I’ve recently been feeling very bad and have had issues at work, and my wife has been (as she always is :)) the bright spot in my day, I can feel her love and support so deeply and I know I can never truly repay that except by giving it to her in return, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to spoil her a bit too. She and I have been together 15 years and married for 12.
I really want to thank her for everything she’s done for me recently, so I want to do a lot of nice things for her (I have some things in mind – a few little gifts picked out, a nice day and a nice evening planned, just a bunch of things she enjoys), but one thing she absolutely adores is being surprised (which she will be by this in general, but I’d like to surprise her with something unique too). What sort of (preferably cheap or free – she’d love anything that took blood, sweat, and tears rather than cold, hard cash) sweet gifts would be fitting to give to her as a “thank you, I love you, here’s something as special and unique as you”? Thank you in advance to all who help.
Tl;dr – My wife is amazing and I want her to know it, anyone have a bonus odd/unique idea for a gift?
3 comments
Truthfully we can suggest all kinds of things, but the best and most meaningful things that truly say “here is something as special and unique as you” are going to be things that are unique to who she is as a person, her interests and needs, the relationship the two of you share, etc.
For example, I have an elderly dog who has been with me since I was in my early 20s (she’s 15 and just beat cancer). If my partner ordered one of those kits that allows him to make a necklace out of her nose and did it, or did a photography session with me and my dog, planned a picnic with all my dogs favorite things, did a paint by numbers with my dogs photo, etc. I’d be over the moon. I’d feel very seen and loved. But that’s not going to work for everyone.
Similarly, my partner has loved a particular card game/ collected cards from that game for years. So one year I bought red booster packs from that game, taped them to green chopsticks, and made a bouquet which I put in a vase as a centerpiece on our dining room table along with his favorite foods. Again, that wouldn’t work for someone else.
You’ve known your wife for years. What does she like? What are small things she might like but would never buy for herself because it seems like a tiny luxury (example: the more expensive chocolate bar, a little glass bauble, a speciality cooking gadget, the nicer shampoo, etc.)? What are things she appears to need but does without? What are ways you can ease her mental or physical load? What are experiences she’d love to share with you? What are you good at making that she’d enjoy? Again, the coolest ideas are going to take into account who she is and what she likes. Because making her a yoga platform in the yard is not helpful if she hates the outdoors and isn’t a yogi, knitting her a special scarf isn’t going to work if you live in a tropical climate and she hates knitted crafts, and making her a comic book in which she is the superhero isn’t going to work well if she hates comics.
Many people will suggest decent generalized gift ideas, but the very best things I’ve received that have made me feel appreciated have been things that are tailored to who I am as a person.
EDIT: per your post history she’s working really hard to quit smoking. Would she appreciate or be offended by an “emergency” kit of various things to use instead when she feels like a smoke but wants to avoid it (funny jokes and a supportive letter, various candies, a coupon for a smoke free make out session, a gift card for a teeth whitening, etc.)?
Write your love down for her. Something in your handwriting that is personal to you guys. This takes thought, time, and maybe tears. Not sure you are by the ocean but putting it in a little glass bottle together and watching it float in ocean….Or she can keep it forever! Either way I think that would mean a lot to her.
My husband got me a personalized star map (just google that) from the night of our first date and I love it. There’s a ton of options and of course you can use whatever date(s) you want.