Gift for someone who quit smoking?

[AmongMadPeople]

I just found out my FIL hasn't smoked since Saturday. He isn't taking that magic pill, so I'm afraid quitting cold turkey won't last long. I really want to acknowledge this and encourage him, since I thought this day would never come.

So far I don't think he has replaced cigarettes with another habit (for my dad it was candy, for a co-worked it was chewing on straws). Is there something we can get him that will show we support him? I don't know what former smokers experience while quitting, so I don't know if it varies too much person to person to get something general. Maybe just a special card, as silly as that sounds?

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I'm listening in for ideas. DH is quitting now, he hasn't smoked in almost 2 weeks. I'm so proud of him, I'd love to get him a little gift.

 

[ShesAPirate]

I just found out my FIL hasn't smoked since Saturday. He isn't taking that magic pill, so I'm afraid quitting cold turkey won't last long. I really want to acknowledge this and encourage him, since I thought this day would never come.

So far I don't think he has replaced cigarettes with another habit (for my dad it was candy, for a co-worked it was chewing on straws). Is there something we can get him that will show we support him? I don't know what former smokers experience while quitting, so I don't know if it varies too much person to person to get something general. Maybe just a special card, as silly as that sounds?

Speaking as someone else who quit cold turkey, I'm here to tell you it can last! I quit March 19, 2009

Straws, gum, mints, toothpicks -- those are all things I used in the beginning. For some people, the fixation is manual, not just oral -- so something to keep his hands busy might help, too (puzzles or little toys). But I think a card would be really nice. Any amount of kudos and encouragement is incredibly important to a person when they're making such a huge lifestyle change! Very nice of you to want to recognize him for his efforts

 

[sjs314]

He may very well surprise you quitting cold turkey, if he has made it since Saturday the worst is over- the first 3 days are the hardest IMHO. Give him praise for quiting, I know that went a long way when I quite "cold turkey" 10/27/09 you reach a point where you do not want to disappoint your family and freinds by starting up again. Help him try to avoid the trigger that make you want to smoke, mine were coffee , riding in a car, smelling others smoke are a few.

If he has favorite snacks, cashews, etc maybe take those over to him.

I wish him all the luck in the world!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hey, I just quit cold turkey Oct 11th 2010. It is my 4th and hopefully FINAL time to quit.

I don't really need candy, straws or any of that stuff.

My problem is eating and trying not to gain weight. A nice new treadmill would be good or a gym membership for me. But that is not going to happen, so I have to stick with what I got.

I have a Wii and an XBOX so I am going to check out the used games at Gamestop today. I think I want Dance Party.

Oh and I want a cigarette everyday and that never goes away for me. I call myself a cig-a-holic. So, going around saying it will get better doesn't help for some of us. In fact it makes it worse.

 

[mamamary]

Many years ago both my parents quit cold turkey after many years of smoking. They haven't looked back yet. It's got to be maybe 30 years so yes it can be done. Good luck to everyone trying to quit

 

[Handbag Lady]

Shower him with kisses all over his face!

How about a book of short stories or jokes. Something small to carry and thumb through would have been nice for me when I quit 14 years ago.

 

[lovemygoofy]

A big selection of stress balls. Seriously, my husband quit over 2 years ago, in a war zone no less, and I sent never ending amount of stress balls. He told me he could handle the cravings but it was finding something to do with his hands when he was stressed that he had issues. He was so used to going outside to smoke and calm down that he needed a routine.

Imagine someone quitting in a war zone and being armed.

I sent lots of stress balls, pencils that he played with in his fingers, and tons of gum and hard candy. Instead of smoking after a meal, he would and still pops in some gum. He uses sugar free gum and hard candy.

 

[tasha99]

I quit cold turkey over 20 years ago. My boyfriend quit cold turkey last June, then just started again at Thanksgiving. I think most people who are successful do it cold turkey, but with a relapse at 6 months, I guess permanent success is never for certain.

I don't know about gifts . . . maybe a gift would put him on the spot more than a verbal congratulations.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I can't think of a gift, but my MIL had surgery in October and quit smoking right afterwards. She has been smoking for over 40 and we were positive she'd never quit. So far so good, so maybe your FIL will be able to do it.

 

[wvjules]

I quit 12/14/2008 and I still occasionally reach for coffee stirrers. Those were my replacement of choice. Even though it has been 3 days, the hardest isn't over yet. Every day I still want a cigarette. It is like being a recovering alcoholic..always on the wagon. Tell him how proud you are of him but don't go overboard.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

Thanks for all the ideas! They are great.

My dad quit cold turkey several times before that magic pill finally worked (well, and the promise of a Harley!). That's been probably two years. Going outside to smoke was a stress reliever for him at home and work, so stress balls would have been good for him!

I found out during lunch he had planned to quit on Jan 1, but he got a cold over the weekend, so he went ahead and started then. He and my MIL do lots of puzzles, so I think tonight we'll get a few of them and some candy. I'll have my hubby brainstorm if he has any triggers that he might need a replacement action for too.

I think we will just give it to him privately to open on his own terms so he doesn't feel put on the spot or pressured. It won't be like a big to do, we won't wrap anything, just put in a gift bag.

 

[C.Ann]

Personally? I wouldn't even mention the words cigarette, smoking, or quitting.. For some people it's so difficult, that just the mere mention of anything associated with it can send them back to square one..

You can give him a gift that might be helpful in this situation, but I wouldn't make a big deal out of explaining the "why's" behind it..

Hope it works for him, but if it doesn't - please don't make an issue out of it.. He'll feel like a big enough failure on his own - without others piling it on as well..

 

[shortbun]

those minted toothpicks are good-no calories. Anything he can do with his mouth is good. Also, I really missed the sucking on that cancer stick, not just the nicotine. Candy canes-fruit flavors might help that need of having something in your lips. It's like the hardest thing I've ever done but I am smoke free(cold turkey) for 25 years. I agree with C. Ann, don't mention the cigs, just give him the candy canes.

 

[SpecialK]

I quit cold turkey and I always liked the acknowledgement when someone noticed. It's akin to giving someone who loses weight a compliment; you don't want to go overboard, but letting him know you've noticed and you know how hard it is would be appreciated.

 

[Owlpost23]

Quitting is really something to be proud of! Good for him-but give it time before you go overboard.People who quit are kind of fragile,so if there is a relapse,it tends to make them feel like failures.