To ask what you are getting for your parents this Christmas?

[Reesewithaspoon]

Because this year my brain has turned to mush and Christmas seems like one big stress fest and I am desperate for some inspiration other than the normal smellies for mum and a Next jumper for dad!

I'm getting mum a lovingly lit lamp with my dads picture on as she misses him so much now he's passed. She has his ashes next to her bed so I think she would love to see his face if she wakes in the night.

I’m getting my dad slippers (asked for) and some books- arsene wenger and David Jason biography amongst them. Also the hbo Chernobyl series on dvd.

My mum is getting a SAD lamp as she always hates the short dull days of winter. Last year I got her a magazine subscription for watercolour painting and a bird table which went down well.

I'm getting my mum new hair straighteners, a dressing gown, a travel coffee cup (she always pinches mine), some perfume and some gin. She's 51 for context.

We do the whole something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. So far I've got someone lovely winter pajamas and a book my mum will love.

Ancestry vouchers. We’re going larger on the advent calendars to try and give something to look forward to/be happy about as my parents are largely isolating and starting to struggle a bit so we’re sending a Virgin red wine advent calendar and a homemade one with an envelope each day with a photo of DD6, maybe a chocolate or little something, message/drawing etc.

Dad wants a cordless drill. Mum wants a clock

Got my dad a book he wanted, plus some sugared almonds as he loved them when I was a kid. Mum has some stuff off her amazon wish list (leather gloves, scented candles and a keto cook book) and a personalised calendar with all the family memories from the last year (she gets this every year it’s traditional now)

Charity goats, same as every year! Life is significantly easier since we all agreed that's what all the adults get.

God knows, at some point I’ll get an email from my dad with about 2 things on which are either ridiculously expensive or ridiculously cheap but the only things he wont immediately discard.

Getting my mum a dylllis highland cow foot stool from love cute things ,obscure I know but she will love it!!!

My mum wants the John Cooper Clark biography because she grew up in the same area at the same time.

No idea for dad - maybe some new slippers or aftershave.

Mum is getting 'religious' candles with Tom Hardy and Jurgen Klopp plus a Jesus pen (she's a curate of sorts!)

Step dad is getting wine and socks - he's awkward!

Between them I have got a Radical Calendar as they are lefties!

oh Mum is 74 my step dad is 56

DM is getting an echo dot (her second for upstairs!), a fitness tracker and a wildlife camera

A bottle of red wine.

I was wondering about getting some kind of subscription box for my parents, but haven't yet found the right idea.

@Ludoole Aw that sounds so nice. Could I ask where you're getting it from please?

A wildlife cage for my Dad so the small birds can get the food and it keeps the pigeons out. He's been going mental about the greedy sodding pigeons.
My DM going halves with my sister to get her a sewing machine. Her's blew up last year and I lent her mine in March just before lockdown. She gave it back and since has asked to borrow it again so she obviously needs one.

Dad comfy camping chair
Mum- a herb knife, earrings. Maybe a bigger something which she'll let know about on Christmas Eve Eve. 🙄

Mum will have things to read-so far, new Neil Oliver, but I’ll get something else too-marzipan things from TK Maxx to eat, and SOMETHING else.

Nothing. They’re dead.
I will light a thick candle in an old lantern and carry it up to the top of the garden around 3pm on Christmas Eve. There’s a holly bush there and all around are valleys. The wind howls because we live on a mountain but the lantern will never fall over and the candle will still be burning on Christmas morning.

Great ideas everyone, thanks.
Ludoole that’s a lovely idea.
Tessiot that really is lovely. I lost my MIL 9 weeks ago and may do something like that and keep it going as a tradition. Will light a lantern for her grave too.

So far I've got my mother and mil a cosy blanket each. My mum has asked for a new kindle cover. I've seen some nice little ornaments from the children.
I've got some gin for MIL as well... I'm pretty sure there is something else but I can't remember.

FIL wants some more jigsaws.
My dad... Not a clue.

Mum and dad getting ancestry thing from myself and brother. Then mum is getting gin, a dry eye mask thing she likes and possibly something Stsr Trek related (friend of mine prints designs on tiles). Dad....arthritis gloves (no idea if they work), a jumper thing, sweets and smellies.