What do moms REALLY want for Mother’s Day? Are you stumped on what to get your mom, wife, or girlfriend? **Also, I’d like to note that Mother’s Day for your mom or mother-in-law is a little different than Mother’s Day for the mother of your child/children. I’ll explain later in the post.**
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I want to start off by saying that every mother (and every woman) is different. Her tastes, her likes, her preferences…different. So it’s tough to do a “one size fits all” gift. Really think about HER. What is she like? What does she like? Is she sentimental? Does she like practical gifts? Is she an introvert or an extrovert? (Would she love being the center of attention or would she prefer something small and intimate?) Use that as your starting point.
Also, think about your relationship to her. Is she YOUR mom? Is she your mother-in-law? Is she a mother-like figure in your life (such as an aunt, grandma, etc.)? In my humble opinion, all moms and maternal figures would love to be appreciated, acknowledged and thanked.
Is the mama in question your wife/girlfriend/partner? She would also like to be appreciated and thanked! She would also like to be SEEN. Do you SEE her as the mother of your children? Do you acknowledge and appreciate all that she does for the family?
At the end of the day, the name of the game is GRATITUDE. Are you grateful for this mama and how do you show her?
Food
Would mom like a homemade meal on Mother’s Day? Breakfast in bed? Steaks on the grill? Brunch or dinner out? (In all honesty, I’ve been out on Mother’s Day before and would rather not, LOL.) Take out? What is her favorite thing to eat? Does she have a favorite bakery or restaurant? Is she a snacker?
Flowers
Unless she truly does not like flowers or is allergic, you can’t really go wrong with flowers! What are her favorite flowers? Favorite color? Roses are timeless but you could also do a bouquet filled with bright, happy colors. An indoor plant? Flowers for a hanging basket or the front porch?
Time
There are memes and jokes floating around the internet about mom wanting a day alone in a hotel room with Netflix and takeout…they may be onto something! Find out what mom would truly like. Is it time alone? Time with the girlfriends? Time with you? Time with the kiddos? Time all together as a family? (Ask her!)
Relaxation
A massage, a mani/pedi, sleeping in late. All sound like bliss!
Something for HER
What is something mom could use or enjoy? Something to wear? (Jewelry, clothes, shoes, makeup, perfume/lotion, etc.) Something to enjoy? (Book, movie, chocolate, coffee or tea, alcohol, etc.) Something to do? (A craft, a puzzle, a game, etc.) What is something that is JUST FOR HER?
Something sentimental
Spouses/partners. I’m talking to you. If your kiddos are little, this is all on you! Pinterest has a thousand crafty ideas you can do with your littles. Make sure to give her something FROM THE KIDDOS. This could be as simple as a handwritten note “from the kids”.
I’m a HUGE fan of Etsy.com. Hop on there and search “Mother’s Day”. Amazon is also quite helpful.
Gift ideas:
- Mother’s Day photo shoot
- Jewelry with kids’ birthstones, names, or initials
- Gifts with photos of kids (or mom with kids)–blanket, mug, t-shirt, etc.
- I’m actually a sucker for the cheesy “World’s Best Mom” mug or “Mama Bear” t-shirts (ahem, ahem–Hubs, if you’re reading this…)
- Calendar with family photos (can be done at Shutterfly, Walgreens, etc.)
- Art project from you or the kids
- An experience (theatre or ballet tickets, a boat ride, a concert, etc.)
At the end of the day, moms just want…to be appreciated, acknowledged, and thanked. The material items are gravy. Tell her (and, more importantly, SHOW HER) how much she means to you.
Wishing you and yours a very Happy Mother’s Day,
