[cappymom]

We are getting our 16 yo dd a cedar chest for Christmas and I am having a hard time deciding what to put in it. I don't want to put towels or dishes or anything of that nature, in it quite yet.
I thought about a book, something to reinforce her independent, strong personality. She has been given so many journals as gifts over the years, I dont' need to do that.

Any and all suggestions appreciated

Lori

 

[LDSmomma6]

If I gave one at that age I think I would leave it empty. Tell her she can start storing her own stuff in it like those journals and maybe some really special stuff that she has collected throughout the years. Dishes and dish towels are nice, but I don't think she is ready for those yet...right? LOL!! I know that I wasn't.

I did get my cedar chest when I was 18, and graduating from high school. That was my gift from my parents. That is what I will give to my 4 daughters as well. Mine was empty. I did get married 4 months later though and it was filled with all the gifts that I received eventually, only to be emptied and then filled with stuff that was most precious to me. I have in it now the letters that I wrote to DH and he to me as we were dating, a big afgan that my maternal grandmother made me, a baby afgan that my paternal grandmother made my oldest son (her 1st great grandchild), my christening dress that I wore at 5 months, my sons christening outfits, my daughters' christening dress, some old tapes from high school, some things that my grandparents gave me when I was younger and even a baby. I also have the January 1, 2000 edition of our city newspaper, the newspapers the week of Sept. 1, 2001 and a newspaper with the article of my 7th sibling (8th child) to have graduated from the same high school as all the rest of us kids (we made history as having the most children to have graduated from that school). I have the Christmas stockings in there as I don't trust the bugs or whatever else is up in the attic (LOL!).

Maybe you can put some special things in there that you have kept for her over the years, and she will think it's cool.

 

[ja mama]

A framed current snapshot of your family, or special moment. A memory of now to be carried into the future in this chest.

 

[sohj]

I thought the only significance of a cedar chest was that it repels moths.

: These posts sound like something more.

My first thought was a nice hand knit all wool sweater

.

 

[cappymom]

sohj - you are too funny!!

I'm not a history buff, but I *think* the tradition around cedar chests is that it was given to a girl as she reached marrying age and it was to be gradually filled with things she would need when she got married. Personally, my dd is nowhere near being interested in that stuff.

I know this sounds kinda cheezy, but I was thinking about doing a Brownie Girl Scout vest for her. When she was in gs, she would bring home all of these patches and I didn't know what to do with them. Now that I am older and (hopefully) wiser, I know what their significance is. I thought it would be cute to surprise her with all of them sewn on a vest or sash.

Thanks everyone for the ideas, I'll let ya know what I decide to do.

Lori

 

[kama'aina mama]

A hope chest! That's sweet. My sister got one that a boy she was dating made for her by hand... beautiful inlay work on the top. It was really a work of art. He gave it to her at Christmas at my Mom's house. One of my young nieces, in one of those little kid whispers that carry asked "Mom! Is that a kids coffin???"

 

[hotmamacita]

I love hope chests. Glad to see people are still doing that. dh plans to make our dds theirs oneday. I like the journal idea and the brownie vest, too. and of course, photos are GREAT. maybe you could also put together a little photo album for her too. *in all your free time.....

 

[busybeemommy]

We have started hope chests for our kids. My DH made each of them a beautiful cedar chest when they were born, and I have been filling it ever since. I add things like a scrapbook, a bundle of their St. Nicholas letters tied with a piece of red ribbon, a quilt, one of their favorite outfits from when they were little (i.e. Grace's fairy wings), an envelope with some of their best artwork, etc.

 

[hotmamacita]

oooh good idea to fill it as you go. the letters to st. nicholas. what are those? and do you add pages to the scrapbook with each year?

 

[busybeemommy]

Instead of leaving them presents, in our family, Saint Nicholas leaves a parchment scroll tied in red or green ribbon for each child in their stocking. Basically, I just write (in calligraphy) a little letter to them, detailing their accomplishments and personality traits that I admire. I always sign them from Saint Nicholas.

For the scrapbooks, I usually add a few pages a year- depending on any special events or memories. I also add an envelope page on every birthday- I glue an envelope to the page, and write a letter to them about who they are and why I love them, and include a good picture of them from that year.

 

[applejuice]

What a sweet idea!

My mom, in one of her nastier moments, would call them "hopeless chests", since she told me she did not ever think anyone would want to marry me.

She was wrong.

Anyway, I live in SoCal, and I put cedar panels in my closet. I understand these are for more moist climates, but I like the idea of the cedar and the smell they have.

 

[Golden]

Nursingmom,
giggle...I think you meant cappymom, no crappymom!

Golden