Hi everyone. My husband and I have been lucky enough to employ an exceptional babysitter. She has been with us since our baby was 4 months old- she is 3 years old now. Our babysitter comes 2 days a week and is seriously a part of our family. It is obvious how much our daughter loves her, she screams as soon as she sees the babysitter walk in the door and is glued to her all day long. She insists on giving the babysitter at least 10 hugs before she goes out the door at night. Our babysitter is amazing to our daughter, she makes up games to play, paints her nails, brings her treats etc. She even asks us to go out so she can spend time with our daughter or offers to take her to the park for an hour on the weekend just so she can "hang out with her" and won't accept pay for these park visits. We know how lucky we are and will be so sad to see her go at the end of May. I dislike having to leave my daughter to work but knowing that she's with someone who loves her is such a great, reassuring feeling! She will be finishing graduate school and will move on to her career. My husband and I want to do something really special for her, we want to show her our gratitude for taking such excellent care of our daughter and we want to show her how proud we are of her for completing grad school. Financially things are a little tough for us (aren't they for everyone?) but this is something my husband and I really want to do. I thought we could start planning now for a gift for her that way we can finance it. She wants a Blackberry which is a couple hundred dollars so we were thinking of buying her that OR she has a love for designer purses so we were thinking of maybe buying her a purse. We are willing to spend a couple hundred dollars on her because this young woman has been such a fantastic addition to our family and we truly love her. Does anyone have any other gift ideas? Or what is your opinion on the purse or blackberry? Which one is better?Thanks!
Well, to answer your question specifically.
ReplyDeleteI'd go with the blackberry.
Purses can be very personal, so unless you truly know her taste, it may be a miss?
I would probably go with a gift certificate or money, though it is not as personal as a gift.
You could also try feeling her out or if you know her family, ask them.
That's what my employer did with me.
Glad you had an exceptional sitter.
I would check to make sure she has a plan that supports a blackberry first. Those plans are very expensive.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it is ok to spend money for the blackberry- maybe a gift card. But have you considered many a handmade gift? I bet your nanny would like a scrapbook or a framed picture with maybe hand prints. Nannies, as well as parents, love the thought you put into your gifts. The more personal, the better.
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ReplyDeleteRE-POST FOR ANONYMOUS:
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
Definately go for the blackberry! she will be soooooo happy if you get her that!
6:08 AM
(YOU NEED A MONIKER!)
I'd say go with the Blackberry, but yes, the data plan can be expensive. Maybe just a couple hundred dollars in cash with a really sweet note or something handmade by your daughter, and then if she decides to go with the phone, she'll have the means to do so?
ReplyDeletePersonally what I like the most is something handmade from my charges.
ReplyDeleteGo ahead with a purse or blackberry but I would still have your child make her something cute. Those sort of things always mean so much more to me.
You should get both, if you look in the right places you can get both for under a few hundred.
ReplyDeleteGo to the outlets with a coupon and you can get up to 80% off on a coach bag. or try Ebay
for the blackberry, look online.
I'm a bag lady myself. I absolutely love purses. But I know I'm hard to buy for because I either love it or hate it. You would be much safer with the Blackberry and from the kids, putting together a little album sounds like a sweet idea and I would be really touched if someone did that for me!
ReplyDeleteNanny Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI'm a nanny, and if I found out my employer was considering buying me a Blackberry but then decided to give me a set of the children's handprints, I would set it ablaze on her kitchen table.
I thought Nanny Sarah had a really thoughtful idea. You sound exceptionally obnoxious and ungrateful, Parkland Pam. I bet you would probably even "set it ablaze" in front of the children so that they could see all of their hard work go up in smoke too, huh?
ReplyDeleteSorry, but homemade gifts like that ARE a lame thank you, and will indeed end up set ablaze, thrown out, and shat on.
ReplyDeleteA thank you gift should be purely indulgent, and COMPLETELY about the other person - not her charges.
Is it at all possible to purchase the blackberry plus a one year service contract (so she doesn't have to worry about the service charge?) That might be more than you can spend. I think you're very thoughtful OP. Please do not under any circumstances take bad advice posted here and opt for a homemade gift, unless it is in addition to the b-berry. Best Seller is a better person than I (or a better fibber), but I am alas, among the camp who would vomit with rage over such a lame ass 'thank you'.
