Need special Gift Ideas

[Starbrite]

I am in need of budget-friendly gift ideas for a special recepient, a boy in DD8's class.

His mother was in a very serious car accident around Thanksgiving - she's very lucky to be alive but has many many months of recovery ahead of her. It will be a very long time before she can even leave the hospital let alone any rehab center. She was a single mother, her husband passed away a few years back & they have very little family around. It will be a hard Christmas for all of them.

The class is looking to put together a gift basket of things they can do & share together when he visits his mother at the hospital. Coloring books, reading books, card games, etc.

I'm hoping the DIS can come up with some more original ideas for us to help make Christmas a little more Merry for them

Thanks!!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Oh, My, that poor family. Losing one paretns and almost another. How awful. Is he the only child? That is just so sad I am so happy to hear the school is trying to help out.

I don't know anything about boys as a mom of 3 girls, but maybe a new-sew fleece blanket (you can buy them pre-cut and use a 40% off coupon at JoAnn's). The he could have it for security or give it to his mom for her recovery.

This is just so sad, thank God she survived and I wish her well in her recovery.

 

[StephMK]

How about ...

board games
craft kits - maybe something he can make w/for his mom
paint & nice pad of paper
journal - he can keep one & read it to her so she knows what's going on in his life
books
magazine subscription
take out gift cards
portable DVD player &/or movies to watch
music
nice robe or slippers for her
or even just certificates for free babysitting, visit, etc. for each month- things she may need help with but hard to ask for long term help

 

[MrsPooh]

The blanket idea would be cute if you gave them each matching or coordinating ones.

How about gift certificates for restaurants that deliver to their home for easy meals after they get home.

If her room has a vcr or dvd player maybe some movies to take and watch with her and some "movie" snacks like soft drinks and microwave popcorn (they usually have a microwave somewhere on the floor) or movie type candy.

Easy crafts or even coloring books & crayons would be nice.

Even gift certificates for utility bills she will need to continue to pay while in the hospital might be nice. I know our local electric and natural gas companies offer gift certificates that you can give. Might be one thing off her mind while in the hospital.

This is so nice of you to do for both of them.

 

[mom2cookies]

aww, well i'd suggest physical hugs but in lieu of that how about some hershey hugs and kisses candy? This might be odd,but the reason is when my son was younger, around 8 yrs old ( he's 13 now) he had a hershey kiss and when day when i was cutting out coupons from the paper, he handed me the little paper from the kiss and said here mommy another coupon. I asked him if i could redeem it and he said yes. So now he always gives me the tags out of the hershey kisses, and doesn't refuse when i " redeem" them. ( i've saved some for later when he is grown lol) Perhaps with this example, the mom and the son could give a " kiss" or a " hug" candy to each other when they need one for real.

Also, perhaps some hand held games, or relaxing music for mom? Coupons, for dinner to be sent in when she is home?

 

[Starbrite]

Thank you all for the suggestions!! I'm going to let DD8 look over the ideas this evening so she has a hand in the decision.

He is an only child. This was the teachers idea, not mine, but I couldn't agree more that it was very thoughtful & we will certainly be helping as much as we can!!

Even gift certificates for utility bills she will need to continue to pay while in the hospital might be nice. I know our local electric and natural gas companies offer gift certificates that you can give. Might be one thing off her mind while in the hospital.

Why didn't I think of that! I actually work for one of the local utility companies - I bet I can make a few calls!

aww, well i'd suggest physical hugs but in lieu of that how about some hershey hugs and kisses candy? ..... Perhaps with this example, the mom and the son could give a " kiss" or a " hug" candy to each other when they need one for real.

Thank you soo much for this idea! I am definately sending some hugs & kisses. Especially in this situation, her physical condition is pretty bad I think real hugs are out of the question right now.