What should I get for my neighbour who takes little one to school once a week?

rosie383

Reading another thread has put this to the forefront of my mind!

I am a SAHM to 2 children. Once a week usually, my neighbour takes my wee one to primary school for me and picks her up so that I can go to college.
I really, really appreciate this, and tell her each time, but I really don't want her to feel I am taking it lightly.
She lives just down the street and takes her 2 children to school and picks them up, so is going there anyway. She had offered to do it to save me having to pay for before and after-school care on that day.
I have only had the opportunity a couple of times to repay the favour as between herself and her dh, one of them is always free to do the school run.
Should I wait until the end of the school year, and buy her a gift?
Do something before that?
I really don't know what is the acceptable thing to do.
I am on a very tight budget, so money would be a consideration. I would make her something, but she is extremely good with her hands and makes so many beautiful things.The only thing I do well is bake, but so does she, and she has been losing a lot of weight, so I don't want to appear with a big cake!!
Any friendly advice appreciated!

Gillyx

A nice card would go down a treat I think, maybe one of the personalised type from Hallmark etc and an offer of help with something she may need help with in the future.

rosie383

A card is a great idea! See I knew someone would come up with something that my tired brain couldn't figure out.

marleyboy

Traditionally Quality Street was always the way to say;
"Thank you very much...............Thank you very, very, very much."

Gillyx

rosie383 wrote: »

A card is a great idea! See I knew someone would come up with something that my tired brain couldn't figure out.

I really appreciate a card with some kind words in it, if I've done something nice for someone and I always send thank you cards out to others, so I'm a bit obsessed

IceColdRum

marleyboy wrote: »

Traditionally Quality Street was always the way to say;
"Thank you very much...............Thank you very, very, very much."

Bit close to Christmas and Easter for Chocolate no? I know I'm sick of it an I only had a few bits:p

looby75

a bunch of flowers at the end of term is nice. I used to take a friends son to school with my son, I was going there anyway so it was absolutely no big deal for me to take him too but she would buy me a small bunch of flowers on the last day of term. It was a lovely gesture.

rosie383

Thanks guys. Quality St is a lovely idea, but, as I say, she has lost a LOT of weight lately, even over Christmas, so that may not go down too well.
I think I will go with a card now, and then a plant or something for her veg patch after my course is finished in April, or at the end of the year.
See, even just writing it down has opened up my brain a bit.
I have to go to sleep now, soooooo tired. I will have a look in the morning and see what other ideas you guys come up with.
TIA

londonsurrey

When is her birthday? Or simply a nice card, a little herby plant in a pretty pot/container from a boot sale, finished off with a bow, presented by a cute miniature human saying/lisping "Thank you so much, Auntie XYZ for looking after me" would melt most maternal hearts.

tealady

Hi
How about some hand cream or a lovely bath bomb?
However if you are a gardener a lovely bunch of home grown flowers would go down well I think.

jackyann

I think anything "home made" is especially suitable for a favour of this kind; and it doesn't matter if she is also good at crafts - in fact I think people who do stuff themselves are more appreciative.
So I would look out for opportunities rather than get something especially. As others have said, something from the garden. You don't say what kind of things you make, but whatever it is, you could do an extra one for her. Also watch out for other favours you can do for her, and maybe even say "if you ever need anything doing, remember I owe you!"
I did a similar favour for a friend for years and she did things like that. Something she always did was do a big bake for a charity coffee morning I did once a year, and drummed up support for it.