What do you give the two people who gave you life? Bath salts, scented candles, or an extravagant doormat can't compete with the ultimate gift of existence, and showing up again and again with new grandchildren is rather exhausting, too. But of course that's not what the holidays are about. Nonetheless, choosing gifts for Mom and Dad can be quite a challenge. Especially when it comes to the in-laws and the relationship, as is sometimes the case, is more of a celebration of mutual tolerance than a celebration of love. Don't worry, we've got a few tips!
Give the gift of romantic togetherness
As the children get older and stand on their own two feet, calm and togetherness gradually return to the parents' home. So at Christmas there aren't just gifts for the kids - now it's finally the parents' turn. What could be a better gift than giving the two of them something they can enjoy together? Be it a voucher for a couples' weekend at a wellness hotel, a romantic candlelight dinner at their favorite restaurant, or two tickets to the theater, the movies, or the opera. To top it all off, you might even treat your parents to a small or big trip. Be it to the place where they met, to the restaurant where they enjoyed their first date, or - this will probably get a bit pricier - to the destination of their honeymoon many years ago. Think back to your childhood: where did you go with your parents, and what experiences do you share in your memories? Did you often vacation at a secluded lake, or did your parents spend romantic time together there before their wish for children came true? If your parents are the more active type, an experience gift is also worth considering. A night in a treehouse, a hot-air balloon flight, or a long forest hike.
Candlelight dinner
A romantic city trip
Day spa / wellness treatment
A culinary tasting
Adventurous experience trips
Time together with you
The right touch for the in-laws
Giving your mother-in-law and father-in-law a great gift often turns out to be a challenge. In many cases, your partner has valuable advice, since he or she usually knows their own parents better. Here, too, material things aren't necessarily the best option - at least if you want to make a good impression. After all, anyone can spend money, and a little creativity helps win the in-laws over. But you should stick to a few basic principles:
Not too expensive, not too cheap: it should feel worthwhile, but not overdone.
Put effort into the wrapping - after all, that's the first impression!
Try to work in a personal touch, at least a card.
While your mother-in-law is probably happier with decorations like pillows or candles, and perhaps cosmetics and perfume, the father-in-law is often trickier. A fine fountain pen? An exciting book? Or maybe a bottle of exquisite whiskey? If none of that fits and you simply can't find any suitable preferences to match with a gift, fall back on experiences: a voucher for a dinner - happily even a very personal one with a meal you cook yourself on an evening of their choosing - or an exciting visit to a murder-mystery dinner. If even that isn't right, show up at least with a bottle of wine and chocolates, but better to spend one euro more than one euro less!
Christmas gifts for grandparents
Asking Grandma and Grandpa about their wishes rarely produces concrete answers you can turn into a shopping list. So it's best to surprise them directly, no detours. Your parents surely have a few useful tips about what the grandparents like. Basically, the same approach applies here as with the in-laws. But here are a few more ideas:
