Gift Guide Part 1: Partners, Parents, and Grandparents

A Thing or Two with Claire and Erica

14-11-2022 • 1 hr 6 mins

It’s that time of year: the unveiling of the best gift guide in the podcast multiverse (we like to think). Part 1 stars your most charming—and trickiest—partners, parents, and grandparents. Next week, tune in for part 2, and, in the meantime, dig into the ol’ present-paralysis back catalogue.

For the full episode recap—with ALL THE LINKS!—head to the A Thing or Two site.

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Husbands and Boyfriends!

42-year-old male. Recently started dating. Lawyer. Dad. World traveler. Cyclist. Just bought a new house. Moved back to the area (Philly) from upstate new york. photographer. reader. avid home cook. knows a Parisian knot. loves a good meal out. linen shirt wearer. loafers/boat shoes with shorts kind of guy. Enjoys wine and cocktails. catholic raised. city dweller. nerdy and thoughtful.

Husband who thinks he's outdoorsy but hasn't been camping in decades.

Husband who owns a ceramics company and has an eye for design.

Wives and Girlfriends!

Chronically ill wife with long-covid 2.5 years, doesn't like surprises, and in bed most days. loves sports, her friends, sitting in the park, and a great deal.

Grandparents!

My 90-year-old grandma who refuses hearing aides because we don't visit enough and lives off of chipotle and chips.

My mostly home-bound grandma. Loves her tomato plants, vitamins, and Bob Barker.

Moms, Stepmoms, and Mothers-In-Law!

My mom is my white whale: needs nothing, no guilt in buying herself things she wants. Hates Christmas but derives joy from getting to complain about it. Good cook with a global palette (has all the gadgets she approves of and a long list of gadgets she does not endorse), news junkie, reads a lot. 61, both of my parents are retired, lives in the Pacific Northwest. Has taste but no style, hates clutter. Buys her clothes at Costco. Drinks nice wine that she also buys at Costco. Thinks art is stupid (I am an artist). She's very funny but she really leans into her brand of "antisocial curmudgeon." Successful gifts in the past were an NYtimes subscription and a fancy amaryllis bulb that she can text me about and shame it for blooming the wrong time of year. I try to veer towards consumables. She can also appreciate a handmade ceramic (functional, not decorative).

My mom: She always asks for electronics and then ends up not being able to figure them out - or just doesn't use them. Want to get her something meaningful she will use.

Stepmother-in-law who is a spiritual counselor in Colorado. Obviously vegan.

Mother In Law - has more clothes than Nordstrom. Lives alone but her party line is always ringing.

This one is for my five-foot-tall Italian American mother in law who has the thickest New York accent I've ever heard and could be described as "a tiny tank" in both stature and personality. she lives on Long Island and has access to everything; also tends to buy herself whatever she wants. so she's extremely hard to gift for. Whatever we give should probably be a physical gift vs. an experience. she is very judgmental and critical and not warm and fuzzy - but she has also had the difficult task of being a single parent to two kids, one of whom, my SIL, is living at home with significant physical and intellectual disabilities and who my MIL devotes all her time to - my SIL is so well taken care of. Looking for a gift that somehow recognizes/responds to all of this.

Mom and her husband just bought a boat. So something nautical or for small space living.

Mother-in-law who is the solo living grandparent to our 4-year-old and Buddhist priest who wants nothing but time with us. However, she is always a generous and thoughtful gift-giver so I can't just give her time. She is a tea lover but you can imagine how much tea I've already given her. She has a dog, loves the color periwinkle, and spends a lot of time on Zoom with her Sangha. She's forever 'writing a book' and loves getting on board with a system (for writing, for organizing, whatever). Help!

Dads, Step-Dads, and Fathers-in-Law!

My dad, who is a retired chef (he still has knives from 40 years ago that he painstakingly cares for and finds most home kitchens to be very pretentious), can build/fix anything, loves to read non-fiction, and was suspended from Twitter frequently for tweeting insults at Donald Trump

Mid 60's Frenchman who lives in Alsace with his wife and they travel a lot in their RV. they are also coming to the states next spring on a cross-country RV trip so I really think it should revolve around that. but more about him- he doesn't drink or smoke (some Frenchman he is) when we would drive to Florida once a year he would always be so excited to get to put on Latin American music on the radio. last year we got him a record player and records that I am 100% sure he doesn't use. he loves scrabble and card games, and he builds these badass card holders out of wood that he then does wood-burning personalized deco on. he has everything he wants and he wears lee jeans.

Dad who enjoys perfecting logistics and explaining credit card point strategy.

Former CIA and green beret but loves appletinis and bubble baths.

I need help finding a gift for my picky and hard-working lawyer Dad. He loves outdoor adventures, Neil Young, doing puzzles with my Mom, and reading. My parents recently became part-time New Yorkers and keep buying art museum memberships. He loves to do research before purchasing anything and tends to buy whatever he wants. My Mom is a chronic shopper, so he usually has multiples of whatever he confesses to liking - Ugg slippers, Jack Black face wash, William Henry knives. He is a big guy and doesn’t fit into standard S-L sizes. He also doesn’t drink alcohol or coffee. In the past, he has disliked gifts that involve more labor (i.e. a smoker, a drone). I am not opposed to making a donation in his name, but my family’s love language is gifts and I would need to accompany a donation with something for him to unwrap. Per Claire’s request for dental records, he lost his front teeth as a kid playing Pee Wee football. He broke his fake set in a fight the day of his junior prom and attended the dance sans front teeth. He is so fun and deserves a great gift. Last year, I got him a Storyworth membership and he loved it (thanks for the recommendation!) I am hoping for a repeat success. Also, he is a January birthday, so I could use multiple ideas. Please help!

Wisconsin Father in Law who likes sports. End of list.

YAY.

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