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Original poster

Little thoughtful things your parents still do for you?

119 replies

Charlavail · 01/04/2022 19:49

My mum buys me a little bag of powdered milk bottles each Friday when she does her weekly shop. She also buys me nappies and wipes every week so we have a stash for newborn DS. If I go round her house for lunch she always makes my favourite for me. Jacket potato with cheese, beans and coleslaw.
She does loads for me and DC but the little things make me feel so loved.

OP posts:
Strokethefurrywall · 02/04/2022 01:59

Oh and when I said I wanted to go to a festival when I come back to UK in summer, my dad said he would drop us off and pick us up, bless him.

Just like he did at my first gig at Brixton academy gig in '94 (Megadeth). He still thinks I'm 14, I'm 42 now...

JorisBonson · 02/04/2022 06:34

When me and DH go on a night out, DF always pops a few quid in my account to get a round on him.

FairyLightPups · 02/04/2022 06:43

If MIL comes to visit (we live ages away) she always brings freezer meals with her as well as enough food for the weekend.

She let us live with her when we were moving house, even though we had two cats.

When I had my injury last summer she came up solely to help with housework and food etc, and took care of me at my very lowest.

She's amazing. We are moving closer to her next year and everyone is really looking forward to it. She's the kindest person I know and I love her to bits.

Khalas · 02/04/2022 06:53

@Strokethefurrywall

I live overseas and am visiting the UK for the first time in 3 years on Thursday. I'm sure my mum will make a little welcome back for me - deodorant, tampons, fancy shampoo/conditioner, a little notebook, pen, M&S goodies and mini eggs. Topped off with Gregg's steak bakes, roast dinners, a pashmina and probably all manner of snack foods known to man in her pantry!
Have a lovely visit back to the UK, you must be so excited!
AuntieMarys · 02/04/2022 07:13

My adult dd lives 250 miles away and I send her a treat every month...maybe a bottle of gin, a gift voucher to buy treats in Sainsbury's, a package of chocolate/ biscuits, books or something for her new home.
I love doing it and she is always grateful.

Christmas1988 · 02/04/2022 07:32

My mum always treats the children to new clothes, it’s really lovely! she’s not a typical Nanna having the kids sleeping over and all that jazz so the clothes are extra special.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 02/04/2022 07:34

My dad is also obsessed with my 1 year old - his first grandchild! He has made her her own little patch in the back garden and got her a little gardening set and is counting down the days til we visit so they can garden together 🥰

sandgrown · 02/04/2022 07:36

This thread is so lovely. I never knew my dad and really envy those who have supportive fathers. My mum had very little money but always turned up with little gifts for me and the children . She helped me greatly with babysitting in school holidays and though my daughter’s best friend is in her 40s she still remembers my mum taking them both out.

ivfbabymomma1 · 02/04/2022 07:39

My parents still get me Easter eggs & advent calendars. They are also very generous with their money

fizzyfood · 02/04/2022 07:48

My parents help me out in many ways. My dad painted my front door last summer, my mum makes me a bacon butty when I go over to her house. I'm most great full for all of the holidays we've been on with them since having the children, we've been every year with them for the last 15 years and wouldn't have been able to afford a holiday without them. The memories will stay with me forever.

Butterfly211 · 02/04/2022 07:58

My Dad and my stepmum spoil my kids so much. My kids call my stepmum 'nanny' as I am NC with my own toxic mother. Every time we visit, my dad makes us a full English breakfast because it's my fave. He also offered to make us kids of pancakes when we visit next as I fucked my own pancakes up and he makes the best ones.

The kids absolutely adore them. They are moving country in a few months and we will be absolutely devastated. We'd rarely be able to see them because money is tight af.

Climbingthelaundrymountain · 02/04/2022 08:11

My parents are both dead but my nan is so lovely and thoughtful. When I was ill with Covid she dropped off a homemade banana bread and some luxury bubble bath on the doorstep so I could have something nice.

SquirrelG · 02/04/2022 08:13

I'm 62 and my DF still pays for any food we have when we are out, as well as giving me gifts of money - I only have a casual job. My late DM would cook lunch for me once or twice during the week, as well as every Saturday, and would pay for me to go out for lunch with her on Sundays - and I had a full-time job then!

Several years ago we had a nightmare time with new software at work and had to work overtime for months. I would get home to find my DM had been in and done my housework for me.

SquirrelG · 02/04/2022 08:15

My parents still get me Easter eggs & advent calendars.

Oh yes I forgot - my late DM always got me Easter eggs and advent calendars too. She also gave me Mothers Day gifts from my cats (I have no children).