Yes, Best Seller — you have me pegged. I would set it ablaze in front of the children... and then set the children ablaze. Just to nail down my point.
ReplyDeleteI never said "instead of"... Parkland Pam never mentioned the thought of any other gift.
ReplyDeleteI know OP wants to do something extravagant, and a homemade album from the kids is not. However, I DO think a Blackberry (and with service, I agree) would be a top-notch gift. But ALSO let the children make an album.
Nanny Sarah: "Yeah, it is ok to spend money for the blackberry- maybe a gift card. But have you considered a handmade gift?"
ReplyDeleteNS was saying "in addition to" a Blackberry or gift card - a homemade gift would be nice.
Would Parkland Pam still set the homemade gift ablaze?
I agree very much with the people who are saying to be sure to include a personal touch as well. Whether you get the Blackberry or the purse (I'd go with the purse if you know her style, but that's jsut me) depends on what you think she would like.
ReplyDeleteIt would also be nice of you to include a photograph of your daughter, and especially a note. I have never felt more sparkly than when my employer gave me a note saying how much they valued me being part of their children's lives.
Be sure to keep in touch with her! I'm sure she'd love getting mail from your family and your daughter.
At this point, yes, I would set the homemade gift AND the children ablaze, and keep the Blackberry.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the Blackberry, since you know she wants one. I would check with her family, to make sure they aren't planning to get her one.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, something made by your daughter such as a card or painting, and a heartfelt card from you will mean a lot to her.
I have to disagree with Em, I think choosing a phone is far more personal than choosing a purse.
ReplyDeleteI vote no for the blackberry, unless you know the specific model she wants and which wireless carrier she uses.
Because she obviously adores your daughter including something handmade from her would be great.
When I left my last job my employer bought a few of those unfinished wood picture frames from a craft store. My charge and I each decorated one, stuck in a picture of us, and gave them to each other. I still have it on my desk.
What sort of career is the nanny pursuing? If in fact it is a professional one, she may appreciate a 'designer' briefcase (that sounds so masculine and yet they're not). Also consider that depending on her new employers, her job may come with a blackberry and service in which case the one you but would be surplus.
ReplyDeleteDo you know which cell phone provider she is with? That will also make a big difference.
ReplyDeleteSome phone companies when you have a blackberry, require a data plan. Some do not. If she has wanted a blackberry, she probably understands that they do require data plans depending on the provider.
You also will want to do your research as to which Blackberry to get her.
www.phonescoop.com and www.phonearena.com have great reviews on phones.
Blackberry's at full retail price are generally very expensive (between 300- 500 bucks). You will not get it for only a couple hundred because that is the price with a 2 year service agreement.
Blackberry's can be fantastic phones and data devices, because you have everything at your fingertips-- e-mail, internet, calendar, etc. It would probably be especially helpful since she is graduating school and will be moving on to a career in which I'm sure she would find great use for the Blackberry.
Since you know she likes purses, she probably already has a bunch. The Blackberry is something she DOESN'T have, and it will be something she is sure to use for awhile, especially when she starts working.
I am a nanny, and this is what I would most appreciate, and why:
ReplyDeleteGet her a cute purse (not designer) in a style that you think she'd love. Include a matching wallet (again, nothing too expensive, just something cute) Inside the wallet, include wallet sized pics of your daughter and family if you have them, as well as a **cash bonus**
TRUST ME, she will appreciate it! Your ideas on the designer purse or blackberry are extrememly thoughtful, but also risky. With an expensive purse, its much riskier- what if she doesn't like it? Same with the blackberry. Plus, like others said, her rates each month will likely go up.
With a less expensive, cutesy style purse and matching wallet (have your daughter help pick them out!!) as well as the sentimental touch of wallet pics and/or a framed photo in the purse, you really can't go wrong....
I would take what you were planning to spend on the expensive gift originally, and put that as the cash bonus in the wallet. She would really appreciate that, trust me. She is at a stage in her life where money will be tight, and its what she probably really needs.
Of course, include a card from the family and keep in touch!!
You sound very kind and thoughtful!!
I think the Blackberry would be the best gift. It would be the most practical as well.
ReplyDeleteYou could also maybe take her along with your husband and daughter out to a nice family dinner and give it to her then and don't forget to include verbally or in a nice card how thankful you are for all she has done and best wishes for her future career!
get purse for a great price... and put the blackberry in it!
