Great Gifts for Mom

As the mother of eight children I feel pretty qualified to discuss gifts for Mom. Moms can be very difficult to buy for because they often don’t seem to want anything. They are used to doing a lot of giving and may not be comfortable saying what they really would like. Giving her a gift certificate doesn't work because she will likely use it to buy something for someone else!

When you are trying to decide on a gift for your mom think about what she likes to do when she has a rare moment of free time. Does she read? Knit? Sew? Is there a particular movie that she loves?

Or is your mom more of the active type that takes to the hiking trails with any free time that she might get?

Here are some great gift ideas for moms. I tried to categorize them in the general types of moms. Hopefully you can find the perfect item for you mom.

Each image in the slideshow has a link in the sidebar to make your shopping easier.

The foodie mom is the kind of mom that always has something cooking, or a new recipe she is trying. You probably took odd lunches to school and your friends probably traded you their Oreos for your homemade croissants au chocolat. She watches the Food Network in her free time and makes her own vanilla.

If you were always kept warm by the hand knit sweaters that your mom made you, or often had sandwiches for dinner in the den because the kitchen table had a sewing projects strewn across it then you have a crafty mom.  She likes Martha Stewart and carries a mini glue gun in her back pocket just in case.  The walls of her house are hand stenciled and she created a mosaic on the fireplace hearth from vintage dishes that were broken and chipped.

If your mom not only took you to soccer games but played herself you know you have an active mom.  You might find her hiking the Appalachian Trail one year and rock climbing the next.  She is completely unpredictable…and fun.  She is likely to suggest a brisk walk or ice skating after a holiday dinner.  She doesn't watch much of anything on TV. because she is always on the move.

If you knew who Shakespeare was by the time you were four and grew up believing that Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were relatives then you probably have a literary mom.  In her spare time she heads for the library or the couch and gets lost in the book she is currently reading.  She quotes verses of poetry in answer to questions, and talks about fictional characters as if they were real.

There are many other moms in the world that may not fit easily into any of those boxes. Maybe she likes antiques, or travel, or nuclear science! 

Check out these unique gift items especially for that kind of mom.

Whatever your mom likes or is interested in can be made into a themed gift or gift basket. Make a list of the things you know she loves and see if you can find a common theme.

The best gifts are items she would not buy for herself, although they don;t have to be expensive. Luxury bath items, special foods, and books are especially good because they are just for her.

If you can't find what you want in this guide do some browsing until you have found the perfect item for mom.

And tell her that you love her!