# What's a good gift? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213 "2005-09-30T16:12:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TwoOnSunday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@TwoOnSunday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoOnSunday)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/1 "2005-09-30T16:12:41Z")
My boss has decided that instead of just taking maternity leave starting next Friday, she will become a stay at home mom. Meaning, she will never come back. I have enjoyed a year of prosperity in my life since working here - I believe, largely in part to her excellent job as my supervisor. I’m terrified that she’s leaving and I’ll be getting someone new (a topic for another post), but want to get her a gift when she leaves. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/2 "2005-09-30T16:21:30Z")
As a new mum, she’ll probably be needing some baby things–stuff for around the home would be nice, too. The simplest way is just to ask, really. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/3 "2005-09-30T17:38:52Z")
When I left my previous job, my group presented me with an autographed group photo in a nice frame. I really cherish it. It tickles me that they had to sneak around behind my back and find a time I wasn’t there to take the photo. A nice photo album is always appropriate for new parents. If you had a group photo, you could include it with the photo album. I also got an engraved letter opened. The inscription was: my name In appreciation Name of group Year ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/4 "2005-09-30T17:40:40Z")
Letter _opener_. They didn’t open my mail. ---
**Author:** ![TwoOnSunday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@TwoOnSunday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoOnSunday)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/5 "2005-09-30T18:00:09Z")
We did the baby shower thing already, so I’ve covered that angle. I want to buy something special for her use. As a new mom, I can see her not spending too much time on herself…maybe something to combat that? ---
**Author:** ![TwoOnSunday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@TwoOnSunday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoOnSunday)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/6 "2005-09-30T18:01:45Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > The simplest way is just to ask, really. If I ask, she’ll tell me its not necessary. That’s why I’m polling all of you wonderful dopers. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/7 "2005-09-30T21:13:40Z")
I’m a big fan of trying not to define people by whether or not they have kids, so I agree it should be something that has nothing to do with the new baby, especially if you’ve already given her a gift at the shower. What about a nice scarf? It’s coming up on winter soon enough, and you’re in a cold city… ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/8 "2005-09-30T21:35:16Z")
> [@TwoOnSunday](#): > > We did the baby shower thing already, so I’ve covered that angle. I want to buy something special for her use. As a new mom, I can see her not spending too much time on herself…maybe something to combat that? In that case, a pedicure, manicure, facial, or something along those lines might be nice. Does she like to read? You could pick out a book that’s special to you that you think she’d like, and write something inside the front cover letting her know how much you’ll miss her. ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/9 "2005-09-30T22:22:21Z")
Do you know her favorite restaurant or delivery place? Gift Certificates are a nice touch when she is home and not wanting to cook dinner… And don’t forget to send flowers or some such thing after the baby is born…and maybe a few months after as a “thinking of you” gift. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/10 "2005-10-01T10:00:14Z")
> [@TwoOnSunday](#): > > We did the baby shower thing already, so I’ve covered that angle. I want to buy something special for her use. As a new mom, I can see her not spending too much time on herself…maybe something to combat that? Some nice tea, either real tea or herbal tea, and a bath basket. And a few babysitting coupons so she can sit down and have her tea and bath! ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/11 "2005-10-01T10:30:15Z")
A friend of mine gave me a gift certificate for a pregnancy massage last time I was pregnant. If your boss still has a few weeks until she actually gives birth, this might be an idea. I had my massage (and a pedicure, so my toes looked nice while I was in the hospital 🙂 ) about a week before my due date. I’m not a massage person, but it was absolutely fantastic - the best gift ever. My body just hurt so late in the pregnancy and it really helped. ---
**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/12 "2005-10-01T13:29:51Z")
I don’t know how well you know her, but for friends who are close enough, I often take a card and a pair of socks after the baby is born. Included in the card is a gift certificate – it’s for me, as a Maid for a Day. I will come over for an entire day and clean, do laundry, pick up clutter, cook meals, and clean up afterwards. (Naturally, I don’t do windows. 🆒 ) I’ve been told this is wonderful. One friend nearly sobbed on my neck with joy, and all I’d done so far was empty the dishwasher and put all the dirties inside. But like I said, there has to be a certain level of intimacy before you can just take over someone’s kitchen. If you’re not that close to her, think of a variation. You might offer to take her grocery and errand list and do all her schlepping around for her a couple of times, while she takes a much needed nap, or just sits and gazes into the eyes of The Most Perfect Child in the World. Be creative! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/13 "2005-10-01T14:38:22Z")
[The Leatherman multyi-tool makes a perfect gift for the expectant mother.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002H49BC/qid=1128178314/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-4648663-3135066?v=glance&s=hi) ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/14 "2005-10-02T01:53:53Z")
There’s some pretty good suggestions here, so I’ll tell you what’s a bad gift. Candles. Do not get candles. For some reason they seem to be the “didn’t know what to get ya” gift for baby showers and weddings. I got so many candles for my wedding that if I lit them all at once I’m sure I’d burn the building down. They are all very pretty, but there’s just _too many_. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/15 "2005-10-02T02:39:59Z")
Two baby handprint kits. (The plaster-cast thingee.) One for each grandmother. Ah! You are so caring and sensitive! ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/16 "2005-10-02T11:30:59Z")
Any gift for her, a gift certificate for dinner is nice and a card in which you write all the things in your OP about how much she has helped you and what a wonderful supervisor she’s been. ---
**Author:** ![GrahamWellington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/54ee81/32.png) [@GrahamWellington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrahamWellington)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-gift/324213/17 "2005-10-02T15:23:09Z")
How much are you willing to spend?