ReplyDeleteIn spite of myself I had to chuckle at the exchange between Parkland and dark side, though the last comment was unnecessary. Let's not make light of setting children ablaze.
ReplyDeleteI did get your point though.
However,nothing beats a personal note sincerely expressing gratitude in my book. In fact I'll leave a job if I feel under appreciated.
Getting her something handmade from the kids may seem like a cop out to her, though at other times she may have appreciated it.
I have always gotten handmade cards from kids in addition to a gift from parents, but like I said, words mean much more to me than any gift. I'd rather have cash and a card.
So...I think it all depends on the kind of person she is.
I Personally do not want anybody buying me any purses. I have a very specific taste, and I would just be annoyed that I got something I probably would not use.
If I have been talking about wanting a blackberry then talking to a family member might help Op hone down exactly which one to get.
Just my thoughts. The nanny may know you guys are having it tough. She may feel bad if you buy her a blackberry. Maybe, instead of purchasing a phone for her, give her a $100 towards whatever she wants.
ReplyDeleteAnd I like the idea of a homemade gift. Don't let yourselves become strangers. Invite her over for dinner once inawhile. Its nice to still keep that friendship thru the years. And it will be good for your daughter
Thanks for the advice! I do know her wireless carrier and was planning to buy her the blackberry with help from her mom. Currently her and her mother are on a "family plan" and when she graduates they are to separate and then my babysitter will have her own plan. So I was planning to call her mom and go down to the store with her and her mom will separate the two plans and I will purchase the Blackberry and then offer to pay for 6 months of service as well. I do know which one she wants because we looked at them online together when I got mine. However when it gets closer I'll look online with her again and make up some excuse to find out which one she wants at that point. I think I might go with the blackberry because this is a girl who has over 20 designer purses already. :) At least I KNOW she'll use the blackberry everyday. I will also include a card/letter with our gratitude of course as well as pictures of our daughter and if we can coerce our daughter into making something we'll do that too but she's quite a precocious almost 3 year old!
ReplyDeleteGood choice, OP! Let us in on her reaction after you give it to her. :)
ReplyDeletewhat about a very nice frame with a picture of the little girl and the nanny? put the rest of the money in as a bonus.
ReplyDeleteOp what you are planning to do is wonderful. I bet she will love it.
ReplyDeleteCoach purse!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think your plan with the Blackberry sounds fantastic. She might also really appreciate - and your daughter enjoy making - a homemade-touch gift. Maybe something like an address book with a personalized cover? There are a lot of cute thumbprint or handprint options - maybe your daughter has an idea of something that would represent a favorite memory/activity with her babysitter. I'm thinking of something that will run $10-20 here. I think it might be really nice for your daughter to have something she did for her favorite sitter, in addition to the more practical blackberry from your family. (It also could give you two something to do on a cold or rainy day!)
ReplyDeleteIt's really nice to see an employer thinking so far ahead and putting such a priority on the purchasing of a special gift. I'm sure she'll miss your family too!
I had to laugh when a week or so ago when someone brought up the fact that everybody that owns a Coach bag was ghetto or something because it's easily the most "fakeable" bag.
ReplyDeleteI kind of have to agree, and would stay away from buying Coach.
Go Prada!
Well, then I have to take back what I said about not getting her the phone, it sounds like you have an awesome plan!
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, Coach is the label preferred by middle school girls. Avoid it, unless your nanny is a 13 year old girl, in which case I just have to say CONGRATULATIONS on finishing grad school 12 years early!
I like Nanny From Fargo's idea personally. 6 months of service plus a blackberry is very generous but I personally wouldn't want to keep paying it after that 6 months end up. My idea of a perfect gift is something thoughtful and creative from the kids plus plenty of cash! I just don't think you can go wrong with cash.
ReplyDeleteGet her a motorcycle.
ReplyDeleteshut up all you dumbos, she's decided on a blackberry.
ReplyDeletexo
farts
get her a man
ReplyDeletemake that a very rich man. And he can buy her a phone
You know you can get VISA gift cards? I know it sounds a bit "impersonal" but with a hand made card or gift from your children it would be perfect. ( I also like the idea of a scrapbook - you can turn in photos and have them made in some places... or create a photo book online.) This way she can choose to go with the blackberry or the purse - but it's HER choice.
ReplyDelete