I got my mom this atomic clock/weather station. Gives indoor/outdoor highs/lows for the last 12 hrs, predicts weather for next 12/24 hrs. They say it takes 14 days to set itself to predict weather, but mine started showing snow on screen on 3rd day, next morning we had snow. (Got one for myself, my LaCrosse bit the dust after 3 yrs). This is an Acu-Rite brand, super easy set up. I like it for her because the screen is big, easy to read. One "con" is no LCD contrast adjustment, has to be hung at a higher spot on wall so other background images don't "shadow" on the screen. (Tho it will also stand, like a picture frame.) Another great stocking stuffer are those $15 remote light switches. (Can't find a pic of one & need to head out now, but they are everywhere now, Walgreen's, Ace, big box stores). There are two kinds. You plug a lamp into the switch, then either operate the lamp from a push button remote or wall 'flip' switch you can install in a handy spot (double faced backing or small screws). My mom took a few tumbles, so I hooked one up to her bedside lamp and set remote on her bedside table. All she has to do is press remote now, rather than reach over for lamp's switch. Those have been so handy I've given her several, she loves them!

Luth, I think it's that we, as parents, are more educated now and that our society is more open to Learning Disabilities. When I was growing up, you never heard of Ritalin, Adderal or any of the other meds out there. (I've talked to my own mom about this & my siblings and I were all probably ADD/ADHD.) Actually my nephew is ADD & his psychiatrist told my sis that she was ADHD, just by watching her behavior! I remember my sister having problems concentrating during school (K or 1st grade) because it was boring to her (she later skipped a grade). When our little bro's IQ was tested, it was just a few points from genius. But he's killed all his brain cells now with illegal drug use. Maybe if the resources available now had been available 30 years ago, things would have been different for him. (He did & still does fit into almost every category for ADHD.) I'm the parent of two tween girls. My oldest was diagnosed as being ADHD when she was 4 months into Kindergarten. She had severe behavior problems at school (climbing on the tables, under the tables, talking over the teacher, much more). After she began treatment for ADHD, there was an apparent difference. We (her doctor, her teacher & I) had a very good relationship though it all. She had dealt beautifully with her ADHD for several years & then WAM! Puberty! Actually her teachers last year didn't even know that she was ADHD until I mentioned it. (She's not currently on a 504 plan.) She's always had an extremely large vocabulary. By the time she was in 2nd grade she was reading on at least 5th grade level. She's now in 7th grade & is reading on 11-12 grade level. She's always been exposed to as much as I can expose her to. She's been taking music for the past 4-5 years. (She started on piano, but also taking clarinet & is 2nd chair on her Junior High band.) They both have picked up some foreign language too. (I took German a few years ago & they practiced with me. I've also had to purchase French tapes for them.) Now, my little one (age 10) is quietier than her big sis, but she's also got a HUGE vocabulary. Her school tests reading comp every 6 weeks & hers was 1026 on the Lexile table this past week. She's been reading above 9th grade for the past 2 years. Her teachers last year told me that she would have been in the Gifted/Talented program except that she's TOO quiet! She's taken violin since she was 5 & decided this summer that she wanted to learn flute too. Good luck with your soon-to-be little one.

I gave my dad a new, silver pocket knife--he always carries one (a small one), as well as a handkerchief. It's one of those "my dad" things that I've always liked about him; he was always prepared. And just a week before the wedding he'd lamented that his was getting a little dull. And I think one of the decorative panels was cracked or something. So it was something he needed, and it was small and personal; I just got a slightly fancy version of it. My folks didn't pay for the wedding, but they DID a lot. I wanted to say thanks. I don't remember what I got my mom--maybe a beaded evening bag I saw that I realized would match the dress she was going to wear? Sort of "spur of the moment" thing. I didn't have a really formal thing, and i don't think my sis got them presents, so they weren't expecting anything. I just happened to get two very SPECIFIC ideas that were unique to them. I didn't worry about getting a present for my in-laws. I didn't give the presents out at the rehearsal barbecue, co my ILs didn't even know about them. Plus, I was very specifically saying "thanks for ripping up your schedule, your home, etc., for this wedding." My ILs didn't do that much. They flew out for the wedding, and were helpful where they could be, but that was about it. They did throw a big reception back in their home town, but I didn't feel like they were doing much for US; that reception was really for THEM. So while I was gracious, and grateful, it didn't move me the same way my DMom & DDad's organizing and cleaning and prepping did. I'm not a fan of generic sorts of gifts--picture frames, etc. Those do feel like a "shuffling around of the money" thing.

LOL, I thought my brilliant idea — giving my son’s GF a nice overnight bag for graduation — was so unique and creative! Not so much, I guess! For her it’s extra appropriate since they will be living pretty far from each other for at least a couple of years. They’ve been seeing each other for 6+ years (since 11th grade), and for the duration of college have been about 6 hours apart and now will be even further from each other. Anyway, I got her a nice Kipling weekender bag. DS confirmed that she doesn’t have anything like it and that she would love it. My first thought was jewelry too but she doesn’t wear much, and the few small items she does wear are from DS. We have a few high school graduations coming up, too. For those I got Dr Seuss “oh, the places you’ll go” covered Tervis tumblers and inside the tumblers I’m putting gift cards to their respective college bookstores.