Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

What to get my mum, getting desperate now

56 replies

Poppysball · 21/12/2018 18:16

I just don't know what to get my mum. She is early 70's and has everything she needs. But she is having a difficult time looking after my Dad who has dementia and she has been quite down lately.

Every year I seem to buy her similar things; a scarf, jewellery, afternoon tea, hand cream etc. I'm sure she loves all these things but I just feel it's so repetitive and I just want her to feel treated as she is having a difficult time. I would love to treat her to a pamper but she is not one for massages, manicures etc.

Any ideas please, I'm running out of time!

OP posts:
StillRunningWithScissors · 21/12/2018 19:02

If you think theatre tickets are good, but not sure yet which show, why don't you search what is playing and print off options for her to choose from.

Not sure if you could get actual brothers for any of them, but maybe print the promotional posters in a small size and pop them in a card?

piefacedClique · 21/12/2018 19:05

Cook book or normal book subscription? I did cook. Lols for my mum last year and she loved it. Every month I ordered whatever was new or looked good or linked to a current cookery program.

namethatchild · 21/12/2018 19:14

I got a voucher for this last Christmas, and took my Mum. It’s like the British Bake Off but you have 2 to a station and get instructions on what to bake. I think it’s only in London. It was a fun thing to do together, if she needs cheering up a bit. We laughed loads and still talk about it 10 months later. www.thebiglondonbake.com

This year I’ve got her a crochet workshop that we will do together Smile

Almondio · 21/12/2018 19:16

You can buy generic theatre vouchers online, which can be redeemed in most theatres nationwide.

yummyeclair · 21/12/2018 19:18

I second monthly subscription e.g. cake , flowers , book, magazine

mammmamia · 21/12/2018 19:23

You can buy theatre vouchers

sherrysfortea · 21/12/2018 19:26

I got my mum a dna kit which tests where your dna originates from

Ivegotthree · 21/12/2018 19:31

Rose and violet creams
Baileys Chocolate Luxe
Lunch out and a trip to a gallery

OneStepMoreFun · 21/12/2018 19:32

A cashmere cardigan with deep pockets?
New pyjamas and dressing gown
Expensive bubble bath - L'Occitane or similar
Some Audible books ot listen to while she works
Does she have a favourite comedian or comedy series? A box set could be some light relief.
Tickets to a concert or show including a voucher that promises ot pay for a carer for your father (or to care for him yourself) for the evening so she can truly relax and enjoy herself

cptart2 · 21/12/2018 19:48

A voucher for a posh afternoon tea somewhere. You and her.

GenericDietCola · 21/12/2018 20:40

You can buy theatre tokens (check your local theatres accept them), or you could buy vouchers directly from the theatre/venue near you. I think that would be a lovely gift and I might steal it for my Mum’s birthday as we never do anything just the two of us.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 22/12/2018 07:55

A massage / facial / spa day?

Membership to an art gallery / national trust?

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 22/12/2018 07:55

Hotel chocolate do a gift package where you get chocs delivered all year.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 22/12/2018 07:56

Theatre tickets?

SPR1107 · 22/12/2018 08:12

Pamper day? If she looks after you Dad, maybe a day to herself would be nice? Spa or even just a treatment at a local salon?

GourmetGold · 22/12/2018 10:38

A creative course for a day.. sewing/knitting/ wicker basket making/ chocolate making/ gift wrapping/ lampshade making/ jewellery making??
You could go together?

GourmetGold · 22/12/2018 10:43

Some knitting shops do courses & then regular weekly 'knit & natter' get togethers.

mogtheexcellent · 22/12/2018 10:47

Theatre tokens are good but check the national ones are valid at your local theatre. If not you can get tokens for that theatre.

BatCakes · 22/12/2018 10:54

Why oh why do posters repeatedly suggest afternoon tea and spa treatments despite the OP stating very clearly this isn't what she's looking for? Are some of you really hard of reading? It must be so frustrating for the OP

I'd suggest

A monthly flower delivery

Amazon fire stick with Alexa - depending on what tv she has

Piece of Lalique

Yu Yu hot water bottle - cashmere cover if you can stretch to that one

GourmetGold · 22/12/2018 14:21

No, my partner recently spent a couple of days with Mr Blobby though Xmas Grin

GourmetGold · 22/12/2018 14:22

Oops wrong thread!!! BlushBlushXmas Grin

nannytothequeen · 22/12/2018 21:47

My Mum cared for my dad with dementia too. The present that she loved was an iPad mini.

slappinthebass · 22/12/2018 22:33

Some ideas that have gone down well worn MIL and my mother the same age:

Magazine subscription
Flower subscription (£££ though)
M&S/John Lewis vouchers
Air fryer
Amazon dot
Amazon kindle fire and Amazon paper white
Amazon fire stick
Heated car seat cover
Fitbit
Leather gloves
Mahabi slippers
Theatre tickets

Girlicorne · 22/12/2018 22:40

I bought my mum a tin and put ten envelopes with things we can do over the year mainly with me and my DC but some just the two of us. Its some free stuff (beach walk, national trust places) and some stuff I ll book and pay for during the year (feb half term in york, weekend in Edinburgh, xmas market next december) I ve also bought her a scrapbook to put memorabilia from our trips in. Would something like that work?

sunnyeyes · 23/12/2018 21:22

Girlicorne I love this idea. How did you present it? Did you have the dates already booked in or just pick and choose when you could do them? What were your 10 ideas?