Great-Grandparents are so loving, cherished and wise.  Yet it can be very challenging to give a gift you are proud to give when there are so many gift-giving occasions throughout the year.  From Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day, birthdays, and holidays, there are a lot of gift ideas to come up with each year.  There are several gift-giving guidelines that I have adopted over the years to make it easier to give a meaningful gift to a great-grandparent.

First, if there are items that a great-grandparent truly needs, such as warm blanket, new slippers, or grocery gift cards, I try to wrap the gift beautifully and tie in an emotion.  For example, if giving a blanket, I might have it monogrammed or perhaps include a handwritten note about how the blanket reminded me of the warmth in their home and I wanted to return that warmth to them.  Every time they use the blanket, they will remember who gave it to them and why.

Second, for special occasions, I look to combine my efforts with other family members.  You can pool resources to come up with a wonderful gift.  Resources could be money, time, or talents.  Talents such as woodworking, photography, art, cooking, computer skills, writing, or organizing can be used to create something more wonderful than individuals can create on their own. 

One of my favorite ideas using combined resources is what I call the "letter of the month."  I gave this gift to my grandmother on her 95th birthday and it brought tears to her eyes.  My contribution was an idea and organization, the rest everyone else contributed.  We gave my Grandma a pretty paper linen box and told her that once a month for the next year all the people who signed the card would be sending her something in the mail, a letter, card, photograph, child's drawing, etc.  By gathering as many relatives as I could, Grandma received some type of letter or gift every few days.  An unexpected result was that she spent time and energy writing back.  Her sense of connection and joy were tenfold the effort.  It has been so appreciated we are now on our third year, and will continue as long as she remains healthy enough to enjoy.

Lastly, I remember the power of memories, photos, and time over things.  A special picture in a beautiful frame, a photo or favorite saying added to a quilt or pillow, or an ornament can be a powerful reminder they are remembered and loved.  A scrapbook of memorabilia or letters can be a wonderful walk down memory lane.  A handwritten note can be read and read again.  A time set aside to visit over coffee or a meal on a regular basis, or time to help with errands or chores, can also be appreciated and remembered.  Grandchildren can make a special day more special just by being there.  Children bring so much joy to great-grandparents.  A child's photograph, handprint, handmade card, artwork, or letters are always treasured gifts for a great-grandparent.