<p>So many CC parents are dealing with older parents, often far away. They need to have less stuff not more, they have what they need, no more tchotchkes, no more knick knacks, etc. Other than flowers, what creative ideas have ya’ll come up with?</p>
<p>I think they really do appreciate simple things. My mother is now in a nursing home, so we give her lots of family photos, flowers (she always loves them), and baked treats. Phone calls and cards from out-of-town family are important. Going out is possible, but tiring (and not just for her!), so this Mother’s Day we’re planning to make a nice lunch and take it over to her.</p>
<p>I sent my mom a gift certificate for a very nice restaurant and cash, and made certain her only grandchild sent her a card. Not creative, but what do you expect from a cpa.</p>
<p>Digital picture frames that don’t require you to know anything about how they work. With pictures, of course.</p>
<p>How about a recently published book? Or a new CD? Or a movie just out on DVD that you think they might enjoy?</p>
<p>My mother loves family pictures. We take her out for a family dinner in a restaurant. We buy something that will be returned. </p>
<p>I remember my mother used to make baskets for her mother of shampoos, and toiletries that she liked. She kept that. Any other type of gift would be returned.</p>
<p>We send flowers because that is something the mom would not go out and buy herself…and she really likes them.</p>
<p>My mom HATED cut flowers. Said “why would you cut them? They will die!” Much preferred plants…of course, those died too…</p>
<p>i used to always buy a flat of petunias for my mom. she doesn’t garden much anymore, so sometimes a pretty planter for her back porch. this year, i bought her a new book by one of her favorite authors, debbie maccomber. jigsaw puzzles have been a big hit for my mom. she loves certain types and i have been ordering them from ebay…she is a recent widow and it has been a real treat for her. she now can sit in my dad’s tv room, watch tv and do a puzzle and not feel so restless, distracted or sad…</p>
<p>How about a letter or note card from every single one of her children and grand-children? The harder it is to accomplish, the more valuable it might be;-)</p>
<p>I bought orchid one year for my mother, no need for watering and it lasts for a long time. I personally would not turn down a free hour with a good massage therapist.</p>
<p>My mom likes us to donate to Heifer International in her name.</p>
<p>I am taking my mother to the Phillies.</p>
<p>I have three “moms.” One is my real mom, the other is my M-I-L, and the other is a family friend who never had children of her own.</p>
<p>Shortly before Mother’s Day, I round 'em up (I now use my van for senior citizens, not seniors in high school, I have dubbed it the party van) & have them over for a simple, but elegant lunch. Crab cakes, baked potato & walnut pear salad. Salad is made in advance, potatoes are in the oven, and when I get in the house I throw the crab cakes in the oven. I get three separate bunches of simple flowers, plop them in vases and put them on the table as decorations. No boys are allowed. I give them the flowers when it is time to go home. </p>
<p>They love it. They love someone making a fuss over them and just spending time with me. </p>
<p>I think I may try the orchid this year, I love that idea and they will look awesome on the table.</p>
<p>My general gift for her is one or more books in an area of interest. One year she was taking a trip and I bought her a nice rolling suitcase.</p>
<p>I bought my mom and MIL lightweight spring sweaters; two garments per Mom. One has severe osteoporosis with the dowager’s hump so it is so disheartening for her to shop. </p>
<p>I got advice on the best cut to mask it (yoke around the shoulders, very full and loose, no button closings at the bottom). </p>
<p>Of their two sweaters, one has some bright colors and flash, and the other very conservative brown and black. Perhaps with two sweaters in the gift box, they’ll like one.</p>
<p>Another year I bought them memory foam mattress pads, inspired by this college forum.
Their bones ache, so the relief on pressure points was a big improvement for them.</p>
<p>This is not for every mom, and it’s a bit on the pricey side, but one year we got ours a laptop and an internet connection. She had never had a computer before. Of course, you have to also teach her how to use it, or find someone else. (and introduce her to CC of course!)
Or, if she has one, set up a Facebook account for her and recruit the whole family as friends.</p>
<p>My mom doesn’t want/need anything. Last year for Mothers’ Day I donated to a charity in her name on a last minute whim. She was very, very pleased.</p>
<p>Hunter College has an annual Mother’s Day appeal and I make a donation in my mother’s name. She wasn’t very fond of the school and I doubt if she has ever made an alumna donation but the charities she supports avidly are not ones I would choose, so Hunter gets my $$$. They send her a Mother’s Day card of acknowledgement.</p>
<p>I’m also sometimes a fan of items that snapfish/kodakgallery/. . . have. One year I picked out twelve good pics of the kids and had them made into a calendar (you can start them any month). There are also customized mugs, mousepads, . . . available. Back when my youngest was in pre-school, the outfit that was doing the school pics offered a tote bag with the kid’s picture on it. My mom still carries that. I think at her age it’s all about the grandkids.</p>