Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Remember coming home from first grade and presenting your mother with a card? It didn't matter that one of the flowers had fallen off and left a glue stain, or that the edges were more torn than cut. Your mother proclaimed it to be the nicest card that anyone ever made for her. Pretty heady stuff for a six-year-old!

By second grade, you probably were crafting a gift. You know, the walnut shell turtle with one eye missing (it's probably still in your book bag with the flower from the previous year's card), or the beautiful vase made from an old mayonnaise jar. Odds are Mom still has it tucked away somewhere. Odds are greater still that you have graduated to purchased items for her.

If your mom lives some distance away, then your first thought is probably on getting a Mother's Day card in the mail. It won't look like your first effort, back in grade one, but if you look around, you're bound to find some really unique Mother's Day cards that will touch your mother's heart and express your sentiments.

If you have the budget, spring for an especially nice card, maybe one that has multiple pages or plays music when opened. It may cost more to mail but the surprise your mom will get opening the card is worth it!

Want to make a regular card extra special? Write a personal note inside, thanking her for being the best mom, ever. Or include a gift certificate for something she would enjoy but not buy for herself, like a manicure, spa treatment or lunch at her favourite restaurant.

Of course, the most popular expression of love and thanks to Mom is the floral bouquet, followed closely by potted plants. The beautiful thing about flowers, aside from their appearance and fragrance, is that one call takes care of everything.

Many floral containers are available in different colours and price ranges, so there may be something perfect for your mother. Who knows, maybe she'll even keep the one you pick next to the mayo jar that you decorated with care so long ago. If you do decide to go the flowers or plant route, be sure to call ahead, so they are delivered on time. Mother's Day is one of a florist's busiest time of year.

If Mom has a sweet tooth, you could call a cookie florist (mmmm!). Chocolate chip is the best for cookie flowers, supposedly, but there are also other varieties available with the stick stem in tins, baskets, mugs, bowls, vases or trays. Just make sure that you allow enough courier time (one to one and a half weeks) if shipping to another province or state.

Maybe a cookie-gram is more your mother's style. Cookie-gram vendors can be found with a simple Google search and might be just the sweet surprise that mom would love.

I know what some of you are wondering and no, there is no such thing as a diet cookie. I asked. So okay, maybe food isn't the way to go.

There are beautiful, hand-crafted items to be had. You don't usually have to leave your area to find them, as most communities have gift boutiques and retailers offering unique items. Browsing through the local shops should help you spot exactly what you want, whether it's a gift made of wood, leather, knitwear or ceramic. Typically, hand-crafted items are created by local residents and may come on special around Mother's Day.

Of course, there is always the online shopping experience, if that works better for you. I think that's an especially good option if you are unable to visit your mom that day. Select the gift you want and have it shipped directly to her.

Remember, 'Mum's the word!' No spoiling the surprise!

Merchants do have a few things that a youngster can afford. Even if the gifts aren't hand-made personally, they will have been chosen with love.

For mommies who like plants, a small violet basket or some variation of a pint-size basket might be a good idea. What could be cuter and more heart-tugging than little hands carrying a little plant to mommy?

As an added bonus, kids can help mom take care of the plant. They get a learning opportunity, mom and child create bonding memories, and kids will feel that they did a great job, giving mom the perfect gift, one she really loves. Everybody wins!

If there are a few kids in the family, perhaps they can pool their allowances and buy a balloon bouquet. Children can take their own weights, such as a pack of sunflower seeds or a framed picture of themselves and have it attached for a special personal touch. To help the children in your life make arrangements for something like this, call ahead a couple of days, at least. It would be sad beyond belief to have little ones get all excited about their gift for Mom and not have it there on time.

Some children might like the cookie idea once they hear it, probably because they know that moms share. Small cookie gift boxes or tins can be purchased very inexpensively and those with a tiny allowance should be able to purchase single cookie flowers on a stick at a local bakery. Again, call to ensure availability.

Novelty items are a good bet for smaller budgets, as well. Gifts such as beeswax candles and pin cushions, make practical and pretty presents. They are typically very inexpensive. That's okay. Mom's don't care about the price, that's not the point. :)

Regardless of how much you spend on your mother this year, her favourite gift will likely be that first awkward creation that you poured so much love into and you can't put a price tag on that.

Very special Mother's Day to all you moms out there.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas by Shirley Anderson, ©1996. All rights reserved.
This hub is an article reprint (with modifications) from the Old South Advocate