A little electric space heater for the room might be something she'd enjoy, also.
One can take or make a cotton fabric bag and fill it with grain (I usually use brown rice) or I know some use beans, and make a little toe warmer that heats up in the microwave. Very nice on a cold winter's night because you can put it in the bed as you're getting ready to retire and by the time you hop in, there's a lovely warm spot for your toes.
Julie,
I think your idea is great and I also like ridingfamily's idea of new paint, etc...and let mom help choose. It's her room when she wants it and that's lovely. Another thought is the mattress. We never realized how horrid our guest room mattress was until we had to sleep in it since our room had wet paint and smelled not good. We got a new mattress the next day for that bed. These could all be gradual gifts. You don't want to break the bank.
Pat
May the road rise with you, the wind be always at your back.
Thanks everyone! I talked to mom last night and we're going to look at some paint samples today! It wasn't easy to convince her, but I think I made her understand that I want to make the room more "homey" for her, rather than just have it be my spare bedroom. We're also going to take a bed and dresser from her house (spares) and put them in there, and make some other changes. Probably nothing will happen until after the first of the year, but it's a good start!
We're a little limited in paint choices, because the carpeting in there is pink, and we don't have the money right now to replace it. I told mom, she's more than welcome to pay for new carpeting if she wants it (LOL!)
At least if I have an idea of paint colors that she likes, I can coordinate bedding to go with it.
We already have a oil-filled space heater in there for her, so that's covered. I really like the bag idea! I'll have to get some fabric and make one of those for her!
campin4kids wrote: Keep all the amenities in that room. Tissues, fan, magazines, flannel sheets, bedside lamp, slippers and Robe, toiletries like bubble bath and oils, Candle, electric blanket!
I would spend a lot of time out of the house this holiday. Make some NEW memories that you never did with her husband before, like eat at new restaurants, go see the Christmas Lights at the Zoo, or attend a Christmas choir concert, or see The Nutcracker Suite. Anything new and unusual that isn't associated with Dad. Next year she will have new independent memories to think about.
That is also what I suggest. It will help her to move forward with her life, and maybe help you as well.
We have one of those digital picture-things where you can put the SD in and the pictures can move across the screen .. use a scanner to put the pictures she has in her home on a flash drive - anyway she may like having one picture frame and having multiple pictures .. A relative made a dvd with my in-laws married life pictures and put music to it .. now the whole family has a memory-filled dvd of their lives .. a really good reminder of their life together.
The first thing I thought of when I first saw your posting was a nice chenille robe and a decadent-type cushiony warm slippers. And her own set of bath towels.
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