Help me find the perfect gift to say thanks for a huge favor

[Anonymous]

Friends did us a huge favor this summer, and I want to send a great gift. I was thinking maybe a subscription box, but I’m flexible.

Family is Midwestern, two older teens (16 & 18). All pretty nerdy, into games & pop culture. They love food but have 2 Celiacs & a diabetic, so need to be a little careful with selection if we go there.

What should I send?

[Anonymous]

this is so vague...can you elaborate a little? did your friend take your kids for the summer?

Is it just your friend (would that be the mom?) that you are thanking, or is this something the whole family did?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:this is so vague...can you elaborate a little? did your friend take your kids for the summer?

Is it just your friend (would that be the mom?) that you are thanking, or is this something the whole family did?

They retrieved my kids in an emergency and hosted them for a week. I would prefer to send something the whole family could appreciate, although mom did the heavy lifting.

[Anonymous]

I’d send a gift card for the mom to have a spa day and a fancy gift box of chocolates or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Given all the food restrictions, maybe a Harry and David fruit of the month subscription or something. Plus something for the parents.

[Anonymous]

I'm a mom with two teens that age, and I'm trying to think what I would want (because that mom did the heavy lifting, but that always gets diluted into "family.")

I would want....two nights in a hotel suite that is just a mile or two from our house. So DH and I could have a weekend to relax, and it's easy to get there and back, and close to home in case something went wrong. And if they can't leave their kids at home alone, or, have a dog they can't leave, take the dog for the weekend, or offer to stay over with their teens and you can play "Auntie".

That's what I would want. Frankly, I wouldn't mind the hotel room for just me! I'm so tired! LOL maybe she is too. Hotel room just for her! haha

We actually did this once for some good friends who for years had sacrificed so much time to create a girls' basketball club that both our kids were on. It was so essential to our kids' development and (since I was her good friend, I knew that) lots of parents were no help and all complaints. I just thought it was so wrong, and they should get some sort of thank you for their hard work.

Okay another thing I'd want is differnet gift cards for maybe four or five restaurants near me, so as an excuse to go there.

[Anonymous]

Gift card to a restaurant and Amazon gift cards for the kids. There really isn't anything I'd want at this point in my life and I'd double check with things like a spa as I'm not doing anything like that with covid. It would not get used.

[Anonymous]

Honestly with kids at those ages, dietary restrictions and to allow for general pickiness I'd do a bouquet of gift cards with a lovely note.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly with kids at those ages, dietary restrictions and to allow for general pickiness I'd do a bouquet of gift cards with a lovely note.

This is a nice idea too. If you have a Costco membership they have huge bouquets for $5o

[Anonymous]

There are board game subscription boxes:
https://www.chattersource.com/article/board-game-subscription-boxes/

[Anonymous]

Back in the day, there used to be a "magazine of gifts" company. You would choose an amount (say $75) and the company would send the gift magazine filled with $75 items to the recipient, who could pick out what they want. Not sure if they still have those..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back in the day, there used to be a "magazine of gifts" company. You would choose an amount (say $75) and the company would send the gift magazine filled with $75 items to the recipient, who could pick out what they want. Not sure if they still have those..

I mean that's basically an Amazon gift card...

[Anonymous]

Food delivery gift card (e.g., Doordash) sent via email to mother’s email. Everyone appreciates a favorite meal delivered when and where they want it. $200-500 for a family if you can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly with kids at those ages, dietary restrictions and to allow for general pickiness I'd do a bouquet of gift cards with a lovely note.

This. I would include things you know they can use. Does she shop at Whole Foods? Does she drink Starbucks? Does she like Trader Joe's? Anyone can use Amazon. The spa gift is annoying if it's not your thing just like a massage. Don't assume food preferences. Keep is simple and useful. I once got a giftcard for a maid-service. The maid service cost 3x the giftcard and I could hire one for less in my area. Plus, I am not a maidservice person. The giver was so proud of herself and kept patting herself on the back and bringing it up after I already said "thank you." I could not even give to a friend because it would be cruel to expect her to pay way more to actually use it.

[Anonymous]

Maybe get them a game returnable to their local game store?