What Is the Best Gift for Parents?
What is the best gift for parents? In my opinion, the best gift we can give our parents and teach our children is thoughtfulness!
If you do a search, you’ll find bookoodles of synonyms for the word gift. I love this definition of a gift: “something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation.”
After all, it’s the nature of a gift that we give it freely without expecting anything in return. The same is true for thoughtfulness.
What is thoughtfulness?
In a nutshell, thoughtfulness is consideration for the needs of other people. We behave thoughtfully because it’s kind and polite, not because we expect to get something back. What could be a better gift for parents than thoughtfulness?
Thoughtfulness is a skill, too. Before kids can give this gift, they need to see their parents practicing it.
How can thoughtfulness be taught?
In raising 7 children, I’ve often asked, “How can thoughtfulness be taught?” I believe the best way is for parents to demonstrate it. We do that by serving one another. For example, when Scott is getting coffee for himself, he never fails to ask me and the kids if we want coffee, too.
Because I am an only child, this kind of thoughtfulness wasn’t as much a part of my life as it should have been. Scott has taught me so very much. Through him I have learned to demonstrate day-to-day thoughtfulness towards him and the kids.
The kids, thankfully, have picked up on this practice as the regular course of life. Last weekend was a huge demonstration of that.
The Best Anniversary Gift: a Romantic Dinner at Home
My daughters worked so hard to make a dreamy romantic evening of good food and privacy for Scott and me in celebration of our anniversary. We have always made a big deal of our anniversary for the kids’ sakes, and they have given that gift back to us.
They had been planning this extravegant menu for weeks, or so I heard! And I love that they had no expectation of anything but their parents’ happiness in return.
They chose the location to be right outside our courtyard. Leftover curtains hung over the doorway, and we entered through them into romantic bliss.
As soon as we glided through the entrance, the lights in trees enchanted us. Then we were blown away by a perfectly set table with flowers, china, and a lit candle.
On top of that, the kids covered our chairs with heated blankets to keep us warm in the February chill. That comfort was better than any 5-star restaurant.
Proud (and Stuffed) Parents: This Dinner Blew Us Away
The theme of our anniversary gift dinner was seafood and strawberries! So thoughtful and so delicious.
Anniversary Menu:
I’ll have these recipes up on the blog soon!
- Scallop Soup
- Shrimp Civiche
- Fried Goat Cheese Salad
- Charcuterie Board
- Homemade Bread with Herb Butter
- Strawberry Sherbert
- Broiled Lobster and Mussels with Brown Butter
- Tiramisu with Mini Donuts and Caramel Covered Strawberries
I am blessed beyond measure with the world’s most thoughtful kids.
If you are wondering what is the best gift for your parents, it doesn’t really have to be an anniversary dinner. Just practice thoughtfulness to make your loved ones feel special.
