Mother in law coming today!

[Brandi]

Ok I looovee my mother in law more then my own mom. She is very generouse and loving but.... When she comes here I don't always know what to do with her. We are very active and well.. she is 78 and takes walks but not very far. I took her for a four block walk once and she was out of breath. We do have a lot of hills here though. Anyone have any suggestions of fun christmas games or something like that I can do with her for the next 3 days.
Tonight we are going out to our favorite Japanese resturant with her. It is tradition for us to go there right before christmas cause i do so much cooking I need the break. And I thought of maybe pulling out a christmas puzzle? I am just looking for idea's that are new or better then mine. I wish she road a bike that would be a no brainer then!

[spokewench]

We play a card game called Romoli (I think it is just like Tripoli) too.

Monopoly is fun. Get a nice concert dvd that both of you would like to sit and watch and listen.

Avoid talking politics!

I have parents in their 80's and inlaw parents with heart problems so I'm a pro about all this.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

She's 78 so complicated games of strategy can be frustrating for her.
I played dominoes with my mother in her 80's before she died in the nursing home for MONTHS- she never got tired of playing- always wanting "just one more!" game. It was actually kind of fun, and we ignored some of the complicated rules in the instructions. We also livened it up with playing for dimes and playing 3 out of 5 game "championships".
Also, Parcheesi is a good simple board game that is easy to follow and has elements of strategy but also lots of luck of the dice.
You might want to put on some old Bing Crosby or other traditional holiday music she can relate to.

[suzieqtwa]

I don't like my "Mother in law" at all......There is more age difference between me,and my husband, than there is between my mother in law. She had him when she was 16 ,and I married 11 years younger. I'm 53 ,and she is 60 ,and my husband is 42. I try to like her ,but just hearing her voice makes my skin crawl. Lucky for me she lives in Montana.

[KSH]

Well, with my own mother (61 years old), who is completely inactive (there is no way I could get her to walk 4 blocks!)... simple is good.

She likes to eat out and to sit around and chat. That makes her happy.

Why do there need to be games/outings/etc.? She might just like talking with you without all the other stuff going on.

Good luck.

[SouthernBelle]

Go for (car) ride to look at lights while playing christmas music.

Look at old family pictures, esp if there are some you don't have names for.

Ask about her childhood Christmas stories.

Sing Christmas songs. Remember, everybody used to do that.

Watch an old movie. If it's not B&W, it's not old enough.

HTH,