ideas for christmas present for mother-in-law

[jessica31876]

I am stuck on what to do for my MIL for christmas. My husband and I have been together for 20 years almost and in the past everything I have given his mom as a gift has been stuck in a closet somewhere in her house and not used. I am totally stuck because she does not wear jewelry, makeup or perfumes. SHe does not really buy new clothes. Ive bought her stuff that I know she needed and it would sit in her closet instead of being used. So I have no ideas this year as to what to get her. Any ideas? I honestly just thought of getting a card and putting a little cash in it for her to spend on herself but most likely she would just end up spending it on someone else.

[Jenn Barrette]

I got mine Pioneer Woman's Cookbook, and the usual photobooks and calendars with my kids photos. I really hate trying to buy adults presents at Christmas...kids are so much more fun and a lot easier.

[Darcy Baldwin]

You know, Jessica, if you're really strapped, give her the cash. And then forget it. What she does with the gift is up to her, and it all comes out of the budget one way or another. So give it to her with warm blessings in hopes that it makes her happy, and Merry Christmas!

DARN and BLAST! I forgot to take a photo of it before we shipped it off!! But I made a cute little hybrid-y clock for my MIL. She's needed one for the dining area, and we found one you can put photos in @ Hobby Lobby.
but it's probably available elsewhere, or something like it. It was about $7, and I printed off the squares at home on regular paper and inserted them. We used some photos instead of just papers, but it was so cute!

[ColleenSwerb]

We gave a giftcard to William's and Sonoma. I'm dressing it up with some digi-stuff, cuz that's what I do, but it was the easiest and we know she'll appreciate it.

[scrap2day]

Does she have a food treat she enjoys? We found out my grandma enjoys a certain brand of granola (she adds it to her oatmeal in the morning). We bought an assortment of flavors for her to try since she doesn't do her own shopping. She loved it!

[jessica31876]

Darcy that clock is so cute. I have in the past given her photo gifts which is honestly the only thing she really liked & used. I might check and see if I can find that because I think she would love that!!

(I know that I should just get her something or give her the cash and not worry about it but I drive myself crazy every year trying to find something that I know the person either really needs or really wants. For most people it is easy but for my MIL it is extremely difficult especially when I buy something and think oh she is really going to love this and then she just stuffs it in a closet. Maybe it is dumb but it hurts my feelings that I put alot of thought into a gift and then it is not even used)

[ColleenSwerb]

Learn from the past Jessica. I'm sure she doesn't mean to hurt your feelings by not using your gift. But if you know she doesn't use 95% of the presents you give her, stop giving her an opportunity to inadvertantly hurt you. Give her something photo related, and a gift card. Done. She's content, and you don't get hurt. Problem solved.

[xboxmom]

Every year we send my in laws the Photo calendar. They love them!

[Beth Swann]

My mom is a practical person as well. We like to give her and my dad gift certificates to their favorite restaurant, Lowe's (they are fixing up their house), or movie theater tickets.

Good luck!

[emmasmommy]

my MIL is getting a calendar and a coffee mug all with hybridy goodness from me. why spend the money on something that's gonna get tossed to the side
*shrug*

[heathergw]

Originally Posted by ColleenSwerb

Learn from the past Jessica. I'm sure she doesn't mean to hurt your feelings by not using your gift. But if you know she doesn't use 95% of the presents you give her, stop giving her an opportunity to inadvertantly hurt you. Give her something photo related, and a gift card. Done. She's content, and you don't get hurt. Problem solved.

yep, which is why my ILs are getting a photo calendar and a GC... and that seems to work for us every year I was actually beginning to think she didn't even like the photo calendar since she puts it in one of the back bedrooms... and I wasn't going to give her one this year, but then she made a comment last time she was here saying she hopes she gets a photo calendar this year because she loves them so much. Who knew, LOL.

[scrap2day]

I had another thought. Please don't take your MIL's actions personally. It may be that she has difficulty incorporating new items into her life. She may also forget that she has something once it goes into the closet.

I know for me I have never been a person who can use something (esp. gifts) immediately. That's just how I am. Even since I was a kid. I enjoyed looking at my new gifts but some would sit for even a month or two before I would use them. Even if my gifts are something I really need (like a piece of clothing/shoes to replace very worn ones). I know sometimes it hurts my family because they don't understand. I really do not want to hurt them.

I know sometimes on the surface I get a gift that seems like it should be a home run but for some reason it isn't really working for me. I still appreciate the thought and kindness behind it. I just won't really use it.

Maybe you could look around her home and see what she does use and buy some of the same and just wrap it nicely or in a fun way (i.e. she likes a certain tea, make a little basket of tea with a new mug, maybe some honey or sugar cubes for fun if she sweetens it and then a little note stating that it seems like she likes this kind and that you also picked up a box for yourself to try and when you drink it you will share good thoughts of her or if you ever talk on the phone with her tell her that you can each share a cup over the phone).

[HeatherKS]

My MIL is seriously impossible to shop for too. This year I found a frame at Hobby Lobby that says something about Grandchildren and I'm filling it with pics of the grandkids. She'll also get the photo calendar like every year and I'm calling it good. I just can't bring myself to stress over it this year. :/

[lovely1m]

I have had some people in the past that never seem to like a gift no matter what it is you get them. They could ask for it, you get it and then the look on their face is like, oh. I just stopped buying for them. I don't need that. I would just give her a GC or cash and forget it.

[nun69]

we had family pictures taken this year {that cost us ALOT to have the digital rights} so I will be printing those and putting them in frames for XMAS..and she actually really loves when I give her photo things, so I am sticking with it Plus my MIL has everything and usually you can never buy her anything....and for my SIL I had 3-12x12 photos printd of her kids in B&W and am going to frame them They love it, because none of them ever have the time to print things and put them in frames,so for me it is easy~

so I know how you feel about giving something and them not using it..it took me a long time to finally figure that out with my own MIL~good luck with whatever you decide~