Gift Ideas for mainland kid visiting girlfriend's folks in Oahu? (Honolulu: attorney, organic)

[Breinn]

VlyRoadKid - I just moved to Oahu from Western Mass a few months ago to be closer to my mom, and I crave Yankee Candles. I was spoiled by always knowing someone that worked there and getting them for half off that I can't bring myself to pay full price.

I think that is a great gift idea.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by VlyRoadKid

The girl is in school for the next nine days, so he's hanging out with the Mom, chatting and I guess they hit it off. One thing he told me was that the Mom is really into candles.

I hope that your son's girlfriend's mom is not a "cougar" who might have some interesting uses for candles. Somehow, it seems like this whole situation might be ripe for an episode of "Dr. Phil."

This kind of reminds me of the "Mark Villanueva" case in which a supposedly "17 year-old boyfriend" lived with the family of his 16-year old girlfriend. Here are a couple of links....
starbulletin.com | News | /2007/04/21/
Local News | Everett woman posed as boy, abused girl, police say | Seattle Times Newspaper

[hotzcatz]

I dunno, Jonah, I think you spend too much time watching TV. Things with keyboards are much better for you, don'tcha think?

I think candles are a good idea. You can also mail them in those pre-paid boxes and they won't be that expensive to mail. They aren't likely to melt along the way this time of year, either.

[HawaiiboundNelli]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

I think candles are a good idea. You can also mail them in those pre-paid boxes and they won't be that expensive to mail. They aren't likely to melt along the way this time of year, either.

or the flat rate boxes from USPS. I've recently found those - wow they sure save a lot of money for me! (also just discovered media rate mail - where have I been??)

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

I dunno, Jonah, I think you spend too much time watching TV. Things with keyboards are much better for you, don'tcha think?

I wish I had the time to watch TV.

I won't say anything about the permissiveness of some parents; however, if my 18-year old son decided to stay with his long-distance girlfriend in Waipahu for a month, he'd better be able to support himself, because he wouldn't be living under my roof. While this might sound a bit harsh, he's legally an adult, so I don't have to support him on his quixotic quest.

Visiting a girlfriend's parents' house for dinner is one thing, but staying with them for a month is something else entirely. In addition, if my son didn't have enough common sense to take an appropriate gift for his hosts, somewhere along the way, I didn't do my job as a parent.

Similarly, if my 18-year old daughter invited her long-distance boyfriend to stay in my house, I'd kick the hussy out. Inviting a boyfriend over for an occasional dinner is okay; however, he wouldn't be staying overnight.

[Huckleberry3911948]

if filipino the gift thing is a must gota do it no?.

[VlyRoadKid]

Thanks, HawaiiboundNelli! I actually found a GORGEOUS candle-holder, made out of stained, iridescent glass. I could put a nice, blueberry or even CRANBERRY-scented candle in it (what could be more Massachusetts-y?).

[VlyRoadKid]

Woah! I missed the other replies! Breinn-I can see why you'd miss Yankee Candle...AND the Valley! Sadly, I'm allergic to most of their scents. Bummer! Jonah K - hotzcatz was right: you DO watch too much TV...or have QUITE the vivid, and rather R-rated imagination! – No, my son’s hostess is NOT a cougar! Where do you get these ideas?…she’s a middle-aged, married, traditional, Catholic woman from the Philippines! I seriously doubt she's hitting on my son! Sheesh. She would be MOST insulted by your remarks! As for your other assessments about my son and his work ethic: Didn’t your parents ever say: If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all?! This is going too far. FYI: My kid worked for months for this trip and paid for ALL of it himself! He’s 18 and he not only works (when he’s home) but does chores, cooks and cleans for himself and does lots of handyman stuff around the house. His dad has a heart problem and I'm disabled, so we'd have a tough time without his help! You should apologize for making such assumptions about a kid you've never met! As for the parents, if those are their values, they couldn’t have a NICER kid visiting them! He’s respectful, polite and engaging. All his friends’ folks like him immensely, and with good reason. I also don’t appreciate your backhanded attack on ME as a parent! Until I read this forum, I had no clue that bringing gifts was obligatory in Hawaii. YOU should have raised as wonderful a son as mine is—I’m proud of my parenting AND my kid! ENOUGH! This isn't a thread on the morals of girl/boy sleepovers---It's about GIFTS! (If this was a joke on your part, I can do without this particular kind) To everyone else: thanks SO much for all your great ideas, including the suggestions for shipping! I'll keep them in mind.

[HawaiiboundNelli]

Originally Posted by VlyRoadKid

Thanks, HawaiiboundNelli! I actually found a GORGEOUS candle-holder, made out of stained, iridescent glass. I could put a nice, blueberry or even CRANBERRY-scented candle in it (what could be more Massachusetts-y?).

Sounds like a perfect hostess gift, especially knowing she loves candles. On a side note, I absolutely love the cranberry or cranberry-apple scent! I actually bought one for my sister for Christmas to go along with some candle holders she wanted. Great idea!
Nelli

[hotzcatz]

A lot of the asian cultures have lots of socially polite gifting that is assumed. The Japanese folks must bring back omiyagi (gifts gotten while traveling) when they return to Japan. There are culturally polite aspects to the gifts and the presentation of them is also important. At the malls, there are many gift wrapping places and the ones in the Japanese stores wrap gifts exquisitely. I'm not sure if the Filipino gift giving ideals include exquisite wrappings or not.

It seems to me, that these folks are adults now, both being over eighteen. If one is an adult, then shouldn't they be able to visit folks and be adult enough to sleep in different rooms? If they do decide to sleep together, is it our business? They are adults, even if young ones.