Parents with boys, please help me if you can

[anniet]

7 years ago when my niece was born, my sister asked me to be her Godmother. So I have done for her what mine did for me by giving her a pearl necklace with one pearl each year on her birthday, adding to the strand each year and I will have it completed for her either at college graduation, or her wedding.

Last year my cousins made me the Godmother to their precious little boy. He will be one in December and I would LOVE to do something similar- give him a gift that can be added to each year, and if need be completed for some special event in his life, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what to do.

I think this is a tough one, but I'm hoping somebody out there might have some sort of suggestion for me.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou!

Annie

 

[Regina]

I know that my Uncle gave my DS a mint set of coins for the year he was born.

Maybe something along those lines would work? Either that or Savings Bonds.

You're right, boys are tough when it comes to something like this.

 

[Kitty 34]

My SIL gave my sons Mint set of coins each year. My one son now is quite an avid coin collector at 15 yrs old, thanks to this!

 

[anniet]

I am leaning towards Savings bonds, Regina...but to me I think they aren't as personal as I was hoping.

My niece will have that strand of pearls for life. I'd love to give my Godson something as sentimental.

 

[anniet]

Originally posted by Kitty 34
My SIL gave my sons Mint set of coins each year. My one son now is quite an avid coin collector at 15 yrs old, thanks to this!

Okay, call me dumb, but someone has to bring me up to speed on these Mint coins.

What are they and where do I get them?

 

[Chattyaholic]

How about starting a collection of Hallmark Christmas ornaments for him, getting a new one each year and then presenting him the box full when he gets married?

 

[CarolG]

Anniet, you can order coin sets directly from the US Mint. You can browse their catalog on their website: usmint.gov You should be able to request a copy of the catalog, too.

You can get a set of each of this year's coins (penny, nickel, dime, each of the 5 state quarters, half dollar, dollar). The uncirculated coin set this year includes 10 coins each from the Philadelphia and Denver mints (different mint marks on the coins) for $14.95. A proof set of this year's 10 coins (specially treated, polished, struck twice) is 19.95. A 2002 silver proof set is $31.95.

You can also get commemorative coins, medals, and other goodies from the Mint.

 

[Lynn CC]

My DS who is now 15 has quite a coin collection from his Godfather and quite a bond collection from his Godmother.

The coins are nice because they spend a lot of time together looking and them and looking up their worth etc.

 

[krazyboutWDW]

Annie - The pearl necklace you are doing for your neice sounds wonderful. I wish I would have thought of that for my daughter.

There are only two ideas I can think of for boys (they are much harder). First I have heard of what Chattyaholic said about the Xmas ornaments. I have a few friends who have done that for their boys.

My husband and I started a replica football helmet collection for our son when he was very little (not a baby) and add one every year. We started a collection of college football helmets and not NFL. He loves his collection - has quite a few (he will be 21 in January). He has them displayed in his apartment. His friends all love his collection.

If I think of anything else I will post it. When it comes to stuff like this boys are definitely harder.

 

[amid chaos]

We do the pearls for the 2 girls but havent figured out what to do for DS and he's 11.
One thought was to give his wife...if he gets married ...pearls equaling his age.

 

[dennis99ss]

baseball cards for that year

football cards for that year

i like the football helmet idea

nascar cars

hotwheeels (they are now collector items if you can imagine - just think, my boys are playing with about 400 "collector items")

train set

 

[kejoda]

The coins sound like a great idea. Also the Hot wheels. They are cheap enough you could do the coins and 2 get hot wheels(one to keep and one to play)

 

[Jeafl]

My son was born on Dec. 21, so for that first Christmas my dad bought him an LGB train starter set. Every birthday since he has bought him a special car to add on to it. It isn't cheap, but it is something he will always treasure.

 

[goofy4tink]

How about a savings bond each year and when he gets to 18 or 21, give him the scrapbook you've been making for him. It could have photos of him with family, at sporting events, special headlines from the news, letters you could write but not send and put into the scrapbook. It could be very personal. A lasting memento of his growing up years. His mom could help get some of the things to put in.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I like the baseball card idea. I bought a complete set of 98 cards for my son since he was born that year--and promptly put it up in my closet so he can never see it until he can appreciate it!!
Robin M.

 

[Boots]

I like the mint coins too!

 

[shortbun]

Coins or stamps would be good. Stamps are a real
comodity too. I have gotten my son a complete page
of limited edition stamps a few times every year. I
also get advice from an adult collector about what to
buy each year that possibly will grow in value. One year
we got in a lottery for some that we paid $40 for and
they sell for about $350 now. It's fun and I hope DS
will like it someday or finance something important
with the collection.

You could put together a packet for everyyear on his
birthday-the newspaper, stamps, TV guide, movie
listings. Sort of a time capsule for him to see later.

Get him the "Add a pearl too", one never knows. LOL!!!

 

[anniet]

I decided to go with the 2002 U.S. Mint Silver Proof Coin Set.

I can get him the set every year, and like others have said, hopefully he can either keep it, or sell it to finance something later in his life.

I do like shortbun's time capsule idea and goofy4tink's scrapbook idea too.
DBF is a photographer by profession and always gets THE BEST pictures of the kids, so that would be something I could do for him and give him at some "life" event later on!

Thank you all again for all the suggestions.

And shortbun, if he decides he wants the pearls I'll get them for him later, but I'll wait until he asks first!

 

[CookieGVB]

How about Hess cars? Highly collectable stuff there.

Little boys only grow up to be big boys - they'll love 'em when they're older, too.