Affordable and Unusual Gifts for the Special Person Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
A small gift can make all the difference to a harried young mother whose days are filled with washing baby clothes (particularly newborn baby clothes) and whose designer diaper bags are stuffed full of formula and baby wipes. The danger of forgetting there is a life outside of children’s cartoons and three word sentences can be very real for the stay at home parent of toddlers. A small gift any time of year can help this new parent remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel and another life beyond Little Bunny Foo Foo.
Gifts however do not always have to take the form of a present wrapped in a gaily covered box. Nor are they always presented to the stay at home mom. Consider the impact of a small gift on an older person who is in an assisted living facility? What about the stay at home father? Should Mr. Mom be forgotten?
One of the best gifts for these special people is that of a change of pace. The harried young stay at home mother, or father or older person may find a change of scenery the very best gift possible. Hire a sitter to take over washing the newborn baby clothes, changing the toddler’s clothes every hour on the hour and hauling around the designer diaper bags for a day. Arrange a day out for the older person.
The mom who used to spend hours shopping for office wear and designer heels and now spends a few minutes shopping for baby clothes; may find that a shopping trip all by herself (complete with gift card) is one of the most memorable gifts she has ever had. The dad who used to spend weekends on the golf course and now spends it watching children may find the gift of a new driving iron, and a day of freedom from childcare to go to the golf course the best gift ever.
Older persons who need special care such as in an assisted living facility may treasure the day spent out in the park, at the aquarium with grandkids or going to a theater one of the most memorable gifts they have ever received. A small memento of the day such as a pocket watch, locket or a special picture frame of the grandkids can make this special day outshine almost any other for the older person.
While gift giving has become somewhat commercial over the decades, the gift of time with a small inexpensive memento can be as treasured as the expensive new entertainment theater, brand new drill set or shopping spree. Time is a gift which costs little, and yet is as difficult to obtain as some first edition books. A change of pace for the elderly, the busy, or the constantly on the go parent may well be the most unusual gift they have ever received. Of course, few ladies will ever turn down a diamond ring or necklace as a gift, or a golf club membership for the men, but the time to use it, show it off or even enjoy it can be lacking in this fast paced world.

