Some more 1st Communion questions...

[cruisnfamily]

DS8 will make his 1st communion May 8th and there are two things that are troubling/concerning me this time around. They are:

1)The time of this thing really complicates my life! It is at 8:30am on a Saturday morning. The grandmas/aunts live an hour away so they want to come the night before and stay over. Including my family this makes 11 in my house over night. Sounds great, right? One big happy family? NOT! We did this for DD's 3 years ago and let's just say it was a NIGHTMARE trying to get everybody up, dressed and out in time to get to the church. Plus, many of the other 1st communion kids will have relatives staking out seats in the church in the wee, wee hours of the morning. We were all the way at the back for DD's because we only got there about 10 minutes before the stated time. Keep in mind, the mass starts at 9am and they're already requiring us to be there at 8:30am, how much earlier do I really want to try to arrive?

2)The Gift. What to get DS for a gift. I had such a hard time with DD and ended up getting her a bible. DS will not really be thrilled with a bible but I can't think of what else to get. He wouldn't wear jewelry, like a cross on a chain. Anyway, I'm stumped. What have you guys gotten?

Thanks for any and all input!

 

[Mishetta]

My Mom gave my first DS a chain & cross (adult sized) when he was baptized. I'm just saving it for him for when he gets older. He has worn it a handful of times & since he's 8 now, he still could care less, but one day, it will hold a special memory for him. So if you wanted to get your DS a cross & chain now, you could always just present it to him now & then hold it for later on! Same with the Bible! Someday he'll have it for his own home.

Regarding all those people in your house....is there a hotel nearby? I could not have that here. I have the room, but I wouldn't have the patience for lots of people trying to get ready & me stressing that we'd be late. (Our church is doing a drawing for location of seats. Should be interesting!)

Oh...your post makes me so happy that my DS's Communion time is at 2pm!

 

[kadaten]

I gave my godson a saint's medal in silver for his baptism. He can't wear it for awhile (just turned 1!) but I wanted to give something that would last and was religious in nature. My DS and DD got crosses for their room from their godmother for their baptism. Don't know about communion as mine are only 1 and 3!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by Mishetta
Regarding all those people in your house....is there a hotel nearby?

If you knew my inlaws you wouldn't have suggested this. They would never, ever come down here and pay for a hotel. First of all, they don't really have the cash to do it and they would never allow us to pay(not that I want to anyway). They think everything we do is too extravagant. If we tell them they're not welcome, they'll all get up really early and make the drive but then we'll here about how inconvenient it was ALL DAY LONG.

The sleeping over part isn't the problem. It's the getting showered, dressed and out of the house part. Last time, with DD, I told everybody to shower the night before. Well my BIL and SIL still had to take a shower the next morning. According to them, they just HAVE TO have a shower every morning. Well, at least DS is a boy and there's not too much fussing with him getting dressed. That will cut down on the prep time. Of course DD will have to fuss with her appearance but she's in 5th grade now and can do her own thing without my input(she prefers it that way! )

Anyway, I think I'm stuck with the crowd because I just can't see any way out of it.

 

[Mishetta]

Are there other family members some of your relatives could stay with?

Oh & I understand about the "in-law" thing. Sorry!

(I'd have them drive in early in the morning! )

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by Mishetta
Are there other family members some of your relatives could stay with?

All the family members live an hour away. We are the odd balls who moved away from the crowd.{Do you wonder why } Up there, there are 3 different houses to stay in: Grandma, Great Grandma, & Aunt/Uncle/Nieces

 

[JerseyJanice]

Well, I don't even know what to say about your relatives. I guess you'll have to have them stay over and put up with getting up very early to shower.

The gift? I'm baffled there too. My son is asking for Playstation 2. He really wants it! Wanted it for Christmas and cried his eyes out when I told him Christmas Eve, he wasn't getting it.

His grandparents are buying him one of those basketball nets on wheels, so he doesn't see anything wrong with getting PS2.

DH and I don't know what to do. On one hand, it's his communion, so he should have a right to ask for something he really wants. On the other, we're not even sure we want to buy PS2. His PS1 works fine, and with our luck we'll buy it and the next week, the price will drop in half because PS3 is coming out.

And on the other hand as well, we're not sure we want to give him a toy either. A piece of jewelry to commemorate the day would be nice. I still have my First Communion cross from my parents.

Giving him both things are largely out (unless PS2 goes way down in price by May) because frankly, he's spoiled enough. And I'm sure other family members will be getting him jewelry.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[cruisnfamily]

The gift thing has me baffled too!

We won't get him a toy. That would be inappropriate in our family. It needs to be something with some kind of religous meaning or something to be somehow tied in with the event.

For DD I spent literally a couple of hours wandering the Christian book store in town(it's a big place) and just couldn't come up with anything other than a bible. Grandma is getting DS some kind of ceramic statue thing that has a rosary inside of it. Now the relatives and god parents are asking me what to get him...like I have a clue

Also, next month I'm going to be god mother for a friends son. Am I supposed to buy him a gift for this occassion? I'm just no good at this type of shopping

 

[cruisnfamily]

Just had an idea....how tacky would it be to give my own kid money? Then he could use it however he saw fit and I wouldn't be frowned upon for buying a non-religious item.....what do you think? Too tacky?

 

[JerseyJanice]

Hey, it's between you and yours. There is no such thing as tacky there, as far as I'm concerned.

I just think there are so many beautiful jewelry items for such an occasion. I want him to have something like that. There are crucifix rings, Christ head pendants, Miraculous medals, crosses of every description and chains to put them on.

I want to give him something like that, not a PS2. And there is the issue of his Godparents possibly buying him a piece of jewelry and my sister too. He'd appreciate one thing, but beyond that, he'll be looking for a PS2.

