What do grandparents really want for Christmas?
I mentioned yesterday that I have been trying to figure out what to give my parents for Christmas. We usually give a couple of small things – some things from us and some from the kids.
My mother is tough to buy for. She doesn’t like to cook like my mother-in-law. She is particular about jewelry. (You can’t buy the cheap stuff.) And she’s not an avid reader. Although for the last few years I have given her and my Godmother a year subscription to Soap Opera Digest and they love that! (I forgot about that. Good that’s one thing I can do.)
My dad is relatively easy but I feel like I give the same things every year – movie passes, historic fiction novels, undershirts. You get the idea.
So I asked my mom again this year, what is something that you really want? And she says, “Pictures of the kids are always good.”
She has big framed photos of both our family and my brother’s family in her family room. So every other year we update it with a new family photo with the $10.99 (now $14.99) deal at Portrait Innovations.
I also usually do custom-made calendars with photos of the kids on Shutterfly for both grandfathers and Michael’s brother but it is very time consuming.
Last year I did ornaments with photos of the kids for Michael’s family.
This year, Shutterfly has a new item – a cloth tote bag that you could put photos on. I thought my mom might like that.
So other than photo-type products, I am looking for some inspiration.
So what are you giving to grandparents? Are you giving clothes, jewelry, trips to visit you, photos of the kids?
What are the best grandparent gifts?
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68 comments Add your comment
Roswell Jeff
November 30th, 2011
1:41 pm
Cousin Eddie,
Had a friend that got a pack of Jellies from Knotsberry Farm in California from a family member. The stuff was expired. He decided to spread the excitement of the gift and regift it to others in the family. Long running joke.
motherjanegoose
November 30th, 2011
2:21 pm
@ Roswell Jeff…I remember going to Knottsberry Farm when I was a child.
I bought my husband some fancy caramel corn at Whole Foods last month. I thought he would enjoy it. It was featured in a front bin and not on sale. When we gave it to him, he spied an odd sticker and peeled it off. Under the odd sticker: expiration 7/31/2011. We bought it at the end of October 2011. REALLY?
camille
November 30th, 2011
2:35 pm
Digital picture frame…my MIL stated that was the best gift. Scan in all of the kids pictures taken over the years (professionally and at home) and put them on a SD card… She will love it.
bob from account temps
November 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
buy some of that 2 for 19.99 crap sold on late night tv.
motherjanegoose
November 30th, 2011
2:59 pm
@ bob…we laugh about that as my FIL was famous for buying it and we DID receive it for Christmas!
Kdmanx
November 30th, 2011
5:06 pm
Roll of tolite paper with Obama’s photo on it.
catlady
November 30th, 2011
5:31 pm
Oooh, I want one of those digital frames!
alice h.
November 30th, 2011
6:43 pm
Last Christmas, I gave everyone, young and old, a pair of alpaca socks. BIG HIT. I love them, too, as they cushion the feet along with providing warmth and resisting moisture. I visited my daughter for Thanksgiving. She was wearing her alpaca socks. They are NOT cheap. I paid $15 a pair for the ones I bought, but they are well worth the money.
Jo
November 30th, 2011
9:21 pm
You didn’t say how old your Mom was but my mom is older and on a budget. I get her gift certificates to her favorite hair salon, to a home cleaning service for one thorough deep cleaning, to places that detail and clean your car, or for yard services (like cleaning up leaves or putting out pine straw). I also have bought her tickets to upcoming events (like Broadway musicals at the Fox) so we can enjoy an afternoon out together (what our Moms really want, afterall, is time with us). What she doesn’t need is more things to clutter up her closets (ie clothes she’ll never wear), more knickknackes for her shelves, or dvd’s she doesn’t know how to use.
Atlgadgetgrrl
December 1st, 2011
12:08 am
My grandmother (age 84) was fascinated with my teenager’s Snuggie when he had it at her place in the spring, so that’s easy. My I laws love restaurant gift cards, and my dad likes e-books for his Kindle.
Jean
December 1st, 2011
12:47 am
Every couple of years we make the grandma’s t-shirts or sweatshirts with the kids handprints or footprints. We’ve made footprint/handprint Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, angels, snowmen, Christmas trees, etc… My daughter is now old enough, she can do the artwork that goes with the handprint. They love doing the art, and our grandparents enjoy being able to show off their gifts… The bonus for this type of gift, is that they get a record of how the kids have grown… This year we will probably do this again, but this time, we will buy the shirts and let the kids decide what they want to do…
We are also going to make some felt ornaments, that the kids will sew and decorate. You can search the web for “felt ornaments” and get tons of ideas and patterns.
