Gift ideas to say thank you to my parents

Jo_R_2

Hi all

I have been thinking about buying a present for my parents. I held off giving them something specifically for what I have in mind for Christmas as I wasn't totally sure what to get for what I wanted the gift to say.

My parents have basically been my rock this last year. Through redundancy and severe depression on my part, they even took care of my youngest daughter for a few months whilst I got myself back on my feet, even though they're in their sixties now. I'm currently pregnant and they regularly take both DDs to stay when my depression is particularly bad or I'm feeling exhausted, even though in the second half of the year we had to get rid of our car so it has meant they have done most of the travelling (about three-quarter of an hour from them to us.) When they haven't been able to help, they've arranged for family to come over instead out of the kindness of their hearts, and to put it bluntly I wouldn't have gotten through this last year without the love and support they have so unselfishly shown.

I could go on... But what I want is to buy/make them a gift that is meaningful to them. An idea I did have was to buy some kind of plant, in triplicate, one each to 'represent' both DDs and one for our imminent new arrival (a little boy) that they can plant in their garden. OH suggested maybe some kind of fruit tree, so that's an idea I really liked, as my father is a keen gardener.

Apart from gardening, my dad likes computers and cars, and my mother is interested in alternative type therapies, such as reiki, and also health foods.

I suppose what I'm essentially after is something that is very personal to them and the situation, that shows our appreciation, and because it's so important I want to get it just right. If anyone has any ideas or thoughts they would be most gratefully received!

Keeping_Motivated

How much do you want to spend?

Jo_R_2

Hmm well I'm on a fairly tight budget but have £50 at least and could probably stretch to closer to £70-80 if needed.

Keeping_Motivated

There were some offers on here somewhere for hotels for £10 per night so you could send them for a weekend away on that budget?

Other than that how about a photo album of the both right from child hood with their respective families to them getting married and then having your family and then their grandchildren. That would show alot of thought and time especially having to source their childhood photos and marriage photos too?

I do think your tree idea is nice too though.

Jo_R_2

My dad doesn't like staying away from home bless him, I reckon mother would like it but he'd moan the whole time LOL!

About the photos... I really like that idea, it could take a lot of doing as my parents' parents have all passed away, and my mother's family is from another country so I wouldn't know where to start with her childhood photos! My father's mother passed away about four years ago and my (step) grandad gave away lots of photos so it would mean tracking them down, which might be quite fun actually.

Also I have been told that when me and my sister were younger, we (ahem:o) made a piece of artwork out of mum and dad's wedding album so most of the pictures have wax crayon over them... It also might be fun to resurrect them though!

whitewing

I like the fruit trees idea too.

My friend bought us a rose for our wedding, and some other friends bought dahlia plants called Romeo and Juliet, which was very thoughtful. So maybe something to do with the name of the trees being important?

There are shops that may be able to restore the wedding photos, so that would be worth looking into.

Rachel85

How about a digital photo frame? That way you could add some of the girls onto it for them and they could up date it for to include your son when he arrives. You can get them fairly inexpensively now, especially in the sales, so may still have funds left for a a tree..

poet123

A rose, or roses, with meaningful names? if you google the kids/parents names,or thankyou,or thoughtful,or any other adjective you wish to use, you will most probably find a relevant rose.

wogglemaker

On the theme fo fruit trees how about one of those 'family trees' that have several types grafted on to one root stock.

I'll have a look on the web for you, or maybe the guys and galls onthe green fingers board could help.

Luv Mel

Edit to add: if you do a search for family fruit trees you'll get a few growers and they are three variety types

rainmac

You can dedicate 3 trees with the Woodland Trust using £7.50 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers - http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/product.aspx?R=764

How about something homemade so has the personal touch - a scrapbook, cross stitch picture...

Itsgottabedone

Jo - you expressed your feelings so eloquently in the original post I'm sure that a New Year letter to them telling them how you feel about their help in the past year would be treasured and re-read for many years to come. It's wonderful how family members can rally round when things are tough, isn't it? Good luck for 2009.