<p>I want to do something special for him…</p>
<p>I have been sending him gift baskets full of garbage for all the holidays, looking for something else…</p>
<p>…any suggestions?</p>
<p>PS: He wants an new guitar and we will buy it when he gets home for summer so I am not really looking for a present idea but a “I know my Mom cares about me” idea!</p>
<p>gift cards/certificated to his favorite place to eat where he lives now.</p>
<p>I had a local bakery deliver a cake large enough to share with the floor–</p>
<p>i had cupcakes delivered for birthday; easier than cake. Dancing Deers sends cookies and brownies</p>
<p>Twice for my own kids and once for a young friend, I baked a flourless chocolate cake and then packed it into a box with all the fixings for a party - candles, hats, blowers, plates, napkins and assorted party favors. I mailed the boxes priority (from CA to CT, VT, and MO) and they arrived in fine form. All three kids were thrilled.</p>
<p>My D had her birthday two or three days after she arrived at her college and it was eight hours away. I looked at the college website and the dining services offered a birthday package that you could have delivered to her. It was a cake, balloons, plates, spoons and I think soda and cups. It was a great way to wish her a happy birthday and break the ice with her new dorm mates. You might want to check to see if your child’s school offers anything like that. Another great option is Edible Arrangements. I had a dozen chocolate covered strawberries delivered to both of my girls for Easter. They are fabulous!</p>
<p>How about a balloon bouquet? I have seen balloon guitars before, not sure if all balloon stores carry them though. Or maybe a blow up guitar from oriental trading post? Or a bag of guitar picks?</p>
<p>D2’s birthday last week was also in the middle of the last week of classes, with all sorts of “end of the year events.” Turns out her department was having its “end of the year barbecue” on her birthday. I contacted her advisor who was most helpful; I ended up ordering an ice cream cake for the picnic from the local popular ice cream parlor, and one of her friends picked it up.</p>
<p>Also, we have upgraded our Skype (I think it’s 5.0, and it’s $10/month), so that it allows us to have several people from different locations on line/screen at once. We had our older daughter and her husband on line (on Skype?), along with D2 (we are in three different states), and spent 1/2 hour or more on line as she opened her gifts from all of us. It isn’t “the same,” but it helps!</p>
<p>What about a couple of great books of guitar music from artists he loves to go with the guitar picks? Or since he is a musician, maybe concert tickets for a band that’s coming to his college town.</p>
<p>Not sure if your son has siblings or close friends from hs or home town but what we did D;s birthday this year is set up a conference call. Not sure about in the states but in Canada I was able to buy a permanent conference call number for virtually nothing and only get charged when it is used. What I did for her friends is set it up so that any charges they may incur would be put on my bill. Sent all of them including my D an invite for a specific time with the required phone number and code. I allotted 45 minutes and she had about 15 of her closest friends from High school on wishing her a happy birthday getting caught up. She had friends calling in from as far away as Vancouver and Halifax. My D loved it and the total bill was $65. It was just something different and unexpected.</p>
<p>I sent my college kiddo a Costco cake for that birthday away from home and it was a hit - and arrived in great shape. I arranged this at Costco.com. There are a few interesting treat ideas there. Especially good if there are friends to share it with-though I don’t think it’s as big as the ones in the actual store. You can see the pictures and details at the web site.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great suggestions. </p>
<p>I ended up sending him a Dancing Deer cake from Costco.com – it comes with a birthday banner, plates and forks.</p>
<p>He also has been dealing with a broken set of headphones (he can only play his guitar in the dorms with headphones on) so I am searching for a pair of headphones to send him right now–and a few guitar books.</p>
<p>The idea to Skype with him is a great…his sister and I talked about it…we are going to buy a cake at home, put candles on it and then Skype him…we get to see him and sing Happy Birthday and get the benefit of our own cake!!</p>