I've posted before how difficult it is to buy for ONE of my MIL's. Another post got me thinking we are not doing enough.
We now live an hour from this MIL. We see them about 2 - 3 times a month. We are going there on Friday to take her and stepFIL out for dinner. We will also stay the night at their house, and leave from there on a business trip for hubs (mini vacation for me and the girls), so we won't be around on Sunday. We will arrive on Sunday to do dinner with the other stepMIL and FIL.
I plan on having the girls (ages 4 & 2) make cards for both of them. Do we do more?
AND, do we do something for my dad's lady friend? They've been together for about 1.5 years, not living together. She comes to bday parties, etc. We don't have a super close relationship with her, but she never had kids and I like her a lot. I think it would make her day to get something from us. Or should I ask my dad first?
My mom is deceased. So the day is always bittersweet. I think that is why I tend to not get too into it.
What do you think? Any ideas for local MIL who has everything, wants nothing, and has a husband that is total control freak about the aestetics of the house? (She takes anything homemade to work....no family photos in the house....house looks like a museum....doesn't even use the digital picture frame we got her. She like Scentsy, but buys everything she likes from a lady at work.)
Do we get distant MIL something? When we lived there we always got her a flowering plant, but then one year she told me not to because she didn't like the kind we got her. We will also be driving for 2 days. So it can't be fragile or a plant.
We leave on Friday. I work tonight and tomorrow night. Still need to pack the van, and do all the other prep. Ugh. Need to get my act together.
THANks!
One of those edible arrangements would be nice for either one or both. And then the homemade cards from the kids. For me, that would be more than enough.
Get all of them a gift card to a nice store that offers a variety of things from house goods to clothes and leave it to them to pick out what they want. Maybe Macys, Bloomingdales, Herberger's, Von Maur, you get the idea.
As for dinner, have them pick the restaurant, but you pick up the tab.
Hope this helps.
For the distant MIL, your plans are fine. Maybe treat her to breakfast Sat. morning as well?
For local MIL - what about a Scentsy gift card? I did a google search. It appears that each consultant offers them. I don't know if they are specific to the consultant, so if you could find out the name of her normal Representative, that would probably be best.
For Dad's friend - if they aren't married, then she isn't an official 'step', you shouldn't feel guilty about needing to get her anything. If they were to marry then yes. You could get her a small bouquet of flowers or have the girls draw a non-mom's day pic for her.
What about gift certificates for mani/pedi?
For your father's GF, I would do a small arrangement sent the house with a note.
You can do all of the above in about 20 minutes online!
Definitely nothing for the girlfriend from you guys.
I will just be giving my mom a call & wishing her a Happy Mothers Day... we are not that close & she really hasn't been there much for me since I got married 17 years ago. Well, expect when she though I was dieing in November... then she caused a ton of issues between my hubby & the doctors. But once I was out of ICU - she disappeared again... go figure.
As for my MIL - we already went over last weekend & planted some volunteer plans that grew from seeds my plants dropped. I may take her some more... she doesn't have a green thumb, but wants the front of her house to look nice. We don't have much as to an income & have 5 little ones to support. She understands that & loved what I did last weekend.
Mothers Day is just ment to tell anyone you see at a mom to you that you love them... not to give them more then you can. I don't think you are doing to little... and if you see your dad's friend as a mom figure do something small for her.
BTW - Happy Mothers Day to you!
Dinner, cards, candy or fruit basket (dried fruit arrangements can be found at most upscale grocery stores in almost any area).
I wouldn't celebrate mother's day for your dad's girlfriend who has no children. If she becomes your step-mother, that's a different story.
Sounds like you and your family do plenty to recognize special events.
Have a good trip
I have found a sincerely written note givento hard to buy for people oftens times does wonders.
I usually send my out of town mom and grandmom a card. We also send flowers to them and my MIL. We don't tend to do dinner or anything else. I figure that floral arrangements are something pretty that none of them would get for themselves and will eventually die - a renewable gift!
