Alternatives to shop-bought gifts

Now those suggestions as gifts I would accept very gratefully!

I have all the 'things' I want but help with the house and garden would be wonderful (my requests fall on deaf ears with my children and grandchildren - and my gardener has moved back to the UK).

When our DS was young [about 12] he made us 'coupons' which we could use up to 3 times for making cups of tea [complete with a drawing of a steaming cup of tea] or for hoovering , or for feeding the cats.We made good use of these coupons, so he made more for different things, and then his enthusiasm was just about used up after 6 months and no more coupons appeared.It was very sweet though.He is now a marvellous and hands on kind of Father and DH to his wife and children, just as I always thought he would be.Our daughters never offered this service!

Eloethan, that is a fabulouso idea. I'd love it if someone offered to clean my house. For my DIL's birthday yesterday, she got a gardening/planting session out of her FIL (my husband), with some recycled pots and only one new plant - the rest are all from our gardens or cuttings etc.

It was by far the outstanding gift of the day

DC gave me a card for Mother's Day one year saying 'we owe you 6 car washes'........

I think they managed 1. Too much homework, I promised to meet X, I've got rugby training etc.

nina Perhaps 6 was a bit ambitious! I'm sure that, for many, cleaning and hoovering the inside of the car would be very welcome too.

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When the children were younger, all I asked was not to have to cook all day, and to be left in peace to get on with sowing veg seeds in the garden, as there is always loads to be done at that time of year. DBH is always up to his eyeballs in reports and exams for Father's Day and all he wants is to be left in peace with a large box of Hotel Chocolat while he wades through it all and a bottle of red for the evening!

These plans were scuppered when we lived near MiL, as she always wanted to be taken out to a restaurant.

But you would n't get that "unwrapping the presents time" would you? Would hate to not get that, no matter what they give me.

And anyway, I'm a material girl. I like being given new things, and knowing someone's been shopping for me.

I like that now, but back then, was just desperate to be able to do some things without constant interruptions. What I treasured was the home-made cards.

jingl I am the complete opposite of a 'material girl', but one of my daughters was made for the title. I've just been out for lunch with one of my closest friends and we have very different personalities and lifestyles, but I love her to bits. Vive la différence.

rosesarered I am impressed your little 12 year old son made is to 6 months! I always received a day off from everything for Mothers Day. Now I just want a week of home cooked meals! janerowena my son still writes the loveliest notes for every occasion. A treasure. He turned 29 yesterday.