OT need help with MIL gifts

Theater, ballet or concert tickets.
Hot air balloon ride tickets
Indoor sky diving tickets

I once took her mother to Rochester Cemetery for Mother's Day...
and this is what we went for: http://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/re...oting-star.jpg
http://www.prairiemoon.com/image.php?id=2537&type=D
http://www.reflectiveimages.com/rochester_cemetery.htm

Mom loved it... once she decided I wasn't crazy.

On 4/25/12 9:04 PM, Susan Hartman wrote:
On 4/25/2012 8:11 AM, Margaret St. John wrote:
Ok I'm stuck. I have an impossible to buy for Mother in law and she
needs two giftsi, since her birthday is on mother's day and from previous
experiance we know she hates combined gifts. Problem is she's impossible
to buy for. She hates gift cards and has mentioned she doesn't want
flowers, pictures, nick nacks, books, jewelery, clothes, or plants.
She also
doesn't like the food gifts, and holds a grudge for a long time if you
just send two cards even though she says she doesn't want anything.
I need ideas for two gifts and they can't be anything that's considered
clutter since she hates clutter. We tried giving her games and DVDs,
since she
claims to like that but she never even opened them, she has no hobbies
other than watching day time tv, and is retired so we can't get her
anything
to use at work. She doesn't like to travel or go to spas. She has an
ipad but
doesn't use it much. The entire family
gave her one for Christas, since she actually asked for something for a
change. Anyone have any ideas?
-Margaret




She may not like books to read, but what about getting a bunch of old
family photos and having them made into a book on Snapfish? DD did this
for my mother for Christmas and it was g'mas favorite gift...DD went
through photos from a big trip g'ma had been on, and made a thematic
book that she can flip through and show her friends...so much easier
than real photos and g'ma isn't computer savvy, so she couldn't access
the photos my brother had put on a laptop for her.

Or ask DH if there are any old family movies you could have put onto DVD
for easy viewing.

OR put DH in charge of the gift...it's HIS mother, after all!


sue

I'm with Sue

Though I did think the family taking out an ad in the local paper
wishing her a happy birthday
C

On 2012-04-25, Gillian Murray wrote:
On 4/25/2012 2:57 PM, Margaret St. John wrote:
On 2012-04-25, wrote:
On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:11:44 +0000 (UTC), "Margaret St. John"
wrote:

Ok I'm stuck. I have an impossible to buy for Mother in law and she
needs two giftsi, since her birthday is on mother's day and from previous
experiance we know she hates combined gifts. Problem is she's impossible
to buy for. She hates gift cards and has mentioned she doesn't want
flowers, pictures, nick nacks, books, jewelery, clothes, or plants. She also
doesn't like the food gifts, and holds a grudge for a long time if you
just send two cards even though she says she doesn't want anything.
I need ideas for two gifts and they can't be anything that's considered
clutter since she hates clutter. We tried giving her games and DVDs, since she
claims to like that but she never even opened them, she has no hobbies
other than watching day time tv, and is retired so we can't get her anything
to use at work. She doesn't like to travel or go to spas. She has an ipad but
doesn't use it much. The entire family
gave her one for Christas, since she actually asked for something for a
change. Anyone have any ideas?
-Margaret

Gift Certificate - even if it's for something like her hair salon, at
least she doesn't have to pay for awhile.
That's the same thing as a gift car she thinks its to impersonal even
if its for one of her favortie places.
-Margaret


A bit off occasion..but how about a large pot of cherry tomato plants.
Or if you want to splurge, check out the house boxes that Burpee has.

Even more splurge..an Aerogarden.

http://www.aerogardener.com

They are thingys that you plant in the house..can grow the herbs,
flowers etc. I have a couple. and they were fun at first. Frankly, I am
not that enthused, but it is fun to grow veggies, herbs, flowers etc in
a small gizmo. You get a great start in the house for things that can be
planted outside later. Very versatile.

Gill
Unfortunately that violates the no plants rule, but I might get one for
me .
-Margaret in MA

--
Margaret St. John

On 2012-04-26, Susan Hartman wrote:
On 4/25/2012 8:11 AM, Margaret St. John wrote:
Ok I'm stuck. I have an impossible to buy for Mother in law and she
needs two giftsi, since her birthday is on mother's day and from previous
experiance we know she hates combined gifts. Problem is she's impossible
to buy for. She hates gift cards and has mentioned she doesn't want
flowers, pictures, nick nacks, books, jewelery, clothes, or plants. She also
doesn't like the food gifts, and holds a grudge for a long time if you
just send two cards even though she says she doesn't want anything.
I need ideas for two gifts and they can't be anything that's considered
clutter since she hates clutter. We tried giving her games and DVDs, since she
claims to like that but she never even opened them, she has no hobbies
other than watching day time tv, and is retired so we can't get her anything
to use at work. She doesn't like to travel or go to spas. She has an ipad but
doesn't use it much. The entire family
gave her one for Christas, since she actually asked for something for a
change. Anyone have any ideas?
-Margaret




She may not like books to read, but what about getting a bunch of old
family photos and having them made into a book on Snapfish? DD did this
for my mother for Christmas and it was g'mas favorite gift...DD went
through photos from a big trip g'ma had been on, and made a thematic
book that she can flip through and show her friends...so much easier
than real photos and g'ma isn't computer savvy, so she couldn't access
the photos my brother had put on a laptop for her.

Or ask DH if there are any old family movies you could have put onto DVD
for easy viewing.

OR put DH in charge of the gift...it's HIS mother, after all!


sue

The photos would work if there were any. She isn't into photos she
never even bothered taking any of DH as a kid There's pretty much a
few
pics
of the olders, a few of the next then it just stops. It's
really odd I don't recall ever seeing any photo albums at in the
house. DH thinks they may have been gotten rid of as clutter. He
said
there used to be one in the house when he was growing up. very
strange.
My family has many albums passed down, not his.

I tried putting DH in charge. His idea is a card for each
occassion and
that's it. he's to annoyed at his Mom to buy anything.
-Margaret in MA


--
Margaret St. John

On 2012-04-26, Kay Lancaster wrote:
Theater, ballet or concert tickets.
Hot air balloon ride tickets
Indoor sky diving tickets

I once took her mother to Rochester Cemetery for Mother's Day...
and this is what we went for: http://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/re...oting-star.jpg
http://www.prairiemoon.com/image.php?id=2537&type=D
http://www.reflectiveimages.com/rochester_cemetery.htm

Mom loved it... once she decided I wasn't crazy.

She has never been isnterested in the theater, even though the college
in the town they live in has amazing productions. She's scared of flying
and heights so no to anything adventerous.

-Margaret in MA



--
Margaret St. John

On 2012-04-26, Cheryl Isaak wrote:
On 4/25/12 9:04 PM, Susan Hartman wrote:
On 4/25/2012 8:11 AM, Margaret St. John wrote:
Ok I'm stuck. I have an impossible to buy for Mother in law and she
needs two giftsi, since her birthday is on mother's day and from previous
experiance we know she hates combined gifts. Problem is she's impossible
to buy for. She hates gift cards and has mentioned she doesn't want
flowers, pictures, nick nacks, books, jewelery, clothes, or plants.
She also
doesn't like the food gifts, and holds a grudge for a long time if you
just send two cards even though she says she doesn't want anything.
I need ideas for two gifts and they can't be anything that's considered
clutter since she hates clutter. We tried giving her games and DVDs,
since she
claims to like that but she never even opened them, she has no hobbies
other than watching day time tv, and is retired so we can't get her
anything
to use at work. She doesn't like to travel or go to spas. She has an
ipad but
doesn't use it much. The entire family
gave her one for Christas, since she actually asked for something for a
change. Anyone have any ideas?
-Margaret




She may not like books to read, but what about getting a bunch of old
family photos and having them made into a book on Snapfish? DD did this
for my mother for Christmas and it was g'mas favorite gift...DD went
through photos from a big trip g'ma had been on, and made a thematic
book that she can flip through and show her friends...so much easier
than real photos and g'ma isn't computer savvy, so she couldn't access
the photos my brother had put on a laptop for her.

Or ask DH if there are any old family movies you could have put onto DVD
for easy viewing.

