Hi Mom's!!!! I have asked this before...and I loved the repsonses I got, but I still need some more. My 2yr old son has been going to an in-home dycare since he was born. The woman who watches my son is WONDERFUL. We both LOVE her and her family. Unfortunately, the family is moving out of town and my son will be going to a reg daycare. I want to give this woman something special that shows her how much we care and appreciate all that she has done for us these last 2 yrs. When you find someone that you trust with your child as if it were yousrself taking care of him that is a rare find! Do you have any ideas of what I can give her that would show our appreciation? I want to give her something sentimental, but I am at a loss. Help please!! Thanks Mom's!!
Wow...thank you SOOOOO much for all the ideas!! I love them all. You guys are great. I think I am going to go with the charm bracelet or neclace/engraved and collage of pics of my son!! I hope that she likes it. Thanks again moms!! I LOVE this website. I always get the best ideas and/or advice!!
I have no answers since I need the same question answered! Looking forward to the responses here as well.
Do you live in The Woodlands? The library sells a blanket with scenes from the neighborhood. It comes in 3 colors. Everyone of the friends I've given it to still comment about it YEARS after leaving the area.
Jewlery is always sentimental. I LOVE the picture jewlery you can get at this website. I have a piece myself and we gave my mother in a law a bracelet (love it too!). Good quality and personal. www.kimbrastudios.com
A scrapbook of pictures of your SON in the time that she's known him.
If your son is a huge fan of Superman, for example, get her a Superman mug, so everytime she uses it, she thinks of your son. If he's a fan of Elmo, maybe get her an Elmo picture frame with your son's pic in it.
Get her a webcam, so you can see eachother when she's gone! Might help your son if he really misses her. Skype lets you chat for free.
Now adays, you can put a photo on just about anything. www.heb.com then click on photos, you can upload a pic online and put it on a mug, a rug, a mousepad, etc.
Do you have any video of them together? Make a short little music video on your computer with pictures/video of her and your son, put it to music? I'm not that computer-litterate, but maybe you are.
She'll love anything. Yes sentimental is good, but another idea is to do something small (the mug with apicture of your son on it) and put a nice HEB gift card inside, or a gift card for a free massage/pedicure and tell her that she's totally deserves it.
Go to one of those paint it yourself pottery places and have your son put handprints on a coffee mug or plate. Also, you can make a christmas tree ornament with a picture of your son that she'll remember and put up every year.
One of the best gifts I got as a childcare provider was a mug with the child's picture on it. He was the first little boy I ever cared for and I treasure that mug. It is still on display with my special mugs in my kitchen. His mom put a small plant in it, but I had to transplant that.
Good Luck to you and them!
I would think a little something like a small collage with pics in it would be great, but maybe something like a charm bracelet to go with it. That's something that she would be able to wear and you can make it sentimental by adding in things that she likes or that your son likes. Something that reminds you of her and him. That way she can see how special she is to your family with how well you know her and what she likes. I just think I would have loved something like that when I was taking care of children. Something of each. A picture to put up in her house and a bracelet to wear no matter what for years to come. Hope this helps.
Some kind of scrapbook would be really neat - maybe with pages pre-made so she can fill it in with pictures as she takes them (maybe include a disposable camera if you are not sure if she has a good camera).
What more can we ask for from a caregiver for our child than their time, attention and devotion. I think a nice gift that can be kept for years and seen often is a nice small crystal clock with an engraved plate on it telling her how much you have appreciated her 'time' in helping care for/raise your child. This is reasonably priced and the clock and engraving can be purchased at Things Remembered.
Try something like a beanpot
My Aunt sells them and I bought one from her recently, they are awesome.
Its amazing what can be made in them and it is something she can use for years to come. Every time she take it out to use, she will think of you and your family with fond memories. She can bake in it, make casseroles, soups, cakes, and in the summertime she can even use it as an ice server or serve salads and other cold foods in it.....
http://www.celebratinghome.com/sites/mw/PWPHome.ashx
Since I purchased mine a few weeks ago - the ladies in my office have inquired about it - and are thinking of each purchasing one. Since we have had a few cold weather days we all chipped in and made the taco soup recipe that my aunt shared with she sent my beanpot to me.
I hop this helps.... Good luck
Make her a flowerpot with her son's handprints around it. My children made me one for Mother's Day one year and I just loved it. Or you could do a handpainted wooden picture frame and put a fun picture of your son in it. Usually the handmade gifts are the ones they will cherish the most.
Pictures of your child from new born til now along with a gift card to a spa, because of all her hard work and loving care given. Let her know that she has been a big part of your family.
I have a gift basket store and there is something for everyone and all occasions. I hope it helps!
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As a former home day care provider, I would have loved something that I could use on a semi- regular basis that had that sweet face I had been looking at for years. Pull together the best of candid pics over the course of the last few year (especially if there are any of them together)- I say candid pics because sometimes they are the most fun to look at to make you grin. Make a mouse pad or coffee cup (thermal and insulated) and pair it with some sort of children's book like The Giving Tree or a sweet book that speaks to the impact that she has made on you and on your child- Be sure and add coffee and creamer etc... with the cup!
What about a necklace with a heart pendant from James Avery? I like all of the other ideas you already have also! Definitely include a card with a sweet note of appreciation. You could put your son's handprint in the card! Good luck! =)
Depending on her age and what she likes, a soft shawl is always a fine gift, but you may want to comply a photo album of your son and family as a special gift. Her memories of your son will be with her forever.
Include a letter of appreciation and perhaps a pair of baby booties as a special remembrance.
