Christmas gifts for parents

[POINTER94]

My parents are about 70, own a 23 foot cabin cruiser that has enough stuff in it to be a 40 footer. They own their house, car, camper, truck, and just about everything they need. Thats the problem....<br /><br />I have hit home runs for the past couple of years but as is common with all sons buying gifts for the parents, dad makes out. I know they don't have one of the portable jump start units but what exactly would mom do with it???<br /><br />Help me. <br /><br />Doug

 

[DJ]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

Gift Certificates. Especially the type you can use anywhere, like Visa or Amex.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

A one or two day stay at a hotel, with massage or day spa.<br /><br />A nite or two at a bed n breakfast.<br /><br />My sister got my parents started with massages at the YMCA. Now they go every couple weeks during the winter, they say it helps their arthritis.<br /><br />Assuming they are near you: <br /><br />Tickets to the Fireside dinner theater (Fort Atkinson?) This will work best if some of their friends go with them. So contact their friends children and suggest it to them.<br /><br />Send them to Baraboo or House on the Rock.

 

[SeaMasterZ@aol.com]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

hmmmm, could always detail that 23 footer for em, but that is a WHOLE Lot of work, get dad the jumper and mom a charm bracelet with her grandkids birthstones on it

 

[JB]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

The gifts that my former wife and I appreciate most from our children/grandchildren/great grandchild are family portraits, scrapbooks of school years, other reminders of our immortality via our descendants.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

My parents always liked the gifts I made myself.Narate a video with photos of your whole life, paint a picture, build a chair, as long as you did it they will love it.

 

[tylerin]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

JB's right Family photos, school pictures etc. This is what my parents cherish

 

[Mod4]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

I am moving this thread over to Dockside Chat.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

Yea, I will have to go with recent pictures of the kids/grandkids, etc.<br /><br />Lasting memories for sure. <br /><br />But you could get your dad one of them portable jump start things and then take him to the caves in Ohio and have a ball.

 

[Columbia]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

I'm only 57 but I'm a parent of kids in their mid 20's. I have everything I need. I like the gift certificate of a three day mid week stay in a nice joint with whatever amenitities afforded therein. Personalize it with a fruit basket...of course, what do I know, I still like to get socks and skivvies for Christmas....

 

[wikelam]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

dont know if they have a computer or a dvd player. Last year i helped my uncle make some dvds that have all of our old family photos and family tree. They could use the photos for their screen savers on the PC or just play the dvd. Just an idea. Oh by the way, everyone loved them.<br /><br />Also if they always host the festivities at thier house and do the cooking. offer to hold them and do the cooking and clean up. that is what the wife and I are doin this year.

 

[Bob in Calif.]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

Hi Pointer........<br /><br />It sounds like your parents could use a nice storage shed to store a lot of that "stuff" in, in between trips. Buy or build them one with shelving in the amount they will need. This way they can empty out the boat and store their stuff and take only what they will need for each trip.<br /><br />Or gift certificates are always a good choice, such as a gift cert. for your mother for a "Chip and Dale" show an a certificate for your dad at "Hooters." Make sure they are the same dates and the ealy show. This way they can get get home about the same time and tell each other what they saw and did that evening. They might even want to reenact some of the stuff they saw that evening!!! <br /><br /> ...Bob in Calif...

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Christmas gifts for parents

Thanks for the great ideas..<br /><br />I had a couple of ideas myself:<br /><br />1) Reregister my dads 23' boat as a 26' so he still thinks he is the leader of the "boating" family. I have a 25' <br /><br />2) Ray, detailing dads boat isn't a gift it is a requirement. Ahhh... the good sons! <br /><br />3) Perhaps give my parents grandchildren. But that sounds more like a gift for me. Have to get married first.<br /><br />4) Bob in Cali, I like your first suggestion, and I will pretend I never read your second. <br /><br />5) My dad has been begging me to go to the North Channel with him. (Boat Trip) I think I will make my schedule and boat available to take him this year with boating buddies. Provide him with Photos and memories. The gift of Time???????????<br /><br />6) Getting dad out of the house for a week is probably gift enough for my mom but I would like to get something just for her and probably completely impractical. I would love an afternoon at a day spa but just not her style. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Thanks All