D attends college near home so would like to use the summer to explore other parts of the country. There is one state in particular that she has long been interested in and, as luck would have it, I have a good friend who lives there with an empty guest room. His family has happily agreed to host her for a month. She has also arranged an internship nearby. So that’s great.
Anyway, I would like to get a gift of some sort for my friend who will be hosting her. I can’t think of a thing! Any clever ideas? D will be checking a bag, so should have a decent amount of space available to bring something.
I’ll be in the camp to not get a thing unless it’s a consumable you k ow she would like. Otherwise I’d stick to a gift card to a place she likes. And a nice note.
I thought of that, but they live in a state very different from mine and - aside from national chains like McDonalds and such - I don’t know what’s around and don’t know where they generally go (such as local restaurant/business). I could Google map it and see if there’s anything interesting nearby.
I was thinking something like a nice gift box of local candy or something like that. Chocolate is, I suppose, fairly customary, although I was concerned about nice chocolates melting during the trip.
Maybe wait until your D has spent some time there, and she will get ideas? I definitely agree that consumables are good. If they drink, then sending some wines could be nice. Remember the weather if you’re thinking chocolates. A GC to a restaurant your D finds out she likes would be a nice idea. I also suggest your D get her a card and write a note expressing appreciation for letting her stay there.
I vote for bringing a hostess-type gift on arrival. Could be a local product – we have a really nice tea company in our town, so that’s a frequent source of gifts. I like to give a local “high end” (read, beautiful packaging) maple syrup. Or soap, or a candle. Etc. And then when your daughter leaves, I would of course have her write a thank you note and would send a more substantial thank you gift. By then she might have an idea of what they like. For example, a gift basket with several interesting cheeses like this German cheese coated in flower petals from a gourmet shop:
My own view is that hosting someone for a month is a substantial imposition (of course I don’t have all the facts) and so something more than a one time hostess gift on arrival is called for.
If your friend is hosting her for a month, I would consider a more substantial gift. How about a subscription for a month or so for those pre-measured meals that are supposed to be easy to cook? I can’t think of the names of those brands right now, but I’m sure you know what I mean.
Another idea would be to just write a note if thanks for hosing your daughter, have your daughter maybe bring a small token like a m
hostess gift but AT THE END of the month when your daughter know them better have her pick up a local gift card.
I agree with getting something more substantial if someone is hosting for a month. The daughter would otherwise had to pay for room & board. I am sure the host wouldn’t expect to be paid back. I would bring a “token” hostess gift and then something nicer at the end of stay. After a month, your daughter may get to know what is something special that the hostess (family) May like.
The best gift is the gift of being a good guest while she’s there. Doing the dishes, cooking some meals, grocery shopping, keeping her room clean, picking things up in common areas before bed. Things like that. My mom had more than one person stay with her who did nothing the entire time & expected mom to entertain her.
Is there something different that she cooks or bakes?
Does she paint? One of my daughter’s friends painted a watercolor of the view of the cove from our deck.
At the end maybe a dinner out at a place they enjoy.
Yes, we have definitely talked about that - helping out around the house, buying groceries once in a while, etc. It will be a battle, though - host will absolutely not want her to do those things. But she will as often as opportunity arises.
Another thought is a basket with gift certificates for a massage, one of their favorite local restaurants (she can find that out) and maybe one other thing they like (theater, sports event, etc).
It’s something I would totally not use it. I know a lot of people like it, but I don’t eat bread, so I wouldn’t have anything to put those nice jams on.
Remember that when you are ready to send me a gift.
Are there things, foods, drinks, or a general aesthetic associated with where you (and your kid) live? We tend to bring or send gifts associated with our region. I think a first gift (likely consumable) and then a later gift might be a great idea in this case. Don’t have to wait until the end - maybe send it two weeks into the month (when human nature would kick in for most of us…”when will I have my routine back?”…etc…). If your kid could send you pics of their style and what’s around their home, you might be able to get something really useful and thoughtful. Or, if this is someone you’ve known for a long time, you can tie into something from their past. I once sent friends a vintage-style print connected to the time they spent abroad in their younger years, and they were able to incorporate into a gallery wall they had been assembling.
It’s not something easily packed in a suitcase, but a beautiful flower arrangement in her aesthetic style would be a lovely arrival gift, with being a good guest as @zeebamom described in the middle, followed by a departing gift that is personalized based on what your D observes while there.
