I want to thank a sorority sister who gave me alot of clothes for my 3 month old daughter. She gave me a ton of clothes while I was still pregnant and I gave her a thank you card. At that time I told her I would definitely "pay it forward."
She just gave me another box full of clothes (6-9 mth, 9 mths and some 1 year) and another thank you card just doesnt seem like enough. I am so grateful for the clothes. My family is on a tight budget right now and she is saving us a bundle.
I really want to do something special but money is tight right now. Any suggestions on a way to really show her how much we appreciate her gifts? Her daughter is 1.
Thanks in advance
Mommies, Thank you for all of the great responses. I really got a laugh out of all the baking ideas, because that is the one thing she WOULD NOT like. LOL. She just told a group of us, a month ago, how she doesnt eat home made food made by others. She said that she didnt mean to insult anyone, but thats just the way she was raised. :) So, I will definitely get her a gift card and a picture of my baby girl in one of her baby girl's outfits. Love you ladies!
Grandma T. took my idea and enclose a thoughtful note expressing how much the clothes mean to you in this tight time. I love getting notes that have a few more sentences than the usual...."Thanks for the clothes"
Good luck and best wishes!
I'm always happy to pass along clothes that I know someone can use.
Just knowing that is enough for me.
Send a nice card/note with a small gift card for gas, breakfast coffee, etc.
Just write her a thank you note. Expressing your heartfelt appreciation for it.
That is always, proper etiquette.
Thank you cards, do not cost anything.
I doubt if she expects a 'gift' or anything demonstrative.
Especially if she knows that you have financial concerns.
Grandma T., and Sunny D., had a great idea.
Whenever I give others my kids' clothing... I DO NOT ever, expect, anything in return. I know I am helping the Mom, and I never expect anything back.
Give her a homemade certificate for 3 hours of free babysitting.
Send her some pics of your baby in some of the outfits with a thank you note of appreciation.
I agree with Liz S. I'm also grateful to just be able to unload the clothes my kids have outgrown to someone I know truly needs them and appreciates them. I'm great with a simple "thank you so much!" response I get. But I understand you feel like you'd enjoy doing something little more. Maybe take a cute photo of your child in one of the outfits and write a little note about how much it's your childs new "favorite" outfit. Or bring her some cookies with your child wearing one of the outfits.
It's clear you are thankful:)
I have a girlfriend who gave me tuns of clothes for my girls. In return since money is tight, I made stuff for her daughter. A tutu, a hand painted sign for her door, things like that. Maybe just a small gift that you put your time and thought into. Good Luck!
As someone who has given and received bunches of kid clothes, I am always just thankful to get rid of the extras! It is wonderful to know that the clothes I've used are going to benefit someone else. I've never expected anything in return.
Maybe you could send a nice card, invite them to dinner, etc. I am sure the woman just wants to clear out some stuff without throwing away something that could be of use to another child. She's probably just as thankful as you are!
Bake her some cookies or a pie. I think homemade gifts are great for a heartfelt thank you!
Another idea is to offer her free babysitting for a few hours on one night... best wishes and God bless!
I like the idea of sending a photo of your daughter in a few of the clothes with a thank you note. Maybe even trace your daughter's handprint on the front of the card with the caption "Thanks so much for giving us a helping hand"
If you bake you could bake her some cookies and deliver them on a nice platter that she can re-use. Or can you make fudge? You could also put this in a nice reusable candy dish. Or bake bread, or anything you specialize in, it's the thought that counts. Your gift doesn't have to cost a lot, nice platters or serving dishes can be purchased inexpensively at Target or even dollar stores : )
Congrats on your new daughter!
I love the babysitting idea! And I, like another mama, was just glad I could give to someone and get them off my hands! My first thought was bake something for her, or make some spiced tea, you can find the recipe online. My favorite is the one with Tang. Put it in an old mason jar with a sweet note. But just a thank you and paying it forward is probably enough for her!
I agree with the votes for the heartfelt card...and then either some baked goods, or a shared cup of coffee...time to visit and enjoy your friendship. She doesn't need more things, just time with a dear friend.
As someone who is the giver of clothes, you are doing her a huge favor by taking them off her hands! Also, I always feel blessed that I can bless others. So your thanks and a sweet note is probably more than sufficient. If you really want to do something, can't go wrong with babysitting, in my opinion!
First of all, she's probably thrilled to get some of those items out of her own house and going to someone she knows is really needing/using them.
A few suggestions (without first looking at the other responses, so I apologize if I repeat).
1. babysit
depending on your talents:
2. if a cook - cook a meal
3. if a baker - bake a cake/cookies/bread/etc.
4. if a photographer - offer to shoot some pics of the baby/family and give them the entire sitting on CD so they can print
5. if a seamstress - sew some cute clothes, bags, blankets or stuffed animals
6. if you knit/crochet - hats, blankets, toys
7. if you like to scrapbook - offer to make her a scrapbook using her daughter's pictures
8. if you paint - paint a canvas of their daughter or something for her room
9. if your handy - offer to paint a room, fix something for her
10. if she loves to read - find a book in your collection that you really enjoyed and pass it on with a heartfelt inscription
Just keep your ears and eyes open for an opportunity to provide a service to her that won't be a huge expense for you, but will be a blessing for her.
If she is local, take her to lunch or to get a manicure. Or a small gift card for coffee or a salon service. Other suggestions from mom's were great. I love nothing more than seeing my friends beutiful children in my kids "pre-driven" clothing ;-)
A friend of mine and co-worker of my husband, lost her husband to a sudden heart attack, he died only months from her having there 3rd child, they had 2 boys first and this one was a girl. They wanted it to be a surprise, and it was for her but bitter sweet. She was so distraught and strapped from the funeral and waiting on benefits. That she never got a chance to get clothes and with this being her 3rd she didnt get a shower or anything. So when the baby was born, I went to the hospital to visit. I gathered all my 3-6 months up to 9ms girl clothes (I had two girls 2 years apart so I had so many new and older clothes they were coming out of my ears, I shop expensive stuff so they last), and mostly the best ones I had. I put them in nice totes, 3 large ones. My husband and I took them to her as a gift. She was so grateful. We took them to her house for her as well. She later took some pics in the dress, and she brought her children over for the older boys to sing a thank you song they wrote for us. She made us some pies, and shes not indian or knows how to cook indian food but she tried her hand at a curry and some sweets, and gave that to our mixed family. I thought it was a wonderful gesture. later in that year when she got everything under control she treated me to a day at the spa and a drink afterwards. I told her that was enough, NO MORE, cause I wanted to give her those things. Most people give that type of gift and already know they are thanked.
I think a note is great too, but I would be like you and want to do something. Could you take her out to lunch and/or dinner? It could be a win-win, especially if you can go kid-free for some "mom time". Or even just coffee? If that's not an option could you bring her family a meal one night? Maybe make an extra lasagne or whatever you can bring, no cooking for a night is always good in my book. If not, bring her a dessert or something with the thank you note, I think anything you decide will be well received!
I believe your note is adequate, and will be appreciated more than you realize. What you said in your post about how her generosity is saving y'all "a bundle" is really all you need to say. Some people like doing things for others w/o expecting a repayment. Paying it forward is the best idea, too.
I agree with Janice B. A thank you note along with the comfort that you will pay it forward is sufficient.
Think of it this way...not only is she helping you but you are helping her FREE up space in her house! I give and get tons of cloths and the most i have ever done with a gift card.
