December 10, 2014 In Adoptees, Adoption Advocates, Adoptive Parents Resources
Gift Ideas for the Birth Parents in Your Life
It is that time of year many of look forward to (some even
plan for) all year long! Christmas is
filled with sweet smells, family gatherings, cards to friends, beautiful music
and twinkling lights. Christmas is a
time for celebrating and memory making, a time for reminiscing about the past and being thankful for today and the future. While we are enjoying everything that brings Christmas to life it is a good time to remember those special people in our lives that blessed us in a way only they could.
The big question in our home this time of year is “what do we want to give to our Birth Families?” While there are some years the gift is kept simple due to circumstances but most years we try to create a package that is meaningful and from our hearts. We have had birth parents in ours lives for over 14 years…..sometimes it is hard to come up with something new and unique. If you are wondering what to get your children’s birth families for Christmas here are a few ideas that just might fit for you.
plan for) all year long! Christmas is
filled with sweet smells, family gatherings, cards to friends, beautiful music
and twinkling lights. Christmas is a
time for celebrating and memory making, a time for reminiscing about the past and being thankful for today and the future. While we are enjoying everything that brings Christmas to life it is a good time to remember those special people in our lives that blessed us in a way only they could.
The big question in our home this time of year is “what do we want to give to our Birth Families?” While there are some years the gift is kept simple due to circumstances but most years we try to create a package that is meaningful and from our hearts. We have had birth parents in ours lives for over 14 years…..sometimes it is hard to come up with something new and unique. If you are wondering what to get your children’s birth families for Christmas here are a few ideas that just might fit for you.
Baby’s 1st year ornament with year listed with or without a photo.
·
Blanket made out of pieces of the baby’s newborn
clothing.
clothing.
Years ago Brad and I sat and listened to one of our first Birth Parent
Panel classes and one Birth Mother spoke of the beautiful quilt she was given
by her adoptive couple. It was made out
of clothes the child wore during the year.
What a precious gift!
Panel classes and one Birth Mother spoke of the beautiful quilt she was given
by her adoptive couple. It was made out
of clothes the child wore during the year.
What a precious gift!
Hand print mold in a frame, on an easel or shadow box.
This mold kit comes through amazon.
Create a photo book of special pictures from the
past year.
past year.
Shutterfly is my favorite place to create a memory book.
They now have tools which make it even easier to make it look just like you want.
Create a movie of the child’s life over the
year.
year.
Include special songs you may
have for your child to share with their Birth Family.
Need some help? Go here for a how to guide.
have for your child to share with their Birth Family.
Need some help? Go here for a how to guide.
Hand prints on paper or a plate.
One year we created hearts and had our children press their hand in gold paint and then leave an imprint of their hand on the red heart. We punched a hole in the top of the heart and attached ribbon to make it into an ornament. We then tied the ornament to a bag of Hershey kisses with a note that says “With a heart full of love and a hand full of kisses we send you Merry Christmas Wishes!” |
| *Christmas tag to go with a bag of Hershey Kisses and an imprint of a child’s hand on a paper heart. To give as a gift to your child’s birth parent or someone special in your child’s life. |
To download full size click here.
To download 4 tags to a page go here.
Create a calendar for the coming year and fill
each month with pictures.
each month with pictures.
Shutterfly and/or Costco are great places to create a calendar.
Share a basket/bag of special things your family
enjoys from that year.
enjoys from that year.
 |
This year we are
sending each of our children’s birth parents something that represents the
child’s personality and likes from this year.
For example:
Brenley plays the Cello…she is in her 3rd year of playing and is
part of her Advanced Orchestra at school.
Brenley also loves movies and books and loves to play games. So we are sending her birth mother and her family a CD of a musician that plays the cello, the dvd Mr. Peabody
and Sherman along with a game called “Sherlock”.
part of her Advanced Orchestra at school.
Brenley also loves movies and books and loves to play games. So we are sending her birth mother and her family a CD of a musician that plays the cello, the dvd Mr. Peabody
and Sherman along with a game called “Sherlock”.
Haley is our fashionista and is really into creating outfits and doing nail
art….she also loves music and movies.
So we are sending her Birth Mother a special scarf picked out by Haley,
some nail fun and a favorite “girly” movie.
art….she also loves music and movies.
So we are sending her Birth Mother a special scarf picked out by Haley,
some nail fun and a favorite “girly” movie.
Camden loves loves loves trains. So we are sending his Birth Mother and her
little family the Christmas book called “The Christmas Train” and a puzzle a favorite movie and favorite popcorn snack.
little family the Christmas book called “The Christmas Train” and a puzzle a favorite movie and favorite popcorn snack.
Sadly we don’t have contact with Spencer’s Birth Mother or we would send her the
book “You Are Special” by Max Lucado.
book “You Are Special” by Max Lucado.
We wish we could share with her how special we think she is!
What about extended Birth Family?
My Mom and Dad are Birth Great-Grandparents.
Their first Great Grandchild was placed for adoption. My Sister is a Birth Grandmother.
Their first Great Grandchild was placed for adoption. My Sister is a Birth Grandmother.
I know they love seeing pictures of their
Birth Grandson.
Birth Grandson.
If it feels appropriate
to send gifts to extended birth family
and you can’t think of anything to send….pictures are greatly appreciated!
to send gifts to extended birth family
and you can’t think of anything to send….pictures are greatly appreciated!
Four amazing times in my life I have been handed the supreme gift….the dream
and wish of my heart. I love having an
opportunity to give a little something back to the people who blessed me with
such an amazing life! Our gift to them
could never measure up to their gift to us…..but if it brings them a smile and
reminds them of our love for them then it was received the way we hoped!
Happy Gifting!
Brenda Horrocks is a mother of four children through adoption. She promotes adoption, foster care and Utah’s Safe Haven Law through blogging, public speaking and writing. She enjoys time with family, reading books, running, gardening and movies. You can visit her blog here.