One-of-a-Kind Gifts for Your Parents This Year
December 17, 2021
With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to think about that annually dreaded concept – getting a gift for Mom and Dad.
It’s not that you don’t want to get them a gift. Quite the opposite! You want to give them something amazing. You want to give a gift they’ll use and talk about for years. And this year, it seems more important than ever.
But buying for Mom and Dad is hard. Really hard.
They’ve given you so much, yet they ask for so little. And what they do want, they already have.
So, how do you find fun, interesting, and unique gift ideas for the people who gave you. . . everything?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here are 15 one-of-a-kind gift ideas to help you show your parents just how much you love them.
1. “Back in the Day” Canvas Print
The older we get, the more we like to reminisce.
And this is the perfect gift for reminiscing!
The “Back in the Day Personalized History Canvas Print” lets you pick a significant day, like the day they met, their wedding day, or the day they bought their home, and create a cool newspaper-like wall hanging.
The print will include whatever personal information you want as well as fun facts and significant events from that day in history.
It’s a cool conversation piece that your parents will love.
2. Twelve Whole Months of Fun
What are your parents’ interests? Whether they enjoy doing puzzles, tasting chocolates, wine, or even whisky, you can find a “Product of the Month” club that’s perfect for them.
Before you shake your head and conjure up the famous “Jelly of the Month Club” that poor Clark Griswald received, give it a chance.
The key is to pick something that your parents truly love and will want to explore. Would they like to try new types of cheese? Would they get a kick out of a new mystery novel? Seriously, you can even get a “Cryptid Crate” that sends a box of stuff each month on a different mythical beast like Nessie, Sasquatch, or the Chupacabra.
No matter their passion, there’s a subscription out there.
3. Directions to Their Family Members
A Personalized Family Member Locator Signpost is a fun conversation piece.
Just add significant places, like the towns where each or relative lives, and the sign points to their directions and gives the mileage. It will add a little flavor to their outside décor and keep the neighbors talking.
Added bonus: Whenever someone moves, you have a new gift idea because you’ll need to replace a board!
4. Their Personal Life Story
Your parents likely have very interesting life stories. And now they can tell them, with this one-of-a-kind gift: a book detailing your loved one’s personal history.
A truly unique gift idea, this is a keepsake book that future generations will treasure, created by our own TWFH team.
We capture a record of your loved one’s special memories through personal interviews, so their stories are never lost.
Our writers will interview your loved one about their stories, memories, and accomplishments, and we will turn our interview notes into a beautiful, professionally published book.
This wonderful package includes:
- One-hour family consult. Before we interview your loved one, we will schedule a one-hour consultation with you and/or your family to learn more about your loved one and to discuss your goals for this book. During this consult, we will also work with you to develop a set of interview questions.
- Interviews with your loved one. Our professional writers will conduct an interview for up to four hours (by phone or Skype) with your loved one. Digital interview files are included in your gift.
- Transcription. Our professional writers will transcribe their interview notes.
- Custom Printed Book. Professionally printed, 100% CUSTOM hardcover book. Up to 100 pages and including up to 10 photos (optional; provided by you or your loved one in digital format)
5. Snapshots of Your Life
Your parents would love to see more pictures of their grandkids, or your dog, or even you. But they don’t do social media and you just can’t get there to see them often enough.
This is a great solution! It’s a digital picture frame that you can access remotely through cloud technology and download new pictures for them periodically.
When you snap great shots, you can upload them into your parent’s new picture frame to keep the pictures fresh and fun for them all year round.
6. A Personalized Calendar
A personalized calendar with photos of the whole family is simple but useful and fun.
Get creative with it and choose pictures that will make them smile throughout the year. Use holidays and special events like grandkids' birthdays to theme each month, and don’t forget to include your favorite pets!
7. A Masterclass
You’re never too old to learn something new!
Give your parents something they can do together like painting or cooking, or give them each one they’ll love on their own.
With Masterclass online courses they can even take classes that are taught by subject experts they know and love.
Let them learn how to cook from Gordon Ramsay, that really angry guy from T.V.
Or, even better, have Steve Martin show Dad how to really tell jokes!
8.Their New Favorite Blanket
Who doesn’t love a super soft and warm blanket?
Your parents might even have one, but how old is it?
Splurge and get something nicer than they’d ever buy for themselves like this Wicked Cozy Blanket from L.L. Bean.
Just don’t tell them what you paid, or they’ll never use it!
9. “Thinking of You” Lamps
If you don’t see your parents as often as you’d like, get them a dose of comfort with these Friendship Lamps.
Your parents get one lamp, and you keep the other. Whenever you think about them, miss them, or want to make them smile, just touch the lamp. When you touch your lamp, their lamp will light up letting them know that they’re on your mind.
It’s sweet, fun, and unique!
10. Homesick Candles
Does Mom pine for her childhood home in Boston? Or can dad not stop talking about the year he was stationed in Hawaii?
The area-specific Homesick Candles will take them back using the most powerful memory trigger – our sense of smell!
Boston has notes of tea, cinnamon, and vanilla. Hawaii? Pineapple, seashore, and sugar.
Just hope that they’re not homesick for life on the pig farm!
11. An Ancestry/DNA Kit or Subscription
From Ancestry DNA to 23 and Me, there are a lot of options out there for DNA kits these days.
Chances are, your parents might think they’re pure stock German only to find out they’re part Irish or Samoan as well.
More often than not, there’s a surprise in the DNA chain somewhere. But even if there are no surprises, aging parents love to ponder where they come from and the roots of the family tree.
12. The Bucket List Scratch-Off Poster
Give Mom and Dad 100 interesting ideas to do to keep the adventure going.
From scuba diving to learning a new language, they simply pick a task, do it, and then scratch it off to keep score.
Warning – You may come to your parents’ house to find “Visit a dive bar” and “Skinny dipping” scratched off.
Just remember, it's all part of the fun.
The Bucket List Scratch Off Poster is sure to make for some interesting stories for the next family get together!
13. Monthly Flowers
Flowers brighten anyone’s day! Why not set up a flower subscription or just vow to send flowers every month?
If you can find certain flowers that hold special meaning for your parents, try to work them in to add a little more meaning.
Get creative and have fun with it!
14. Novelty Face Masks
OK, it’s not great that we still need them.
But why not have a little fun with it and give your parents a conversation piece (along with added safety).
Face masks can be colorful, decorative, or even funny.
It’s the best smile that you can’t actually see.
15. A Paint-by-Numbers Kit
Paint-by-numbers is easy and fun for anyone. Not just for kiddos anymore!
You can pick a famous painting like the “Mona Lisa” or Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” or even send in a photo and have it turned into a paint-by-numbers canvas. How cool is that?
Just imagine your dad painting his very first dog. It would definitely be a unique trip down memory lane!
Wrap Up
Shopping for your parents can be challenging, but this is the year you’re going to knock it out of the park.
Put some thought into your gift for your parents and put a smile on their faces as we head into 2022. These ideas are sure to bring a little fun and comfort into their lives and may result in the gift they talk about for years to come!
My father is now one hundred and four and enjoys excellent health although he is quite hard of hearing. He is interestged inb recording his life story.
Hi Marcus! We would love to help you record your father’s life story. He sounds like a fascinating man! Please feel free to contact us by calling 713-465-6860, or submitting an inquiry through this link: https://www.thewritersforhire.com/contact/