10 Gift Ideas For Parents That Have Everything

I don’t want to scare you, but did you know there’s less than one week until Christmas?  Are you ready?  Let me make you feel better.  I am not.  I think this means it’s officially time to start freaking out!  So many gifts left to buy and not enough time.  This is what I find.  It’s pretty easy to pick up presents for little people on your list, I have no trouble with stuff for my Hubby (he at least pretends he’s always happy with my gifts and we lean towards experiences for each other), and my girls have hit a sweet spot where they need stuff for their apartments, for school and all the clothes and make-up.  Done and dusted!  For me, the one stumbling block I aways hit at this time of year is finding the perfect gift for my parents and my in-laws.  I want to buy gifts to reflect how much they mean to us, how important they are in our lives, and to let them know they are loved.  Ha.  What is this magical gift?  Why are they so hard to buy for?  There may not be the perfect gift out there – but we have to start somewhere.

Here are 10 gift ideas for parents or grandparents that just seem to have everything.

• Tickets to the theatre. Musicals, plays, broadway, poem readings or even the cinema.  Want to step it up a notch?  Make the gift a family affair and buy a group or tickets, throw in lunch.  Make some memories and go with them!
• A lawn service for the upcoming season. Nobody enjoys cutting their grass.  Can’t afford to give the gift of a professional lawn service?  Give the gift of yourself!  An IOU for lawn cutting every Saturday afternoon – or a day of Spring Cleaning those gardens.
• An AncestryDNA test kit.  Science is amazing and isn’t everybody interested to find out where they may come from?
• A personalized photo book.  Fill the first few pages with pictures of you and yours.
• A Kindle and cover/case. Complete the gift with a printed list of recommendations of your favourite reads.
• A Smart Watch.  A couple to consider are the Fitbit Versa 2 Health & Fitness Smartwatch with Heart Rate or an Apple Watch.  The gift of tech and health all rolled into one!
• A Tile Essentials Pack. Do your parents misplace their car keys, lose their remote control, forget where they left their wallet?  Hmm, maybe it’s just me?  I mean, who doesn’t?  The Tile essentials pack has a fancy Bluetooth tracking chip kit that allows just about anything to be found.  Just sure to attach the Tile!  I’ve read that it’s quite easy to both attach and track.
• Technology! An iRobot Roomba.  That wee robot vacuum just to makes lives a little easier!  Plug it in and let it do the work for them!
• A Subscription Service to something fabulous! Think Book Of The Month Club, or Wine or a meal Prep Kit.  Whatever they might fancy!  We’ve tried Hello Fresh and loved the experience.
• FOOD!  Restaurant gift cards for a special dinner out.  Alternately Skip The Dishes Gift Card (and an account all set up to go!) for a few fantastic dinners in.

Parents are famous for saying “it’s the thought that counts”.  As a parent myself, I now know this to be true.  Some of my favourite gifts over the years have been handwritten letters, video “stars” created by my girls, photos blown up and framed with care. Home made with love with always trump store bought at the mall.  Whatever you decide to buy or do for your parents this Christmas – just rub a little love on it.

Happy Holidays!