My mother in law just retired. She is such a great woman and does so much for her family. My husband and I want to do something for her to make her feel special. Unfortunately, his family is not going to be any help money-wise. Do you have any creative suggestions of something we can do to make her feel special without it being expensive? I don't really want to do a spa package though, which is what I first thought of. Thanks in advance!
Why not just have a party/picnic in her honor since the family can't afford much? It doesn't have to be overly expensive for anyone in particular. You can have it in someones back yard. Have each person bring something.
Or take her out to dinner or lunch.
Throw her a retirement party! Get "happy retirement " plates and napkins and you can make it as big or small as you want.- in your house or a restaurant. It is fun to get everybody together.
How about a heart felt card that says all you said here and tell her how much you love and appreciate her. You could also put together a picture frame of all your/the family and in one of the openings put a note so everytime she looks at it she can read that she is loved and see all the faces that love her. There is nothing better than something heart made. A spa treatment only lasts hours and the effects a little longer the pictures and note will be long term.
How about a surprise family picnic where everyone can bring their own stuff so it won't be so expensive. Maybe someone can put together a slide show on a lap top possibly.
The best things you can do is to have the kids make a simple recycled craft or drawing, offer to do a chore for her, make a special home cooked dinner complete with your family acting as waiters, dish washers, and chefs. Just basically get creative. Remember yard work can be included in a chore.
Hi,
You are getting some great answers. I always love a family and friends party with a sing-a-long song with words written just for the person to a tune everyone would know.
I noticed a previous poster mentioned a cake with sparklers. We did that years ago in a kitchen, and burnt a quarter size hole in the floor! The fire dept. was very upset and said never to use sparklers indoors
P.S. You are a very thoughtful daughter in law. Just like you, I have a great M. in law. Blessings!
Think my first ans. went thru. Not sure. Broadway tickets to a show.
Good discount websites out there. i.e. playbill.com, broadwayworld.com.
You are a very thoughtful and sweet dil.
M.-in-law does not need money spent on her to make her feel special! Just telling her so and baking a big cake with sparklers, with everyone bringing a nice dish of food, singing "Happy Retirement Day to You" to the tune of the birthday song - just setting aside one afternoon or evening to honor her..that is what she really wants. If she is a reader, ask folks to give her a best-seller if they can afford it...or if she is a gardener, a pair of gardening gloves, seeds, and sunhat from all, along with a nice retirement card. Or if she enjoys the theatre, you could all go in and get her a MATINEE ticket to a musical or a play if she is near a theatre ($60 total). Or maybe she wants to start watercolor painting - then give her a gift certificate for $50 to Michael's. But no gifts are really necessary if you all get together and eat and laugh and congratulate her on her retirement. Love and a bit of attention and appreciation are what Mama's really want!
I'd give her the gift of something she hasn't had the time to do before. Check with you park district for classes in dance, art, outings, etc.!
Hi Erin
Not sure if I have any ideas! I can tell you that people who are retiring don't need stuff, but they love memories. I saw a memory tree once. They put a huge tree on the bulletin board at the church hall where they were having a reception put on by the church women. Oak leaf shaped paper was there, and had been sent with the invitation with directions, yes guests were asked to put great times they had with the retiree on the tree. When they took the tree apart they found that most people had placed money behind their leaf, folded so no one knew, and the memories were forward for us all to read, but the ones that were backward I thought had been placed ahead to give us an idea. In the end we found that they were private memories that the writer didn't want the public reading. Everyone spent the evening reading those stories. It was a great time.
God bless you as you find something you think is appropriate for your party.
