<p>Yes I know this is a weird question that obviously depends on the person. I’m 25 (tomorrow!), and live at home during school breaks. My mom would do anything for me, and I love her to death. We speak everyday, etc. We’ve never really been into gifts in my family; we’re fortunately wealthy enough to get what’s needed when we want it (well my parents, not really me). Generally, I give her a card, and sometimes have flowers delvered (since im across country)…she says it’s a waste of money ($10 for delivery certainly is)…she says the card is fine (and I’m certain she’s not just saying this). I’d still like to give her more, but there’s nothing materialistic she wants, and I’m really not the creative type person to make something…or even think of something to make (and unfortunately, I don’t really have time with finals at the same time).</p>
<p>It’s basically the same for birthdays. My parents don’t usually give each much, and my sister and I generally get to choose a gift worth $100-$200 (although I get new laptops for college when old ones break, my parents pay for books, for tutition, etc…so this isn’t meant as a complaint). We’re just not the gift giving type, but this still makes me feel bad year aftr year.</p>
<p>Any thoughts? Should I leave things as they are?</p>
<p>I tell my family the only questions I will answer on Mother’s Day are: “What do you want for breakfast/lunch/dinner?” or “Can I get you anything?” To me, it’s really not about the stuff, but taking a day off from being a mom and being responsible for everyone else. (I once heard someone say that it’s Kids Day the other 364 days of the year!)</p>
<p>If you are not home on May 8, why not pick a day when you will be home and treat her like a queen. Send her a “save the date” card noting that it’s her day and you will be her humble guide. Make her favorite foods and do activities she likes to do. (these can be low cost like arranging picnic lunch in the park or at the beach or going to a movie). If you want to splurge a bit, how about a mother/daughter pedicure?</p>
<p>Thanks, great idea (other than I’m a guy and I don’t think a mother/daughter pedicure would apply to my situation ;-p). But I really like your other idea, think I’ll do something like that.</p>
<p>It sounds like she doesn’t want things, since she has all that she needs in material goods. This is not the answer for some moms but I think your mom would love a love letter. Tell her how much you love and miss her. Your time maybe all she wants.</p>
<p>Yesyesyes to post #2. When my kids were little, all I wanted was for dh to take them to the playground so I could get in a 2-hour nap, and pizza delivered for dinner. That was a BANNER day for me and I really looked forward to it.</p>
<p>In your position, OP, I’d think about taking her to lunch or dinner, or maybe a special event (play, concert, museum?). The mom-daughter pedicure is a great idea if your mom enjoys that. I love flowers in a garden, but there are a zillion things I’d rather have than cut flowers.</p>
<p>Happy birthday tomorrow. And you can’t really go wrong with anything on Mother’s Day - we moms are wired that way.</p>
<p>I agree with NJ, my most favorite gift is time. For my birthday last year, I asked for a day at the zoo. When S was young, we spent many happy days visiting the zoo which is about 20 minutes from our house. As he got older, he didn’t want to be seen with his mother. Then, as he was getting ready to leave for college, it was ok again. We had a wonderful few hours walking together and reminiscing (sp?).</p>
<p>I would love updated professional photos of my kids, individually and together.
The most recent of these photos I have are the HS senior shots…and the baby graduates college this month :/</p>
<p>Thanks mominva, my mom always complains she wants new photos. I think she has one photo of me from the past ten years (and it was me in a t-shirt and pajamas).</p>
<p>I was very happy to receive a card from the worm, in which he filled with his thoughts and gratitude. His realization that I will always have his back touched me. </p>
<p>The fact that you love your mom so much and call her daily already shows her the depth of your affection; can you say that in words to her? You write well.</p>
<p>I’m a big fan of time, as well. Watch a movie, go for a run together. Whatever makes your mom personally happy. If she would like to have breakfast made, that’s great.</p>
<p>The best gifts I ever received were rose bushes from my kids (they cost about $20 at Home Depot) and the year we moved into our house my husband bought me a weeping cherry tree. It’s name is Ashely and it is a part of our family.</p>
<p>Since my son was young, I have expressly forbidden any gifts unless they were handmade by him [love my car radiator (my only ‘yard art’) where he @ 7 beat out with a hammer & screwdriver “I Love You” in the fins]. These days, he gives me a ‘date night’ (dinner and a movie) which I cherish.</p>
<p>All I want, now and forever, is his time and undivided attention.</p>
<p>If you won’t be home for Mother’s Day, call and send a 'Your Invited to…" card. </p>
<p>Or if she loves birds, buy a plain $10 birdhouse, craft paint, sealer and decoratively paint it, including your name and 2011. Painting skill is not required. Shipping should be inexpensive.</p>
<p>Another option is a self written poem. Silly or serious, it doesn’t matter. It just shows your time and effort on her behalf.</p>
I love this idea. I have told my family I want an updated professional photo of the kids for Mother’s Day. Don’t think it is happening, but a photo with the kids holding that sign would be cute. And you could get is printed by snapfish, or some other online place and have it delivered by Sunday. </p>
<p>Another idea is a nice not thanking her for all she has done, or a poem, etc. I also prefer home made stuff.</p>
<p>I want (a) no fighting among kids all day, (b) a nap that ends when I want it to end, and (c) a modest but pleasant dinner out. It would be a big plus if all homework was done without me having to nag.</p>
<p>What I don’t want is for each kid to spend $3-5 each on a card.</p>
<p>$3 to $5? I picked up a card for my own mother for Mother’s Day and flipped it over – it was $6.79!! It didn’t sing songs, it wasn’t recordable, it wasn’t postage prepaid – it was just a nice pink card with a nice sentiment. I put it right back on the rack and found one for 4 bucks. I told my kids to just write a nice note to their grandmother – she’d like that better anyway.</p>
<p>Had that ‘I love you, Mom’ sign from son during freshman year via webcam!
He and his buddies held it up, called their moms and told them to head to a computer ;)</p>
<p>Isn’t it sad…when my kids were young, what I wanted for Mother’s Day was a little time to myself. Now that they are grown, I want time with them!</p>
<p>If you are technologically adept, a gift of your time to assist with technology (laptop?, camera?, ipod?) or to help convert photos to digital form or to convert VHS tapes to DVD would probably be appreciated.</p>
<p>I want to be appreciated. I want acknowledgement of some of the many things I do to make life easier- past and present. Letting her know you realize how much she has done for you makes a difference. Tell her/thank her for some of those things. It will make her day to know you appreciate some of the things you never realized years ago. Tell her some of the ways she shaped who you are today. It may be concrete things like the cupcakes for an elementary school treat, knowing how to do laundry or something intangible such as an appreciation for a type of literature or ways to handle life. Letting her know she did a good job as a mother is the best gift you can give. There’s enough to last a lifetime of Mother’s Days. PS- by telling her some of those things you’ll prove she did a good job.</p>