One of a Kind Gifts for Parents
It takes only a small amount of effort to show love and appreciation for your parents. You do not have to rush out and buy the latest gadget or toy. Instead, take time to think about what your parents really need and want. The best gifts you can give are those that your parents gave you -- time and attention.
Other People Are Reading
-
Time Together
-
Plan a special day with your parents. Bring prepared trays of food to their home and start the day by enjoying breakfast together. Organize an outing to a fair, art show or museum, a concert in the park or a drive in the country. Pack a picnic lunch, thermoses of hot chocolate and coffee, water bottles, blankets and lawn chairs. Take regular breaks throughout the day and ensure that everyone is feeling comfortable. Stop and watch the sunset together before driving them home. If finances permit, consider hiring a limousine for the day.
Get Sentimental
-
Your parents will appreciate gifts that have a sentimental value. If you have a few months lead time, ask a local artist or artistically inclined relative to paint a picture of their house or cottage. Have the picture framed and presented to them at a family gathering. Alternatively, you could create or hire someone to create an embroidered or calligraphic family tree.
-
Preserve Memories
-
Your parents may have photo albums overflowing with pictures. Help them organize these pictures into thematic scrapbooks and collages. Invite all their children, grandchildren and great-children to spend a day scrapbooking at your parents' home. Have all the supplies on hand and prepare a few large working tables. Encourage your relatives to interact with each other as they prepare the scrapbooks and collages. Let everyone enjoy the process and give your parents opportunities to tell the stories behind the pictures. Do not worry if the scrapbooks and collages cannot be completed in a day's time. Prepare a simple lunch or order take-out food.
Create Oral Histories
-
Select pictures from different times in your parents' lives. Sit down and interview them about these pictures. Prepare a list of questions beforehand and ask a friend or relative to record the interviews using a camcorder. To obtain a more professional oral history, enlist the aid of Story Corps. This non-profit organization offers two permanent locations in New York City called Story Booths and two traveling studios called Mobile Booths. A trained facilitator handles all aspects of the recording and produces the CD with the 40-minute interview. Alternatively, you can visit the online site for Story Corps and download a Do It Yourself guide that outlines the entire process.
-
References
- Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
