Birthday gift for son's girlfriend - ideas please, she's 20

[JudiRuliani]

Wanting to get a birthday pressie for my son's girlfriend who'll be 20.

Have asked him for ideas and he's suggested she always likes "girlie stuff or homewares" so hope you can help me narrow it down a bit 😂 I'm guessing a new hoover/iron/pedal bin and a lipstick wouldn't cut it, even though it's "homewares and girlie stuff" 😂😂😂

I don't have any daughters or females that I buy for, so pretty clueless AND I used to be pretty awful about gifts from my ex-MIL. Not proud of this at all, and wouldn't even think like it now, but she didn't like me and I'd read too much into what she gave ("ooooh, size 12, she thinks I'm fat" as I was teeny 6/8 back then, that kind of thing)

Son's GF is a really amazing artist, quite quiet, loves making their home and being at home, fairy lights, garden lights and that kind of thing. I've previously bought things like candles, fairy lights, solar lights, snuggly blankets and that kind of thing.

Also happy to send money, but often that ends up going on bills and it's a shame she wouldn't have a treat just for her.

Being a mum-in-law is a minefield! I really don't want to be 'that' MIL that gets slated on here 😂

I've just got myself the Neom well-being pod diffuser, really recommend.

what about an oodie? or bath bombs? nice ethical ones. voucher for dinner or cinema? or a nice notebook and pen set?

These are all AMAZING suggestions, thank you so much!

They've been together a long time and also have lived together since she was 18, so she feels more than just a girlfriend IYKWIM and could very well be in my life for a very long time.

My ex-MIL was awful to me when I was 'just a girlfriend..' and our relationship never really recovered, which made life very, very difficult once we'd married and had kids. That has definitely clouded my thinking.

I've settled on a couple of houseplants and a macrame book and kit to make pot hangers after asking her what she wanted, plus an Urban Outfitters voucher (the plants are some I've grown from cuttings, so no cost). However, the suggestions here have been an amazing help and I'm now the delighted owner of a glass fountain pen

I'd like LOADS of these suggestions now, and I'm A LOT older than 20 😂 I pretty much still like the same stuff I liked at that age! Only really have 'adult' stuff because you're supposed to!! Or lockdown has caused me to regress and yearn for times when things were simpler and a joss stick and squirt of White Musk made everything alright!! Might be that actually 😂

@BlackCatShadow

Honestly, I don't think you need to get her anything. They're only young and she's his girlfriend. Maybe a bottle of wine or some chocolates if your son thinks it's appropriate, I guess.

That's a bit miserable! The woman lives with the OP's son. The OP wants a good relationship with her and wants to buy her a birthday present.

Indoor plant in a nice pot
Nice reed diffuser or electric oil diffuser that you put essential oils in - mine was a recent gift and I absolutely love it!

That's a bit miserable! The woman lives with the OP's son. The OP wants a good relationship with her and wants to buy her a birthday present.

Sorry, I missed that they lived together. I personally don't like it when people buy things for my house and essential oils give me headaches.

My in-laws just send me either a voucher or money for my birthday. It's very kind and thoughtful of them. I do often end up spending most of it on bills, but it helps me so much and I do treat myself a little too.

OP, you sound like a lovely MIL. Mine (sadly passed) was just like you, very thoughtful and always giving me lovely appropriate gifts. It definitely helped our relationship. The macrame pot hanger kit sounds brilliant.

A meal kit from a fancy restaurant? Flowers? Fruit tree to plant in the garden? Or a voucher for something like a facial or a manicure?

@dancemom

My 60 year old Brother had an afternoon tea delivered for his birthday yesterday and enjoyed it! Amongst the lovely cakes was the all important mini Battenburgs! (Old family joke as mum never remembered to make/buy one for him so would have to dash out to buy a Batternburg!)

Nice candle for home and maybe a voucher for her. Noting but can't go wrong

A nice candle/Reed diffuser?