Choosing the perfect gift to honor your mother can be challenging whether you're 3 years old or 30 years old. It's not always easy to come up with gift ideas honoring mom, but if you focus on making memories rather than just finding the right stuff, you can give a gift that will be special and satisfying for you both.
Something Homemade
If you want to elicit "oohs" and "ahhs" from your mom, a homemade gift is the way to go. Even very young children can draw or paint a special picture for their mom or grandmother, which you can frame for gift-giving. Scan several of your favorite drawings into your computer and have a calendar made with a different picture for each month. (Photo shops and copy shops can help you make and print the calendar.) As children get older, they can expand their skills to make gifts such as potpourri, homemade bath products, sewing or woodworking projects or baked treats. Most moms will be touched by a gift that's made with love.
Something Sentimental
If you'd like to give a gift that shows your mom just how special she is, be a little literal. Consider writing things you love or remember about your mom on slips of paper, such as "You make the best spaghetti sauce in the world" or "I remember when we saw a bear at the cabin in Michigan." Then fill a jar or other container with your notes. If you're more visually driven, put together a photo book of your favorite moments with your mom.
Something Indulgent
Motherhood often means cutting back on personal indulgences: When you're busy taking care of a family, it can be hard to find "me-time." A gift certificate for a spa day, manicure or massage or top-of-the-line supplies for her favorite hobby are a nice way to let your mother know that you appreciate her as a person as well as your mother. Choose a gift that suits her interests: If your mom is passionate about art, she might love a membership to your town's art museum; if she's an avid gardener, a gift certificate to a garden center or nursery might be the perfect gift. Showing your mom that you know and care about what matters to her is the ultimate gift.
Something for You Both
Sometimes, time is the best gift you can give your mother. Consider putting together a special day for the two of you, such as lunch at your favorite restaurant followed by a play you both want to see, a cooking class you can take together or just a special dinner you want to cook and eat with her. Making time for your mother is a nice way to show her how important she is to you, and sharing a special activity is a gift you can both enjoy.
