If your son is getting married, it’s time to welcome a new daughter-in-law to the family! An excellent way to welcome your daughter-in-law is by presenting her with something special that will make her feel loved and valued.
You’ll no doubt want your son and daughter-in-law to be happy and blessed in their union, and you’ll want her to have a sense of belonging to ensure she feels a part of the family and is happy. If you’re looking for gift ideas for your daughter-in-law to-be, keep reading!
#1 – Present Her with a Family Heirloom
When it comes to heirloom diamonds or gemstones, these are items that have been in your family for some time, and which have been gifted to you from your aunt, your grandmother or your mother.
Heirloom stones are one of the best recycled options to gift your daughter-in-law, and you might think of an heirloom as something like a “passing-it-on” way of receiving a stone.
You have a couple of different options if you want to put an heirloom diamond into a piece of jewelry. The first way is by creating a beautiful ring, or you can use the stone/s and put them into a necklace or earrings.
You can take an existing heirloom piece and repair or modernise it with the help of the best jewelry repair service – even if the stone is a hundred years old. Or, you can incorporate heirloom diamonds into a custom-made new item of jewellery.
Larger and more clear diamonds are perfect for incorporating into a centered stone on a ring. Smaller and lesser quality diamonds might not have the sparkle of center diamonds, but you can use them in another way within a heirloom piece.
Lastly, if the family heirloom is a high-quality diamond and something that you could imagine in an engagement ring, then you may want to bear in mind that diamonds that were cut 60 or 70 years ago mightn’t look the same as the ones that are cut today.
If you have a stone such as this, and if you still want to present your daughter-in-law with a family heirloom stone, then putting the stone in a pendant might be the perfect way to go.
#2 – Handwritten Traditional Family Recipe
If you truly want to celebrate the bond between you and your daughter-in-law, you will want to pass down another family heirloom – your son’s favourite recipe. A great way to do this is by engraving it on a wooden cutting board. This is something so unique that your daughter-in-law will cherish it for a long time – guaranteed!
#3 – A Monogrammed Blanket
We all love customised items, and when it comes to your daughter-in-law, we’re sure she will be no different! Why not give her a stylish blanket with the initials of their names and their wedding date on it.
This throw blanket will not only become your daughter-in-law’s favourite, it’ll keep your son from forgetting the date of their wedding anniversary.
#4 – A Personalised Pillow
Another gift idea that goes hand-in-hand with a custom-made throw blanket is a custom-made pillow. Like the blanket, you can add the initials of the couple’s names and their wedding date. If you’re feeling generous gift both items together to create a complete set.
#5 – Personalised Jewellery
If you don’t have a family heirloom to present to your daughter-in-law, it doesn’t mean that jewellery is out of the question altogether. To make your daughter-in-law feel welcome, a customised piece of regular jewellery will also be very kindly received.
Whether it’s an engraved necklace, a bracelet with hand-picked charms, or even a quality keyring with her initials on it, she will surely appreciate the gesture. Be sure to present the gift in a keepsake box, add a card with a thoughtful message, and you’re all set.
Things to Avoid while Welcoming Your Daughter in Law
There are some potential mistakes that mothers-in-law make when it comes to welcoming a new daughter-in-law to the family, so keep reading to find out more!
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Love and empathy require one thing, and that is acceptance. As a mother-in-law, try to avoid saying things that give the impression she has to blend in entirely with the existing way of doing things, such as “we always do things like this.”
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While you no doubt want to build a bond with your daughter in law, you also need to try and maintain a respectful relationship, and that isn’t overstepping the boundaries. For example, don’t make the mistake of stopping by unannounced, or being controlling of matters between her and your son.
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You might be the older and wiser one, however, don’t make the mistake of assuming that anytime your your daughter-in-law enters a conversation, she is asking for your advice.
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As a mother of a son, don’t make the mistake of believing that your bond or relationship won’t get affected after the marriage – because it will. Understand and accept the change and realise that it is coming from a good place, not a place to be worried over or feared.
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As we get older, many people wish for grandkids, however, do not impress upon your son and daughter in law the need to have children, and in any specified time frame.
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Most importantly, be careful offering unsolicited advice around how to discipline kids or how to tackle house chores. Avoid saying things like, “let me show you how to do this better.”
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Avoid trying too hard to be nice – let things flow naturally.
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Last but not least – never criticise your daughter-in-law to your son and vice versa!
The Takeaway
Your daughter-in-law is the new member of the family, which means that she might struggle in the beginning, including accepting new traditions. But, a little willingness and a couple of kind gestures will make things so much easier.
The best way to welcome your new daughter-in-law to the family is by truly and whole-heartedly accepting her for who she is and remaining open-minded about her ways of doing things rather than pressuring her into accepting your family’s traditions. Don’t forget that a kind, understanding, and supportive mother-in-law is one of the best relations that a daughter-in-law can have.