Gifts for Stay-at-Home Parents

A stay-at-home parent's job is never done. Express your gratitude with gifts of service and time away from home.

1. Personal chef service Purchase the makings for three to five meals. Choose a day when the recipient will be away for several hours (or arrange an outing as part of the gift). Involve the kids in chopping, mixing, and assembling the meals, storing them in the refrigerator or freezer to eat during the following days. Alternatively, look for a business in your area that offers meal preparation services.
2. A clean house Hire a housekeeping service and surprise the recipient with a sparkling house. You might have to make a few phone calls to find someone who will clean on a one-time basis. Consider asking a trusted teenaged babysitter what she would charge to clean for you. Or do the cleaning yourself and enjoy the oohs and aahs when your labors are revealed.
3. Auto detailing "Stay-at-home" seems like a misnomer on days spent running errands and shuttling kids to and fro. All that driving leaves little time to keep the car clean. Enlist the kids if they're old enough and make the car spotless inside and out.
4. A day of pampering Gift certificates for massages and other spa services are always welcome. For a personal approach, buy or rent an instructional video and learn to give your own massage. Tip: Stay-at-home parents are often stretched to find enough alone time for even a simple shower. Keeping the kids occupied and away from the bathroom is a simple but meaningful gesture any day of the year.
5. A night on the town Arrange childcare and give a restaurant gift certificate and tickets to a movie or other entertainment. What makes this work is relieving the recipient of any responsibility for the evening. Plan a meal for the kids and babysitter, make reservations if needed, and print out driving directions in advance.

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