Helping Santa Load the Sleigh | Gifts for Women in Their 50s
I was creating my Wish List so I can begin my Christmas Shopping this week which usually I’m done with everyone but Charlie and David but not this year. As I was creating the list I wanted to remind you some Christmas gifts take us back to our childhood. Others make our everyday lives a little easier. And then there are those special little presents that help us make memories with the people we love.
That’s what I’ve been thinking about while putting together my sister Debbie’s Christmas wishlist. Debbie is eight years younger than I am, and believe me, growing up with an older sister and brother wasn’t always easy for her. There was even that time we convinced her she’d been found in a trash can and brought home because our parents felt sorry for her. She went to kindergarten and told everybody! Needless to say, we got in trouble. LOL! But that’s what siblings do. We tease each other, drive each other crazy, and somehow end up with a lifetime of stories.
This Christmas, as we’re helping Santa load the sleigh, I wanted to look at five gift ideas inspired by Debbie’s life through the decades. Then we’re going to tuck some extra surprises into her stocking, including a few gifts she can enjoy with her grandchildren, Lily and Jason.
Five Gifts for Debbie Through the Decades
1. The 1970s — A Retro Birthday T-Shirt– Debbie was born in the 1970s, so why not celebrate the decade that started it all? I think I Survived the 70s Shirt, Retro Nostalgia Graphic Tee, Vintage Seventies Giftwould be perfect for her. It could be something she wears around the house, out shopping, or when we’re getting together for lunch. If you do not like this design, you can just type in 70’s T Shirts and goggle will bring up colorful retro lettering to funny sayings about getting older.
2. The 1980s — Cozy Slipper Socks for Staying Warm– Remember those days when we’d get home from school, kick off our shoes, and settle in to watch television? Debbie has always liked being comfortable, and she’s often cold. A pair of soft, cozy socks would be a thoughtful little gift. I’d look for something warm with nonslip bottoms so she can wear them around the house. And since emerald green is one of her favorite colors, I’d love to find a pair in that shade.
3. The 1990s — Comfortable Walking Shoe– As we get older, we start appreciating practical gifts a whole lot more. Debbie enjoys walking, and she spends time on her feet. A comfortable pair of Skechers Go Walks walking shoes would be something she could use throughout the year. I would look for a pair with good cushioning, a comfortable fit, and support that works for her feet. This is one gift where I’d want her to try them on rather than guess at a size.
4. The 2000s — A Little Something for Her Workday– Debbie works in the medical field, and I thought a few practical accessories would make a nice gift together. A pretty badge holder, an eyeglass case, and a cleaning cloth might not sound like the most exciting Christmas presents, but they’re the kind of things you actually use. I’d love to find a badge holder with a little personality, maybe even Tweety Bird Badge Holder, because Debbie loves Tweety!
5. Christmas 2026 — An Emerald-Green Bible Cover– Debbie’s faith is an important part of her life, and emerald green is a color that reminds me of her. I think a beautiful emerald-green Bible cover would make a meaningful gift. It could protect her Bible while giving her a place to keep a pen, notes, or bookmarks. I’d check the measurements of her Bible before purchasing one.
A Christmas Stocking Full of Memories– Now, Santa, don’t close that stocking just yet!
I’ve been thinking about the little things we could tuck inside Debbie’s stocking. And instead of filling it with nothing but candy and makeup, I thought it would be fun to include gifts that encourage her to spend time with Lily and Jason. Children already spend so much time on tablets and electronics. I want to bring back some of those simple, hands-on activities we enjoyed growing up.
Old Maid — Remembering Grandma Dorie- Oh, have I got a story for you! When we were growing up, my Grandma Dorie used to play Old Maid with us. But let me tell you something. You did NOT want to be the person who made Grandma Dorie the Old Maid!
That woman would get madder than hell, and she might even call you a B-I-T-C-H! And when your grandma starts cussing, you know she’s mad! Laughing out loud! Those were some of the funniest memories of my childhood. I would love for Debbie to have a deck of Old Maid cards so she could introduce Lily and Jason to the game. Hopefully, she’ll be a little more forgiving when somebody leaves her holding the Old Maid!
Spider-Man UNO — A Special Game for Jason– My mom absolutely loved UNO. We played it growing up, and those are memories I still treasure. When I remembered that Jason loves Spider-Man and Marvel, I knew exactly what kind of UNO cards we should look for.
There’s a version called UNO The Amazing Spider-Man, with Spider-Man artwork and a special Web Swing rule. I can picture Debbie and Jason sitting at the table playing cards together, laughing and trying to beat each other. And the best part? No tablet needed.
Now, we can’t forget that Debbie deserves a little something for herself, too. She loves Tweety Bird, and she loves Coca-Cola. So why settle for a plain deck of playing cards when we could find something that reminds us of her? A Tweety Bird deck would be adorable, and a Coca-Cola deck would be another great choice. Debbie could use the cards to play solitaire when she wants a little quiet time or teach the grandchildren another card game.
Debbie loves makeup and nail polish, so I thought a couple of pretty bottles would be perfect for her stocking. Maybe an emerald-green shade for Debbie and something sparkly for Lily. They could spend an afternoon painting their fingernails, talking, laughing, and making memories together. For Lily, I’d choose an age-appropriate, water-based children’s polish.am
You know how much I love encouraging families to read together. That’s why I thought a Mad Libs book would fit perfectly into our 10-Minute Reading Challenge. Debbie and the grandchildren could take turns choosing nouns, verbs, and adjectives before reading their silly stories aloud. It’s reading, learning, and laughter all rolled into one. And it doesn’t require a screen!
When my mom was still here I had bought her a book called Grandma, Tell Me Your Story — A Gift That Becomes a Keepsake This might be my favorite idea of all for Debbie.
I would love to give Debbie one of those grandmother’s memory journals that asks questions about her childhood, her family, and the things she remembers growing up. She could spend a few minutes each evening writing down an answer. Then she could read her story aloud to Lily and Jason.
Imagine her telling them about our childhood, our parents, Grandma Dorie, and all the silly things we did. There are so many stories children never hear unless somebody takes the time to tell them. And one day, Lily and Jason could have a book filled with their grandmother’s own words. That’s a Christmas gift money can’t really measure.
After all those games, stories, and manicures, I think Debbie deserves a little chocolate! She loves dark chocolate, so a small package of her favorite treats would be a sweet finishing touch for her stocking. Because sometimes a woman just needs to sit down, put her feet up, and enjoy a piece of chocolate without sharing it with anybody!
When I started putting together Debbie’s Christmas wishlist, I was thinking about gifts for women in their 50s. But somewhere along the way, I realized how many of these ideas connect to our childhood and the people we love. A deck of Old Maid cards reminds me of Grandma Dori. UNO reminds me of my mom. A grandmother’s memory journal reminds me that we need to tell our stories while we can. And those little gifts for Lily and Jason? They’re really gifts of time together.
We’re helping Santa load the sleigh this Christmas, but I hope we’re also helping families find ways to laugh together, read together, and make memories that last longer than the presents.
Grateful • Thankful • Blessed
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
