<p>I’m a senior in HS and my relationship with my parents hasn’t been so great lately. I’m getting ready to head off to college this fall (GO DUKE!) so I want to get my Mom something for Mother’s Day.</p>
<p>So Moms, what do you actually want?</p>
<p>We don’t go in for Mother’s Day at my house, but given your situation, perhaps a charming, heartfelt letter to her, on the eve of you leaving home.</p>
<p>I can always use a gift certificate for a manicure, pedicure, facial, whatever.</p>
<p>And I tell my husband, “PLEASE don’t take me out to eat on Mother’s Day!!” It took a couple of years for him to get that message. I don’t enjoy the crowds!</p>
<p>I also ask for time to myself. I might just sit in the hammock in the backyard all afternoon, but that is heaven.</p>
<p>I would love the letter, but my sons send me choc covered strawberries. Maybe bc they know that I will share…</p>
<p>Usually a get a book (one I have hinted that I want ahead of time!). But Ethel M chocolates are never a bad plan…</p>
<p>Seconding garland’s suggestion of a heartfelt letter - she’ll keep it forever.</p>
<p>You could also make her a lovely meal - just tell her she’s off the hook for cooking next Sunday, do the shopping, cooking, and clean-up yourself, and spend the time with her. I’d love that, but all my kids live many miles away.</p>
<p>However, I’ll be seeing all of them next weekend. :)</p>
<p>I got a puppy! He’s my present to me – and he’s a teenage boy puppy ready to train for agility. My current agility dog is facing early retirement at 3-1/2</p>
<p>On Mother’s Day I will be showing my current agility dog at a local agility trial. Maybe for the last time. We’ll have to see how she does. Tonight, I feel that next week is the last time in Regular – it’s possible I might move her down to the veteran’s class. So for Mothers’ Day, my best possible wish is that my wonderful special current agility dog can rally herself for a spectacular day. </p>
<p>One son is still at college taking finals; the other is on the opposite side of the country. I hope they’ll both call me. My husband will be running lacrosse practice near our summer home – and I will be at the main homestead.</p>
<p>I’d love it if we just picked up Jimmy John’s sandwiches for dinner and my kids helped me in the garden or with a puzzle. DH usually gets something for me so I will hint broadly at a membership to our local botanic gardens. A thoughtful note from my kids would be lovely. </p>
<p>Emc2, maybe over this week you could take the initiative to do chores you know your mom isn’t keen on, or even handling your own usual responsibilities cheerfully, without procrastinating, be extra patient with other family members, etc. Maybe volunteer to take on a project with her? Or plan a free outing like a hike? Such a gift doesn’t need to be stored or cleaned and it is guaranteed to be the right size and color.</p>
<p>Is there anything special you and your mom enjoy doing together? To me, that would be the best gift, to spend time together. Things my kids and I have done together: D and I went to see the latest Disney princess movie (when she was in her 20s), gone out for tea/coffee and dessert, gone and had pedicures together. With my S, last year when he was a senior in HS he took me out for lunch. For my birthday last year, I asked S to sing in church on that day, which happened to be a Sunday. H is a pastor and S sings, otherwise that might be a strange request!</p>
<p>When my kids were small and required a lot of attention and care, what I wanted was a break from childcare and household responsibilities. To wake up late, have coffee in bed, come downstairs to a clean house, and spend the day any way I pleased–reading, relaxing, whatever.</p>
<p>Once kids are no longer underfoot, it seems a treat to have everyone together. I still would like the above but I’d like it capped off by dinner with the family, prepared and cleaned up by someone else.</p>
<p>Time with my children is truly all I want.</p>
<p>the worm would get me chocolates or a book, and enclose a card. The cards are special.</p>
<p>I love to garden but have more garden space than I can get to during the busy early weeks of May (property is an acre). My favorite Mother’s Day gift has been for my two kids to each get a flat of impatiens and then weed and plant a section of our back border for me. It is such a gift of time and effort and is so lovely to have that taken care of by them. :)</p>
<p>I am with those who avoid going out to eat on a holiday such as this. Fine by me if they cook, though!</p>
<p>I also have no interest in material gifts other than the flowers that get planted. Nicely chosen cards, especially with thoughtful notes, always hit the spot.</p>
<p>Even a card is nice. I keep them forever!</p>
<p>I’m just happy that one of my kids will be here for mothers day this year.</p>
<p>To the OP…my daughter wrote me a great note, but she left it on her pillow when she left for college. I found it when I got home…and framed it. It is one of my favorite all time gifts.</p>
<p>Honestly, we always have Mother’s/Father’s day plans that the honoree has planned. Very much lessened the stress of trying for a “perfect” day or “perfect” gift. So my DH always wants us to clean the garage out together!</p>
<p>The best gifts I have from my children they made with their own hands, or it has been time they spent with me. It’s corny but true. I don’t need stuff. And they don’t have money (and if they did, I would want them to save it) But their undivided attention on a hike, or gardening, or going to a book sale together — that’s priceless. Even cooking together, or taking a road trip. Once we made pottery together and it was godawful ugly, but it’s still in my kitchen and it makes me smile. DH goes to visit his own mom – alone — as a gift from both of us (because she gets him all to herself, and I know that means a lot to her)</p>
<p>Spending time with my kids is the best present.</p>
<p>I’d like time with my kids. It surely won’t happen with the one 2000 miles away. But a card or call would be nice.</p>
<p>Wishing me happy mother’s day works for me. When son was in college he usually had an exam on M day. We knew his college exam schedule and he shocked me once with a call when I thought he was still taking an exam- he got done early, thought he had done well (got the A). We did not get along during his teenage years, his 20’s are getting better each year (being apart is good for us).</p>
<p>“I found it when I got home…and framed it. It is one of my favorite all time gifts.”</p>
<p>I can relate. When DS2 was learning to write he took an orange highlighter and wrote on a yellow post it note “I love you Mommy” I framed it and it has been on my night table for 15+ years. about 14 1/2 years ago the highlighter printing faded into oblivion, so it looks like I have a blank post it note in a sterling silver frame. But as long as I have my marbles I will remember what it had said and his sweet preschool scrawl.</p>