Help finding the perfect gift

tiffanyfisher10

**Disclaimer: Pretty long story ahead** 

My best friend and I have known each other since high school, were in the same sorority in college, and have basically been like sisters for the last 15 years. Since she is so much more maternal than I am and has been planning her wedding since we were 16, we always expected her to be the first one to be married and to have half a dozen kids by now. Cut to today and I've been married for the last three years and am expecting twins early next year while she is back in college working towards a new career and is perennially single. Basically I have the life she's always wanted, but she is still so supportive of me and is doing such a good job of remaining positive and upbeat about the future. (Even though I know she's secretly freaking out that her life isn't going the way she thought it would.) This year we're turning 30, her birthday is in Oct., about 6 months before mine, and I really want to do or get something really special for her. I want to show her how much she means to me, that I appreciate all the support she's given me over the years, and to make sure she has some special attention during this daunting milestone. The limitations are that I don't have tons of money because we're saving for the babies, there isn't any time for us to go on a cool trip or anything with all of the weddings and events we have coming up this fall, and we can't easily get together because after living within 5 mi of each other for all of our lives, we live about a thousand miles apart these days while she's finishing school. I know this is a lot to ask of total strangers, but I have been racking my brain for months, and I thought that some of you creative moms to be could come up with some really cool ideas. Thanks for the help!  

 

      

erin1102

tiffanyfisher10:

Basically I have the life she's always wanted, but she is still so supportive of me and is doing such a good job of remaining positive and upbeat about the future. (Even though I know she's secretly freaking out that her life isn't going the way she thought it would.) 

I'm laughing at this statement because I was both young and delusional at one point too and I pitied my single friends because I thought I had everything in life.  And then I had children and gained some perspective.

Here's a gift idea, realize that everyone takes a different path in life and while her life isn't on the same one as you, she is out there living and working toward whatever she will be.  Celebrate what she is doing.  And 30 is just the start of realizing how immature you've been through your 20's and how much you don't know yet. 

Mrs.Jocelyn2007

erin1102:

tiffanyfisher10:

Basically I have the life she's always wanted, but she is still so supportive of me and is doing such a good job of remaining positive and upbeat about the future. (Even though I know she's secretly freaking out that her life isn't going the way she thought it would.) 

I'm laughing at this statement because I was both young and delusional at one point too and I pitied my single friends because I thought I had everything in life.  And then I had children and gained some perspective.

Here's a gift idea, realize that everyone takes a different path in life and while her life isn't on the same one as you, she is out there living and working toward whatever she will be.  Celebrate what she is doing.  And 30 is just the start of realizing how immature you've been through your 20's and how much you don't know yet. 

Tiffany - I'm not sure if you meant to be condescending (probably not!) but your post did sound pretty ridiculous; Erin highlighted the worst part. I would say the best gift you could give your best friend would be to take a step back, re-evaluate how you are treating her (you say she's being supportive of you -- are you of her life and her decisions?), and let her live her life. If you want to do something material, you could buy her a unique piece of jewelry that you know she'll love, or a gift certificate to a great restaurant or spa (or, hey, both) in her area.