You are here

Blog Hog - Christmas Gift Dilemma

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

Nothing to do with steplife, but I find you all give good advice, can't say ladies because some men on here too, so I am faced with a dilemma. I found this GREAT Christmas gift I want to get my parents this year as a joint gift. It is a digital photo frame that connects to their wifi so other people can send photos to their digital frame and upload to it for them to see. With DH, SD and I so far away, my sister 9 hours away at college, and then half my family lives states away as well, I think it is a great way to stay connected and is more personal then sending pictures in group messages. HOWEVER, my grandparents who live near my parents have been having a really tough time. My grandfather's memory is getting worse and worse, my mom was just venting to me about it yesterday and how hard it has been for him and my grandmother. My grandfather is used to being the smartest person in the room, but ever since he had a stroke, he has been struggling. Since then he had heart surgery and it has been a pretty steady decline for him. 

I am saying all this because I feel like it would be an even better gift for my grandparents, but I still wanted to get it for my parents. So I am torn about getting it for my parents and then down the road for a birthday or something if they like the concept they can get one too. They aren't cheap, but not crazy expensive and actually today is on sale, plus an extra coupon making it even more reasonable. Or should I tell my mom about this in case she wants to get one for them? We already actually finished buying my grandparent's Christmas gifts early. I could tell my mom and still get one for my parents, but don't know if that is kind of lame. I want my cake and I want to eat it too, haha. 

Any thoughts?

Comments

Livingoutloud's picture

Get them both the same gift? Whatever you already bought for grandparents could maybe put aside for birthdays, returned or given to someone else? 

Survivingstephell's picture

Split the cost with your parents to give to your grandparents then surprise your parents with one 

ndc's picture

I bought one of those digital photo frames (a Skylight) for my mom a few years ago and she loves it.  I'd get it for both parents and grandparents, unless you already have a better gift for the grandparents.  If not, I'd just return what you already got them. 

CajunMom's picture

 I got one from my daughter last Christmas!! I always watch for the "alert" on my Skylight frame for new pics!!!!

I'd say get it for for both. It truly is a wonderful gift!

justmakingthebest's picture

We got it for my MIL. She loves it! 

Get it for both, it will be well appreciated! 

Crspyew's picture

idea of getting one for your folks and seeing if your mom wants to split cost with you to give one to your grandparents. 
I got my mom one last year---selfish reasons I got tired of siblings & nieces / nephews texting me pics to show her.  She lives it and loves to see new pics pop up.  I actually bought another to display our google calendars.

Felicity0224's picture

Last year I gave the Skylight frame to my mom, my dad, MIL, FIL, and DD's biological grandparents. HUGE hit, and they all still talk about how much they enjoy them. They had a Black Friday promotion that was a decent discount; so maybe wait for that and buy one for your parents and one for your grandparents? It's a really wonderful gift. *If any of them aren't great with technology, you might have to set it up for them. It's not super difficult, but did require an online login to create an account and link the frame to Wi-Fi.

JRI's picture

This sounds good.  But as a 77yo living with an 85yo and with a 99yo mom in long-term care, I'd be wondering if there was any kind of technical maintenance required at all.  My mom loves music but couldnt even operate a radio so I bought her a mechanism that plays 40's music without (supposedly) any effort but she had me remove it, because she couldnt adjust the volume.  My DH has a cell phone but uses nothing other than phone features and half the time, is unable to answer calls.  This is after repeated instruction from me and DS.

One fail-proof gift for older people who are still mobile is restaurant gift cards, fast food or wherever.   Gift cards to specific stores, like Ulta or a sports store, aren't quite as good because it means having to go there or else feeling "guilty" that we are wasting them.  Side note: I've observed that some of our kids give us gift cards that reflect their preferences, whether its aporopriate for us or not.  One jock son always got us sports store gift cards and we'd wander around endlessly trying to find something to spend it on.   But you cant go wrong with the restaurant gift cards.

AgedOut's picture

We gave one to my Mother-in-law and she loved it. I do suggest adding some old photos in too. We put up pics of her kids growing up, of family members lost, and fun times. They were interspaced w/ recent photos and she love seeing them all so much.

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

The feedback! I am glad to hear others have bought this gift and it was a hit with everyone! I'll talk to my mom and see what she thinks about splitting one for my grandparents because the gifts we already bought are sentimental and personal:)

SeeYouNever's picture

It sounds like a great gift just make sure you set it up in their house for them and get it connected. I like the idea of splitting the cost one one and surprising your mom with one too.