Farewell gift?
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Anonymous
We are letting our long-time nanny (four years -- she has cared for our kids since they were babies) go at the end of the summer. All amicable -- the kids will be in school full-time and I think she secretly likes caring for babies better than little kids. We're deeply grateful to her for all she has done for our kids (and to make our lives easier), and we've told her so. And we're paying her generous severance pay (more than required by our contract) and helping her with her job search. Here's my dilemma. I'd like to also get her some kind of small, commemorative farewell gift. Kind of something to remember us by. I want it to be something nice, but not so nice that she'd rather have the cash. And I'm aware that although she loved my kids and took good care of them, she knew that taking care of them was a job (we're definitely not her first family), and once she's not working for us anymore, she's probably not going to want an oil painting of the kids or something  .
Any suggestions about a good farewell gift? I was thinking of having the kids make her pictures that I'd frame, maybe in a three-picture frame along with a picture of them (maybe with her?). But then I thought maybe something easier to store in a drawer, like a small photo album, would be better? Or should I get away from the idea of a kid photo (she takes pictures of them with her phone all the time, so it's not like she doesn't have photos) and get something more generally useful? |
nannydebsays
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Speaking for myself, I would love a framed pic of me with my charges, perhaps even a professional picture.
I also treasure a book a former family gave me with pictures, special written memories, etc. |
Anonymous
| Day at the spa to relax and unwind. |
Anonymous
| I'd do a spa day or a nice necklace or earrings. |
Anonymous
| Small photo album with letters from kids detailing special memories. This is specific to her time with your family and she'll treasure it. |
Anonymous
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Some people might hate this idea, but...what about a necklace with birthstones for your children? To most people, it would be a nice necklace with some stones. To your nanny, it's a reminder of the children.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/97396401/birthstone-necklace-new-mom-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_19 https://www.etsy.com/listing/122901642/mothers-birthstone-necklace-argentium?ref=shop_home_active_4 If you like this idea and want a different style or price, I can try to find it. I know etsy is overwhelming for some people. I'm a bit of an etsy-whisperer. 
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Anonymous
| I had a family give me a gift card to west Elm. I used it to buy a new lamp which makes me think of them every time I use the lamp. Any little token is nice. The longer I'm away from kids, the less I'm interested in keeping their little art projects and what not (unless it's ceramic or something.) paper stuff will eventually get trashed, functional items not so much. |
Anonymous
| I got a book about how caregivers fill your bucket. I bawled! I also got a necklace with the first letter of each charges name and a circle in the middle symbolizing eternity. Mb wrote me a beautiful note about how I have impacted her life and the children's & I received a cute hand made frame and picture from the kids! She is also super crafty and made me little figurines of the kids and myself. Honestly I was expecting cash but cash runs out. These things will stay with me forever!! |
Anonymous
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http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/1933916974
Will you fill my bucket? |
Anonymous
| I would love a framed picture of all of us plus drawings from the kids, an album, whatever! I'm sentimental though, so I would definitely keep that kind of thing forever. Some people aren't so sentimental, and would probably prefer to have a giftcard or the like. I think you just have to know what type of person your nanny is to know what she would prefer! |
Anonymous
This. Most of us would in fact be touched by having something sweet & memorable of our time with your family/pics of kids & us, etc. |