We have in previous years, given them framed artwork that they can display (school fund raisers.)
A couple of years ago, we bought each grandma a digital picture Christmas ornament and loaded them with pictures of the kids, with plenty of room for them to add more (the ornaments could also be used as a regular digital picture display!)
My husband does woodwork, so one year (right after we were married, before the kids were born) we made nic-nak display shelves in the shape of Christmas trees for each grandma. They are used every year to display treasured Christmas nic-naks. One year he made them cutting boards, he has made magazine racks, one set of grandparents has a handmade fireplace screens, some have handmade desks etc.
We have a local stained glass artist that makes wonderful window displays. Every year our kids grade school teacher gets one of these ornaments and every year they are different. Some are Christmas themed, some are angels, humming birds, apples. The teachers love them, because no one else gets them a gift like that.
Last year the kids made potholders with one of those loop weaving looms…
We are always trying to think “outside the box” and to come up with unique, usually handmade gifts…
I hope you get lots more good suggestions, and that you find something that the grandparents in your life will just love!
corgi girl
December 1st, 2011
1:11 am
My sons inlaws are well off, while we are having an awful hard time and barely making it.I would love to have a gift card from Kroger,Walmart,Aldi or Publix something we could use.I would love to get a haircut from a beauty shop instead of having to butcher it myself.We never ask for much other than being taken to buy groceries once a month since we lost our car.We hate to bother them because they have let us know on more than one time that their time is expensive .
marty
December 1st, 2011
5:01 am
Birdseed, birdhouse, yardwork for the winter. gift certficates to the movies, favorite restaurant or a subscription to their favorite newspaper
Marie
December 1st, 2011
7:24 am
I’ve given a year’s subscription to the local newspaper, and dinner & a movie. Both were appreciated. This year my siblings and I are chipping in for a Kureg coffee maker. Good luck!
Rodney
December 2nd, 2011
9:09 am
I have only one surviving Grandparent left (my maternal Grandmother) which, I suppose since I’m 41 that’s more than most people get. And as much as I would love to give my Grandmother the things I want to give her (big ticket items, jewelry, etc) she’s SUCH a survivor of the Depression Era that she doesn’t care about such things.
So … each year she gets the same things from me – Dove soap, Jergens lotion, a new powder puff, and a gift card (typically to WalMart – they don’t have a Target anywhere near where they live).
Makes her happier than a pig in $#&% to get those things because in her mind, she doesn’t have to buy them for herself (although, frugal as she is, she’s sitting on a mountain of money!).
kartgirl00
December 3rd, 2011
12:28 pm
All the grandparents are getting framed photos of Little E that we had made last weekend. I’ve also found some cute crafty things on pinterest that I plan on making with him to give them. I know when my grandmother was still with us, the homemade gifts were the ones she loved best and kept them all (glittery star christmas ornament that I made in kindergarten in 1979? now hangs on my mom’s tree). We just don’t have the money to spend on 3 sets of grandparents like we want.
Sandy
December 5th, 2011
8:55 am
Most Grandparents, even the younger ones, have more “Stuff” and are trying to declutter. Don’t add more. Before my Mother passed away and now for my husbands parents we do give family or children pictures, but also, a basket with a magnafying glass, a sheet of stamps, pens, note pads, gift cards to their local pharmacist or a letter telling them just how much they have influenced your life.
ahsoisee
December 5th, 2011
10:47 am
Many parents and grandparents do not want anything for Christmas. When both spouses are living and they do not need anything, it pains them to see their children and grandchildren buying them gifts and spending money they need for survival. If the parents or grandparents tells everyone they do not want any presents, then please don’t spend your money for gifts on them. They are capable of buying the things they want or need. Parents and Grandparents just want to enjoy seeing their offsprings have the money they need to survive.
If one child or grandchild buys a gift for the parents or grandparents, then it makes the others feel bad who obeyed the rules of non-gifts to the adults, parents, and grandparents.
If one of the spouses is deceased, then the parent or grandparent would probably enjoy the company of their offsprings and accept the gifts from the children. Our family has a yearly rule that we will only buy gifts for the children through their Senior Year of High School. After that, they are off the list and become adults. We still enjoy our family getting together at Christmas and enjoy the company. We still try to keep the event focused on Jesus and his redemption for our souls.
The Old Man