Need gift advice! Please Help!
 

It has been a long time since I have posted, but I knew I could count on everyone at yorkie talk to give me some ideas on what to get for the family we are sponsoring for Christmas. I am an only child as is my guy, so we are not as educated in what young moms and their babies would need and want. We are to buy gifts for a 24 year old mother, two 3 year old boys and a 9 month old girl. This family has not had Christmas gifts in 2 years and this is their first Christmas in their new apartment, off the streets, so we really want to make it nice for them.

So far we have bought basic housewares for the mom (a set of pots/pans, silverware, some bowls and plates, etc), we got them each some pajamas, a winter coat, new shoes for all the kids, gloves, socks and underwear. We have also bought some stocking stuffer type things that we think all kids would like (coloring books, crayons, books, etc), a couple outfits for each child and did a costco run for diapers, wipes and baby food. I guess what we are missing is fun stuff. We would like to buy a few toys for each child, something that will be special for mom and then one thing for the family to enjoy together. We were thinking for the family thing we could buy them a DVD player and some DVDs, but they have no TV…Would it be too tacky if we gave them one of our TV’s? I still have the box from one that came with our house? And what do kids of this age like?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I think you've already done an outstanding job and personally I think she would be thrilled to own a TV...any TV.

Three year olds are pretty easy to please...there are trucks and cars designed for that age.....anything "hands on" with little boys is good.
A nine month old I'd try to find a development toy type. A trip down the toy aisle will give you lots of suggestions for either the boys or the baby.

The mom is going to be thrilled. :)

Wow that is really awesome of you , its like a real life Santa Clause:D
3 year old boys will love anything , trucks, action figures, you really can get alot of entertainment for not alot of money at that age. The baby, blocks always work and provide hours of entertainment. There are just so many great toys in the baby isle anything would be great.. As for the family , Im sure they would appreciate a used TV you dont even need a box, if you bought the DVD player and DVD , that would just be an added bonus. What a wonderful thing to do at Christmas time. They will remember this Christmas forever..
May you and yours have a very special christmas too!!

For mom maybe a gift card to a store so she could buy something she needed for herself?

This might sound strange as a gift but here goes...
young family, new apt...
what about a nice digital camera for mom and maybe a gift card so she could catch all those great moments on Christmas morning and then get prints? Heck if she got double prints then you could have a copy too? Just a thought...

You are so amazing to do this! I think a tv would be wonderful new or used. You are willing to give up so much for this family. I'm almost in tears.

Bless you for taking this family into your hearts:love: I hope to be better off financially next year and would love to do this!

One toy that is always loved by both sexes of children, are Legos---they even have the larger-sized ones (I think those are Duplo?!) that would be more appropriate and safe for the little ones;) Tonka trucks are fun too:D

Have a wonderful Holiday yourself!!!

Oh... this brings tears to my eyes. You are a special person!

You can't go wrong with Lego's. I love the camera idea also...that would be great.

Thank you, for the camera idea. I never even thought of this! When I think of how many pictures I take and how much I treasure them, I realize how great an idea this is. And in the 6 months that I have known the family they have never seemed to have many family pictures! Better still I realizes that we have enough Best Buy rewards to get her both a camera and an inexpensive DVD player.

I think the lego/duplos are also a great idea and I found today that baby toys are fairly inexpensive so I found some really cute little girl things and some games and things for kids around 3 to 5 for 40% off at Target. Heads up for all those still Christmas shopping for little ones.

Is there anything that are little things that babies really need that people without babies might overlook?

you're welcome! I just thought that maybe mom could have pics on the walls and you'd get some wonderful memory pics too;)

I'm not much help in the baby dept, it's been waaay too many years ago!:D

Don't forget to share pics with us here!!

Hey heres a thought! If you have a Kids R Us or Babies R Us how about a gift card? That way mom can pick out that one little thing that she really needs?

I too am at a loss when it comes to baby stuff. I am an only child and my family just does not have any babies around. My friend's with babies suggest all of this extremely high tech stuff that just does not seem practical, when I know this woman is in need of basics...Baby's R' Us gift card it is...

Regardless of everything we end up picking out I know that they will continue to be in need of so much. The family are pro bono client's of mine through a domestic violence shelter and when they come to my office the little boys love to even play with my office supplies and they always eat enourmous amounts of food. I asked the little guys if they were excited for Christmas and of course they were not because "santa never comes he thinks we are bad." So I made the mistake of telling them that I knew Santa, that I had a good feeling he would visit them this year and told them my secretary would help them write a letter to him and I would deliver it...Two 3 year olds asked Santa to bring them covers for their beds, socks and for their dad.

I am now in a situation where I feel like no matter what we do we will let these kids down. To think of two 3 year olds that believe in Santa but think he does not come to him because they are bad is heartbreaking. What is worse is Santa (me), has been fighting in court for months to keep their dad away because he is extremely violent, abusive and nearly killed their mother some months ago.

I think back to the holidays of my own childhood and how exciting and happy it was and it makes me so sad to know how many people do not get that experience.

Sorry for the long blabberfest, it is something that makes me emotional every time I am working on getting these packages ready.

Oh that is so sad that they think they were too bad for Santa to come:cry:

I don't believe that at this point, that it would be possible for you to let those kids down, as they've gotten nothing in the past. They WILL be receiving gifts from "Santa" and maybe a letter explaining that Santa couldn't find their house last year?!?! I'm sure that they will be very happy and feel so special this Christmas:)

It's so nice of you to care about those kids. I hope their "father" is far away from them:(

BIG HUGS to you!!!!

LunasMomma is right, when you've hit bottom theres no place to go but up- and I'd wonder too who told those little ones that they were "bad"?!:mad:
The best that I can remember, 3 yr olds don't process things that way!

From the way things sound I think that the very best present that those kids will receive is one that they won't realize for years...you working this hard for their safety (keeping dear old "dad" away) taking them under your wing for Christmas- sounds like a heck of a Christmas to me!:D

(((BIG HUGS))) to ya!!:)

Your are wonderful for doing this. I like the idea of a camera and gift card so she can get prints made up. Also, have you thought of a grocery store gift card? I know our Safeway has them.

I hope that you have great holiday! :)

How wonderful it is that you are able to do this for a family! I am sure that the children and Mommy are going to be thrilled to get their gifts! What a kind and giving heart you have! It Truly makes one think of the true meaning of Christmas when you see others helping out those in need!

A gift I think would be nice for the baby would be a "pusher" toy that acts as an aid to walking, with being 9 months old she should be pulling herself up and "cruising" around soon!