My son has these friends that use to live in our neighborhood but they were taken from their Mom and put into Foster care about a year ago. We ran into them and their foster Mom back in January and have kept in touch since then. In the middle of June, I got a text from the Foster mom that asked what I was doing with my son for the Summer. She told me about the Summer day camp where she was taking the kids and asked if I would want to take my son there. She told me the hours were 9 - 4 which I couldn't do because I work 8 - 4:30. She told me we could just drop him off at her house in the morning and pick him up after work and she would drive him back and forth. Not only were we grateful for that, we were also VERY grateful that it would save us $55 a week. Anyway, now that the camp will be over tomorrow, I'm trying to think of something nice I can do for her. I've offered to give her money, she doesn't want that. I was going to buy her a gift card to Wal-mart to get the kids school supplies but the camp gave them all back packs filled with all the supplies they need. So, now I'm kinda stuck. I was thinking of getting her a restaurant gift card and offering to babysit while she goes out to eat. Or maybe a gift certificate for a massage or something.
What do you ladies think?
I would offer to babysit her kids and get her a gift card for dinner ...nothing beats a free/free date night ;-) well the massage would be pretty darn close ;-)
If she doesn't want to accept a cash gift, how about inviting her and the foster kids over to your house for a meal/playdate?
She seems like a very sweet women. Can your hubby babysit all the kids for a few hours. Maybe you can invite her out to lunch or go get a pedicure. Your treat.
It sounds like she really enjoys the kids. If she's anything like me, she feels guilty doing things for herself, but gets great joy and satisfaction from taking the kids to do fun stuff. I bet she would love a gift of fun for the family. A pack of movie tickets or a gift card to the local swimming pool for one last summer hoorah. Or invite them all over to run through the sprinkler in your yard, while the 2 of you sip some sangria. If nothing else, how about a gift card for gas. Just to help out with the gas she used this summer.
Gift card for a local restaurant would be great- even better to offer to babysit! Date night with the hubs at no cost! YAY!
I rarely get to go out to eat b/c of childcare and finances. I would be tickled to death if I could go out for "free" I think that'd be a great idea! It sounds like she is So sweet! :-)
Hi A.-
Your son's friends mom sounds like me. If I am understanding this right, she took your son along with her own foster sons to and from day camp each day. And you picked him up after work. Well... she had to watch him each morning for an hour or so before driving them to camp. But... besides that it was just her gas which she would of had to use anyway to get her own foster boys there. Her boys were probably glad to have your son there, too.
So... I guess what I am trying to get at is that if it was me that you were giving a gift for, I would not want anything more than a sincere thank you. Maybe a hand written thank you would be nice and if you threw in a small bouqet of flowers (like from Jewel where they sell them for under $10) that would be nice BUT I would feel uncomfortable taking anything more because I would have wanted to do it for nothing more than helping some one else out. BTW- I did take my daughter's friend to and from bible camp for a week. (I even picked her up and dropped her off at her house) I didn't even see the parents since they were at work.... she just came out to the door when I pulled up. Her grandpa was inside the house. Anyway.... I did feel a bit unappreciated by the parents for a short time BUT.... on the last night of doing this the mom called me and thanked me and that was enough for me! (It felt good hearing her say that and nothing else was necessary.)
Just my two cents! I know you are trying to be nice but I really wouldn't give too much because I think she did it from the kindness of her heart.
How about a nice boquet of flowers and some cupcakes for the family and sincere note.
It was pricy, but I sent a "edible arrangement" fruit basket to a woman that I really wanted to show my appreciation to. It was $75, but I am glad I did it.
Wow what a nice lady. Like you I would feel the need to show my appreciation in some way. You and your husband could have the Foster mother and her family over for a barbeque and let the kids play. If the Mother is still in your neighborhood I could see you not wanting the kids to come over so a gas gift card would be nice. You could also take the Foster Kids for the day and treat them to the movies or something else fun. That would give the Foster Mom a much needed break.