 

[mamajoan]

Hi,
my middle son, Jake, is now 16. He still has his Communion music box that we gave him. Found it at the music box store in the mall. It has a boy with folded hands on the front. His Uncle gave him a clock with a blessing inscribed on it.. found it at another one of the mall stores.. He has a crucifix in his room~ his godmother gave him a cross which hangs around it.. he wears it when he feels the need. Oh and I forgot.. in the music box he keeps the rose boutineer from his 1st communion day...

My oldest son still has his cross and bible from his first communion. In the bible is a picture from the day of 1st communion.. He is wearing a Lei. We lived in Hawaii at the time. He loves that photo.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

 

[beattyfamily]

My DD's Godparents are getting her a 'family' bible that she can save and bring to her marriage.

I am deciding between a crucifix and/or miraculous medal for her neck or a rosary but I think I may get the rosary. I could always get the crucifix and/or miraculous medal for her birthday when she gets older.

I feel it should be a religious gift, but that's just how 'we' feel about it.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Seeing as how the focus of the day SHOULD be taking of the bread, a religious gift is most appropriate. A Playstation 2 is not. This is not Christmas (don't even get me started on Easter). A Bible would be great. At Christian Book stores they have bibles written to the level of the child. There are children's bibles, pre-teen bibles and teen bibles. Perhaps one of those. They usually have pictures, devotions and other stories included. If you really are against buying a bible because he won't LIKE it (????) then perhaps some other book from the Christian bookstore, or some other trinket. There are some very neat things to be found. Heck you can even search online.

 

[Jasminesmommy]

Why don't you get him a cross necklace andpresent it in the morning to wear that day and a playstationfor later. This way he gets his religous trinket and something he likes. As far as the god mother gift in my family and friends family the god parents usually buy the outfit and the bible/roseary and or the candle.

 

[Jasminesmommy]

Also with the family sleeping over if you have more the 1 bathroom (hopefully) designate one thats for your kids and self and another for rest of family or the night before write out a schedule and tell your guest there designated shower time and time of departure and if all else fails leave them. They can get them self there and tell them so.

 

[jetsetter90]

We've had the same situation. We had 14 sleeping over for DS communion. We're lucky that we have 3 full baths and 1/2 bath. Our master bathroom was ours (4) alone and no one was allowed in our room. The church was 6 blocks away so even though we had to be there early I told everyone when they need to be there. Our problem was no one wanted to drive so they ALL started pouring into our minivan. What a site. DH had to end up driving the other car, this really pissed me off.

Well DS is now making his confirmation and we haven't even set a date for the party yet and already we have 6 confirmed that they are coming down. The only good thing this time is that the actuall confirmation is May 7 at 5pm so we will be having the party on another date so no rush getting out of the house.

Regarding a gift we gave him money, which was put in his account, and a Precious Moment Figurine to remember the day. He will hopefully use the money for college. We will probably do the same thing this time.

Good Luck with the relatives..I know how stressfull it can get. Remember to enjoy YOUR DS's day.

TTFN

Jetsetter90

 

[cruisnfamily]

Just to clarify: There will be no playstations/toys for my DS. That was another poster. I'm now leaning towards the cross on a chain to be worn that day and then put away for when he is older. That's a good suggestion.

Yes, regarding the family spending the night...we're just gonna have to deal with it. I think I will do as suggested and tell them when we are leaving and give everybody directions to the church and when the time comes, we just walk out and go and everybody else can worry about themselves! We probably won't all get to sit together in church with this method but oh well. It was too stressful worried about getting my nieces and the grandparents ready. I have my own kids and DH to get ready!

A Bible would be great. At Christian Book stores they have bibles written to the level of the child. There are children's bibles, pre-teen bibles and teen bibles. Perhaps one of those. They usually have pictures, devotions and other stories included. If you really are against buying a bible because he won't LIKE it (????)

To clarify the bible thing. We have a precious moments bible for my daughter(her 1st communion gift) and probably two or three other bibles around the house. The bible would just get sat on a shelf in his room probably never looked at again. I just thought something he would actually use or appreciate might be better. Not that he would say "Eww, yuck a bible!" or anything like that it just wouldn't be "special" to him.

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by cruisnfamily
Also, next month I'm going to be god mother for a friends son. Am I supposed to buy him a gift for this occassion? I'm just no good at this type of shopping

I gave my godson a medal of his patron saint on a silver chain. No, he can't use it now, but will when he's older. I also included the small cards that have the meaning of the name on it to tuck in his bible, given by his family. For him now, I found a small lamb that says the "Now I lay me down to sleep" prayer...I see these at WalMart and Target in the toy dept all the time...other stores, too....and they're only $10. Our local Christian bookstore also has stuffed animals that play "Jesus Loves Me" when wound up, beautiful baptism picture frames, and lovely child-themed crosses, all of which would make nice gifts.

My DD received a silver angel jewelry box engraved with her initials and baptism date from Things Remembered. DS received a cross for his room. Both gifts from the godparents. Other gifts included 2 necklaces for DD (one heart on a chain, one cross), a rosary in a ceramic holder, and reliegious board books (Noah's Ark, children's first prayers, etc.), in addition to a Bible.

Hope that gives you some ideas!
Katie

 

[rae519]

As for the gift - a book on his saint or boy saints.

As for the relatives - our entire family consists of the 3 of us and my Mom - a whopping FOUR. I can't imagine having a large family and would like to say I envy you, but really don't think I should!

Best wishes!

Rae

 

[AirForceRocks]

We're giving DS a beautiful dark wood rosary and a mahogany crucifix for his room.