QueenLagertha · 02/04/2022 08:18

Aww this is such a lovely thread. Making some mental notes for my own DC. Would love to have parents like this 🥰

dizzygirl1 · 02/04/2022 08:19

What a lovely thread ❤️ 💖 I can't add to it but I think it's lovely your parents do any of these.
I'll be the same with DD and DS,, it's nice to see ideas!

linerforlife · 02/04/2022 08:20

My Dad always brings me something from work trips, he's 60 and still travelling the world with his job. Sometimes it a £££ thing like my favourite perfume from duty free, sometimes it's a free thing like fancy biscuits from the tea tray in a foreign hotel, or a cocktail stirrer from a fancy bar. Always something Smile I love it!!

DukeofEarlGrey · 02/04/2022 08:23

@FourEyesGood

My late dad was never especially sentimental or affectionate, but after I left home, he used to send me cuttings from the newspaper if there were features about bands he knew I liked. No message, just an envelope in the post with, e.g. an interview with Super Furry Animals from The Guardian. I was always very touched.
My parents both do this as well. Recently my dad cut out the obituary of a stage actor that I loved and sent it to me in the post. No need now that we can send online links by text but I loved finding it in my mail.

My mum is a far better cook than me and I have a postage stamp kitchen. She insists on batch cooking for my freezer.

FlamingoQueen · 02/04/2022 08:24

Not my parents, but when my grandparents were alive, I’d quite often get a newspaper cutting in the post of something that they thought I’d like to read.

golddustwomen · 02/04/2022 08:27

Lovely thread!
Every 2 months my dad gets an Asda shop delivered to my house with laundry tablets and softener. Enough to last me the 2 months! There is always some treats for the kids lunchboxes included too. I was round his the other day and I commented on how amazing his new Reed diffusers smelt, 2 days later a parcel turned up from Next with the exact two Reed diffusers in. He does so much for us, I would be lost without him.

robocracker · 02/04/2022 08:27

My mum works in a charity shop and collects clothes in the next size up for my youngest (did it for the older 2 until year 5 as well). She also goes and gets stuff new if I randomly say I need it. She does this regardless of if I need financial help. With my pfb I used to get annoyed that she was choosing all the clothes but now I've got over myself and realised just how much money she's saved me over the years!

She has also bought the first set of secondary school uniform (£200+) for all of her grandchildren so far..,,2 more to go!

She pays for all of my girls girlguiding subs as well.

She grew up on a low income and then her and my dad rarely spent much when we were growing up, I think she loves the fact she can give us so much. And her own parents were distant as grandparents, she's so present for our kids and will do anything to help us. She's a lot less mobile now so I ask her for help less but I know she'd have the kids at hers anytime (they all pretty much entertain themselves now, the youngest being 8).

My parents have also helped us out financially several times!

Im2022 · 02/04/2022 08:33

@HorribleHerstory

Saving these up for my DC. Lost my parents at 14 and 23 so never really got this stuff as an adult.
Same.
PrancerandDancer · 02/04/2022 08:42

My in laws are the most helpful kind people I know.

They have my daughter after school whilst I work, always on hand if I need help.

If one of us go away the other will always make tea when they travel back to save them from cooking when they get in.

My FIL will always do odd jobs in the garden and clean our carpets whilst we are away.

Last year I had a very severe panic attack i the night when my husband was away and he called them at 3am, they turned up in minutes and sat with me, made me tea and were just generally wonderful. I feel very lucky.

DogsAndGin · 02/04/2022 08:43

Wow what a lovely post. Gosh you are all so lucky. Mine do absolutely nothing at all.

They reply to my texts, occasionally. This summer it’ll be a year since I’ve seen/spoken to my dad - and I saw him because I physically went to his house 200 miles away.

I’m not long into adulthood, yet it amazes me when my friends still have a relationship with their parents. My in-laws call or FaceTime or see DH in person, almost every day! I couldn’t believe it when we first met!

Nothing bad has happened between me and mine, they just have other interests now, and cba with me. I haven’t even done anything wrong - we get on really well, I have a calm and happy life, and I was always a ‘good child’. I’ve never asked for a penny, I just want to see them for good times sake.

airrrrAIRRRRiELLLL · 02/04/2022 08:43

My mum is in a care home now but well into her 90s was still making me her gorgeous shepherd's pies and bread pudding. We'd visit and she'd say go and look in the fridge. There would also be a plain Bounty for me if she'd been to the shops. Miss those times☹️

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