OR put DH in charge of the gift...it's HIS mother, after all!


sue

I'm with Sue

Though I did think the family taking out an ad in the local paper
wishing her a happy birthday
C
The borther's think she'll not liek that, becuase the pwople who do
that in their local paper due it for milestone birthdays like 90 or 100
and she's not that old, but kind of looks it. It makes her self
conscience about her age so she'd probably take it the wrong way.
-Margaret in MA

--
Margaret St. John

On 2012-04-26, wrote:
On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:54:55 +0000 (UTC), "Margaret St. John"
wrote:

On 2012-04-26, Cheryl Isaak wrote:
On 4/25/12 9:04 PM, Susan Hartman wrote:
On 4/25/2012 8:11 AM, Margaret St. John wrote:
Ok I'm stuck. I have an impossible to buy for Mother in law and she
needs two giftsi, since her birthday is on mother's day and from previous
experiance we know she hates combined gifts. Problem is she's impossible
to buy for. She hates gift cards and has mentioned she doesn't want
flowers, pictures, nick nacks, books, jewelery, clothes, or plants.
She also
doesn't like the food gifts, and holds a grudge for a long time if you
just send two cards even though she says she doesn't want anything.
I need ideas for two gifts and they can't be anything that's considered
clutter since she hates clutter. We tried giving her games and DVDs,
since she
claims to like that but she never even opened them, she has no hobbies
other than watching day time tv, and is retired so we can't get her
anything
to use at work. She doesn't like to travel or go to spas. She has an
ipad but
doesn't use it much. The entire family
gave her one for Christas, since she actually asked for something for a
change. Anyone have any ideas?
-Margaret




She may not like books to read, but what about getting a bunch of old
family photos and having them made into a book on Snapfish? DD did this
for my mother for Christmas and it was g'mas favorite gift...DD went
through photos from a big trip g'ma had been on, and made a thematic
book that she can flip through and show her friends...so much easier
than real photos and g'ma isn't computer savvy, so she couldn't access
the photos my brother had put on a laptop for her.

Or ask DH if there are any old family movies you could have put onto DVD
for easy viewing.

OR put DH in charge of the gift...it's HIS mother, after all!


sue

I'm with Sue

Though I did think the family taking out an ad in the local paper
wishing her a happy birthday
C
The borther's think she'll not liek that, becuase the pwople who do
that in their local paper due it for milestone birthdays like 90 or 100
and she's not that old, but kind of looks it. It makes her self
conscience about her age so she'd probably take it the wrong way.
-Margaret in MA


Margaret, if she's this difficult, maybe hiring a hit man would put an
end to it
She can be niie but only if
w exactly what she wants which is why DH moved. She doesn't travel so
he can be away from her except when he wants to visit and then its
mainly to visit his Dad. She likes me so we get along well but dshe
treats DH horribly.
-Margaret in MA

--
Margaret St. John

On 2012-04-26, wrote:
On Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:37:58 +0000 (UTC), "Margaret St. John"
wrote:




Margaret, if she's this difficult, maybe hiring a hit man would put an
end to it
She can be niie but only if
w exactly what she wants which is why DH moved. She doesn't travel so
he can be away from her except when he wants to visit and then its
mainly to visit his Dad. She likes me so we get along well but dshe
treats DH horribly.
-Margaret in MA

It's all very difficult obviously and not funny for either of you. If
she becomes a widow she will definitely regret alienating a child -
does DH have siblings ?
3 brothers and they all feel the same way we do.
-Margaret in MA

--
Margaret St. John

On 4/26/2012 8:03 AM, wrote:


Margaret, if she's this difficult, maybe hiring a hit man would put an
end to it

ROTFLMBO!!!!

--
Joan


See my needlework he
http://community.webshots.com/user/ndjoan

If worries can cure your sickness, prolong your life, or replace
happiness, then go ahead and worry! If they can't, why worry?

Enjoy every moment of your life...there is no second chance.

Unknown

Hmmmm. How about contributions to her favorite charities (if she has
some, that is!) in her name? No clutter, she doesn't get anything but
"gives".

Something my siblings and I have done the past few years is pay for my
parents' newspaper subscription.

What about a massage (not a spa, just the massage)?

Does she have a cover for her ipad?

Does she read? What about a Kindle/Nook? That way she doesn't have the
clutter of books.

Does she have a pet? Maybe she needs one! lol

Hope this helps! I have the same problem with DH.


--
Joan


See my needlework he
http://community.webshots.com/user/ndjoan

If worries can cure your sickness, prolong your life, or replace
happiness, then go ahead and worry! If they can't, why worry?

Enjoy every moment of your life...there is no second chance.

Unknown