<p>What are some things that you are eyeing this Christmas? I’m trying to figure out what I might get for my parents.</p>
<p>I don’t want things from my kids. I prefer “actions of appreciation/love” from them.
Perhaps you could take your parents out to dinner—dinner and conversation. Maybe you could prepare a home cooked dinner. Offer to do a long overdue chore–(clean out the basement, detail the car, do the grocery shopping for the week, paint a room in the house, etc.). Maybe take them out for a movie and pizza. </p>
<p>Trust me—“things” aren’t what most parents want from their kids. We would much rather have “quality time” with them. Having fun with our kids is my favorite present.</p>
<p>One of our best Christmas presents was three days on vacation with the cell phones turned off. Even if you aren’t paying for the vacation, a couple of days of focused attention is appreciated.</p>
<p>OP, another parental vote for activities, not things.</p>
<p>I might encourage my kids to go down to Walmart to get a photo, either just the two of them or the family. I don’t care if it is ready at Christmas…just want to take advantage of the 18 year old son being home from college. The family photo on my desk with him in 6th grade is not a good match to his current look ;)</p>
<p>I agree with the those who have posted as to actvities - I would also suggest tickets to a play or concert (and if possible, attend with them 
). If you are looking for suggestions for traditiional (? lack of a better word) gifts, have you considered a single serve coffee maker? Someone just started a thread on those, and it reminded me of how much I enjoy mine. Also, last year, my daughter gave me a portable IPOD player so I can take my music with me while I am cleaning and cooking. Don’t know the age of your parents, but I gave my MIL a 6-month subscription to Netflix. She’s not interested in streaming (78 yrs old), but the delivery of DVD’s right to her mail box was very much appreciated.</p>
<p>I would like it if my kids made one little chore a habit. Something like making me a cup of coffee every morning or washing my car every time they were home. It would be thoughtful and would be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>Actually HELP with putting up and taking down the decorations. Don’t putz around at 2 mph while I’m maintaining a steady 55 mph, figuratively speaking.</p>
<p>Oh, and write the thank you notes before being told.</p>
<p>I already orderd bottle of Jamaican Rum, I ran out.</p>
<p>My daughter has made me CDs of the songs she’s listening to. I like those. It’s a glimpse into her life. </p>
<p>My son gave me a really great knife–a Shun Ken Onion knife, for the chefs out there–for my birthday. I use it every day. Very cool. </p>
<p>Do I want anything particular for Christmas? No, not really. I have pretty much everything I want.</p>
<p>^Oh, I would love to have any recording of my D’s own music pieces, but she said that she cannot copy them out of software that she uses to compose them and they are too difficult for her to play for me on piano. So, bottle of rum will do, if anybody remembers my wish.</p>
<p>Powerbomb - I didn’t realize you were a student when I posted. My “children” are 22 and 24. When they were teenagers, though, I would agree wholeheartedly with the suggestion of getting a new photo for your parents and the many other wonderful suggestions for assisting in painting/car washing/etc. How about a gift certificate to Starbucks (for as little as $10) with the added benefit of your company?</p>
<p>Mrs. Claus already sent poor, broke college kids idea list:
-help taking down tree, re-packing ornaments, putting boxes back in storage
-computer clean up/organization*
-iphoto organization*
-adding/deleting music to my ipod*
- yes, I CAN do it…but they can do it in 1/10th the time and with a zillionth less of<br>
frustration…
-an outing/spending time with us (movies, golfing, games, exercise, etc)
-spend time buying next semester’s textbooks online to save me some $$</p>
<p>other things that I’ve thought of:<br>
- get pictures with Santa (I have 19 years worth–this is first year they aren’t home for
Thanksgiving to do it…)
-make a meal or two for us over the holidays
-look for summer employment :)</p>
<p>and some cell/electronic free time is ALWAYS appreciated …</p>
<p>I’ve done most of the chores/activities/thoughtful deeds in the past…I will have some spending money for once this Christmas, so I thought I would get ‘things’ for them…but maybe they’ll want me to save up? 
</p>
<p>The recording of one’s own music sounds pretty cool. Maybe I’ll learn how to use some audio software and make a CD…that’s thoughtful and is a ‘thing’ at the same time!</p>
<p>Activity, sharing some of his life, and a positive attitude.</p>
<p>When he asked me what I wanted, I said a mug or sweatshirt from his grad school. He just sent me photos and a copy of first published paper, so I’m happy.</p>
<p>Any one know a good bridge softwear (sp?) program?</p>
<p>My D also has made me CD’s of her favorite music; I really like those. </p>
<p>Last year, she blew up pictures from when she visited us near the shore, including a really nice one of H and me on the beach in the winter, and framed them (inexpensive CVS frames). We adored that.</p>
<p>Another idea is the *parents’ *college sweatshirts. Kids gave me a Michigan hoodie, just like the ones they wore from their schools, and I love having it, wouldn’t have thought of it myself.</p>
<p>Well, if you really want to give a thing, I second the idea of a photo from Sears/Walmart/etc. A group shot of you + any siblings would be wonderful.</p>
<p>I think you’d be hard pressed to find a parent who would not like a picture of their child. Just have a friend take a nice one on your camera phone, print it out and put it in a frame. A frame from the drug store is fine, it’s the picture we want!</p>
<p>I’ll also add myself to the list of parents who would enjoy activities, like my son taking me out for a cup of tea or just spending time together. I also enjoy it a lot when my son makes playlists for my ipod of songs he thinks I’ll like. </p>
<p>Parents are not hard to please, it can just seem that way. We really do want the simple, inexpensive gifts.</p>
<p>I request (and cherish) a photo calender that my son makes off an Internet site that allows him to place his personal photos on the page facing each month of the following year.</p>
<p>I get to see what he’s most excited about. I cannot think of anything tangilbe I’d rather have. Each page allows him to relate the story behind it.</p>
<p>When we were young, my siblings and I would ask our parents what they wanted for Christmas. My dad would always reply, “Just your sweet hugs and kisses”. Until I became a parent, I didn’t understand that. The most precious gift my DD can give is her gift of time. She graduated in May and moved back to our area, but lives about 30 minutes away. She was fishing for Christmas ideas the other day when I said she could give us nothing better than time with her. Besides her time, my favorite gifts from her have always been the handmade items such as a hand-bound recipe book, scrap books, etc. I would love for our DD to plan a weekend getaway somewhere … we’d be happy to foot the bill … it’s just such fun to spend quality time with her.</p>