Can you pick out a few books for each of them? Personalized to suit their interests and personalities? Like, give each kid two books and a gift card for another book or two?

I'd enjoy that gift as a new parent or as an older young adult. I still have trouble remembering my birth time and weight.

Are you from somewhere different or like a different sports team? How about tshirts from your hometown or team?

How about college gear from the oldest school? (unless not decided yet).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree it's not something teens will want. I'm the stepmother of college kids and I say this nicely, their birth stuff (time of birth, weight) is not yours. You didn't give birth to them. Those memories are for their mother.

I’m trying to preserve a memory for them, not for me. It’s a present...for them. Albeit not a popular choice or the right pick, and thanks for your input everyone! Sports gear is a cute idea and personal and different and fun.

Also a big F you to the harpies on the board. I don’t have to be creative or go above and beyond or put myself out there...I could get a gift card. Same as everyone else does- I’m just trying to do something NICE. Ok so it is misguided. I’m a sentimental person and I have a two year old, not a teen. They always get gifts from “us” but also gifts uniquely from their mom, their dad, and me. I’m just st trying to think outside the box. I missed the mark, fine. Is it really necessary to be a total jerk about it?

You care and you asked! Teens are hard. My MIL always gives "sentimental gifts" and they are not a hit with my teens. I like the sports gear idea. Concert tickets to an upcoming concert are also HUGELY appreciated by teens. Matching funny Christmas Jammies or Funny Christmas sweaters might also be fun.

Anonymous wrote:Agree it's not something teens will want. I'm the stepmother of college kids and I say this nicely, their birth stuff (time of birth, weight) is not yours. You didn't give birth to them. Those memories are for their mother.

Yes. This.

OP, I have a niece and a nephew and I was in my sweet spot when they were infants to 8 years old.

And then I figured it out with some games and rockets and other stuff until about 11 years old.

And then by the time I had to give them a gift at 12 and up (they are in 8th and 11th grades now) I PANICKED! And absolutely finally admitted defeat and just give them money.

I will say, if your son is going to college (like, away) you could give him suitcases. But that might be more of a graduation from high school gift (that's what we got in the 80s - a typewriter (!), suitcases and other "going off to college stuff -and, yes, I got a PEN!)

So I just give them $75 in cash and I'm just done. I hate it, I wish I could do something more personalized, but it's so hard. Of course, you know your step kids better than I know my niece/nephew (they live a few states away) but still...