<p>You know what? Just being with you will be the best birthday present ever! Seeing you in your new environment doing well, meeting your new friends, being happy, believe me, it’s the best thing. Your idea of a picture of you and your sister would be the icing on the birthday cake, and would be lovely. I know this sounds corny, but it’s true.</p>
<p>My son gave me a picture of his girlfriend and himself for last Christmas. It shines down on me; I love it. I also loved visiting the campus last spring! Both winners.</p>
<p>Give her the picture and include a note telling her that you love her and appreciate all she has been and done for you. She will treasure both. Knowing that you credit her, in part, for your success and growth will be very gratifying.</p>
<p>Does your school have an a cappella group? Maybe you could set up a surprise live birthday greeting when your mother is on campus. My daughter has done this for me twice. It was via phone, but still brought tears to my eyes!</p>
<p>The best 50th birthday gift I ever gave was to my longest-time friend… we had known each other since we were age 4.</p>
<p>I got a blank journal book and titled it “50 Memories form 50 years.” On each page I wrote a different memory - some funny, some poignant; things we did, things we’d owned (Princess phone, anyone ;)? ), places we remembered…</p>
<p>She loved it and you could certainly do something similar.</p>
<p>For his 21st birthday, I gave my son a “21 great things about you” scroll. Same idea. I’m not sure he appreciated it quite as much as my 50-something friend did. But his bff thought it was wonderful.</p>
<p>Those types of gifts are almost always the most meaningful, imo.</p>
<p>I too love the picture idea, along with a note/letter. One of the things I treasure the most is the letter my oldest wrote when he finished college, thanking us for different things we had done or been there for him and some funny or touching memories from his childhood.</p>
<p>Hand written letter are becoming even more valuable these days as we now communicate via e-mail so much. I would love a hand written letter with a card. The picture is a bonus.</p>
<p>Your mom turns 50 two weeks (and a day) before I do. My H is supposed to be out of town at a conference. All my kids are away. I’m just kinda hoping someone remembers. The fact that you do will mean the most! (I love the 50 memories idea - maybe I’ll use it for a friend some day!)</p>
<p>Binx- I had my birthday a few days ago. The best present was my 2nd child calling. I was surprised. He usually is not good at remembering things like that. I asked if he had a reminder from someone else but he said no.
I also woke up to a text message of happy birthday from my east coast child.
Us Mom’s don’t need expensive presents. I love getting any kind of art work or a letter or poem from my kids.
When my grandmother in law passed away we found every card, letter, drawing etc that any of her children, grandchildren or great grandchildren had given her.</p>
<p>I love the picture idea, but I also love the idea of an a capella group. If you think it might be difficult to rope in the campus a capella group, how about some of your friends serenading her? It will show her as nothing else could that you have made some great friends in college.</p>
<p>I also like the picture&letter idea. And a big hug as a finishing touch :).The most important thing about gifts is not how much money you spend on them. It is the thought and effort that matter. Happy 50th birthday to your mom.</p>
<p>What about some kind of recording, perhaps a CD you burn, of your telling her your best memories of your time together? I know I keep a message from S & D on my answering machine so that I can hear their voices any time I get lonesome for them. It would be a cheaper version than one of those talking picture frames, but that would be nice, too.</p>
binx, I had a milestone birthday in May under similar circumstances - both H and S far far away. Both remembered, which was great. But I made my own plans. Had a Girls Only evening with a few very close friends. I brought a few photos to show me “over the years” - most of these friends came into my life in the last 10 or 20 years, so they got to see earlier stuff and I got to reminisce.</p>
<p>No gifts (which request they did actually honor) but many funny stories and cards and a bit of a roast. Very nice evening.</p>
<p>I’ve been trying to figure out what to do. My S in NYC was supposed to be in a concert in Carnegie Hall that weekend, and I considered treating myself to a weekend in NYC. But then S got excused from the concert in order to take a gig in Florida. He said come there instead, but that would be too expensive for me to go to. (In NYC, I could stay with him - In Florida I’d have to get a hotel.)</p>
<p>I’m still waffling between wanting to celebrate it and wanting to ignore it! The OP’s family weekend sounds ideal to me - A good excuse to barge in on one of my kids. But my kids’ schools didn’t cooperate! (Missing family weekend at D’s school currently. Sons’ schools don’t have 'em.)</p>
<p>I love the picture frame with a picture of you and your sister in it. You know what I would love for my birthday (Mom of 2 college kids and going to be 48)? I would love my family to get me a birthday cake. Maybe you can give her a cake and the picture frame. I’m still waiting for my first birthday cake in 23 years!! I guess if Mom (meaning me) doesn’t bake it, the idea that I might like a birthday cake doesn’t even cross their minds.</p>
<p>NYsmile, I think you’ve got something there. I’ve been making my birthday cake for years and would love to have one make one for me. Last year I made one for my mother after doing a surprise visit for her birthday. A picture, a note and the cake would be the real trifecta!</p>