to the National Parks Foundation that he appreciated.

My mom I often get little splurges that she wouldn’t buy herself: nice gloves, scarves, or sweaters. Her birthday is in January, so sometimes my sister and I go in together on a combined gift. This year I think we are getting her an iPad.

ILs are DH’s problem. He’s usually very unoriginal. MIL usually gets something like a fancy candle. FIL usually gets a nice bottle of wine and a book.

[akafred]

Get them WiFi.

[kimberlybb]

The gifts that have gone over best have been an I-phone shutterfly case with a picture of the grandkids and a family photo session. Last year I took a bunch of pictures of DD's and DS's artwork from school, used pic monkey to make a photo collage, and then framed it. That turned out pretty well and didn't cost very much.

[sudokufan]

I was going to get them an Amazon Echo...but then they got themselves one, couldn't get it set up right, and returned it. If I lived closer, I'd get them one and set it up for them, but for now it put an end to that idea To be fair, part of their problem is they don't have any Apple or Android devices to run the apps.

So now I'm thinking digital picture frame. I usually get them a new personalized ornament from my son; this year I'm thinking I'll do a photo ornament, but I need to get Christmas pictures taken first. And I'm making mom a scarf.

While we're taking about the parent generation, anyone have ideas for an aunt? She's retired, has MS and is wheelchair bound, lives in assisted living apartment. I'm thinking maybe a Kindle fire, but am open to suggestions in case someone else gets her one.

[186momx]

I got my mom season tickets to the college gymnastic meets. She goes every year so juts bought the season ticket bundle for her now it just needs to show up. Dad is super easy since I work with him so for Christmas he is getting a new thermal jacket and his b-day 1/5 new dress shirts. In-laws we aren't speaking with so... DD makes something for DH's Aunt which is now this Friday no school project.

[2chatter]

Clothes and books. My mom gets 2-3 cardigans, a couple button down shirts, a few tees and MIL gets a couple higher end jackets/cardigans she can wear to church. Plus jewelry to go with one of the things we get them. Christmas is big here.

Hit send too soon. My favorite was matching workout wear for MIL and FIL.

[mommyatty]

Nov 27, 2017 7:38:00 GMT -5 akafred said:

Get them WiFi.

Omg. This just gave me a flashback. My grandparents refused for years to get cable. Then one of my cousins who lived near them got a job with the cable company. So he gave them cable for a gift. I remember my grandfather looking at me totally wide-eyed, saying “Did you know they have a channel that is nothing but programs about animals?” And my teenaged self trying so hard not to laugh. He was amazed at the Animal Channel, back before it was Animal Planet. He adored the Animal Channel.

[campermom]

Nov 27, 2017 7:38:00 GMT -5 akafred said:

Get them WiFi.

You guys. 

My dad just special ordered a jeep. 
A JEEP? Why? 

It's the only new car he could find that does not have power windows or power locks. 


Also they refuse to get cable because.....😂😂😂😂 the cows....

wait I need to catch my breath

the cows on the farm behind the house scratch their back on the telephone pole in the field that has the cable wires attached, and the wires get detached and that's why they can't get cable. 

[supertrooper1]

Nov 28, 2017 22:17:10 GMT -5 campermom said:

Nov 27, 2017 7:38:00 GMT -5 akafred said:

Get them WiFi.

You guys. 

My dad just special ordered a jeep. 
A JEEP? Why? 

It's the only new car he could find that does not have power windows or power locks. 


Also they refuse to get cable because.....😂😂😂😂 the cows....

wait I need to catch my breath

the cows on the farm behind the house scratch their back on the telephone pole in the field that has the cable wires attached, and the wires get detached and that's why they can't get cable. 

Satellite?

[campermom]

Nov 28, 2017 23:47:19 GMT -5 supertrooper1 said:

Nov 28, 2017 22:17:10 GMT -5 campermom said:

You guys. 

My dad just special ordered a jeep. 
A JEEP? Why? 

It's the only new car he could find that does not have power windows or power locks. 


Also they refuse to get cable because.....😂😂😂😂 the cows....

wait I need to catch my breath

the cows on the farm behind the house scratch their back on the telephone pole in the field that has the cable wires attached, and the wires get detached and that's why they can't get cable. 

Satellite?

They have Direct TV.

My sister said, Let get him a drone! I just replied...."No."