11 Mother’s Day gift ideas for a special day

As we get further and further into the year, we get closer to one of my favourite holidays – Mother’s Day. The great thing about this holiday is that everyone can celebrate it. Whether or not you are a mother, this day can be extremely special if not for you, then for the motherly figures in your life. As I am a first time mom to a beautiful two year old, I am excited to see what the daycare will have her create this year. And it is because of the special gifts that I have received for two years in a row that I know mother’s across the globe would appreciate something on Mother’s Day.

If you don’t have a mother, you can still get a gift

I know that there are quite a lot of people who don’t have mothers, and I am one of them. What I have learnt to do since my mom passed away over a decade ago, is to gift my dad something special. My logic is this: a mother is someone who nurtures and cares for you. A mother loves you unconditionally and does her best to teach you right from wrong. And a mother will be there when you mess up, regardless of what you do.

Since my mom passed, my father has played that role in every instance. He has not been perfect at it, but he has definitely loved, taught, disciplined and cared for me. By default, he has had to be both my mother and father.

The motherly figure in your life could be your aunt or someone you look up to. Whoever that is, remember them on Mother’s Day, and make them feel loved.

So if you are struggling to come up with gift ideas for your mother, here are some tips for you.

Make a special cost-free Mother’s Day gift

For two years in a row, I have received Mother’s Day cards with a handprint of my daughter since she can’t write yet. Believe it or not, those are ranked as some of the most special gifts I have ever received. The incredible thing about mothers is that they will value whatever you get granted you put thought into the gift. It doesn’t have to be expensive or functional, so if you don’t make any money, remember that special is the key.

Things you can make include:

• Handwritten cards
• A drawing/ painting
• Handmade voucher to an at-home spa
• A self made poem or short story
• A self-written song
• Scrapbook

Gift your mother some time off

Before having my daughter, I had no idea just how much energy goes into being a mom. You never get time off. You are basically on call when others are asleep. And you are still expected to do everything else that non-mothers do in the office. To put it simply, being a mother is hard regardless of whether your child is a month old or married.

If you live with your mother, give her the day off from mothering. Let her go out with her friends or to a spa alone. You can even pamper her by giving her breakfast in bed and doing all the chores. This day can be the one time in the entire year that she doesn’t have to worry about taking care of anyone else.

Get a gift card

A tough question that I always get is what do you get for someone who has everything? The simple answer, is to love them, but that is not what we want to hear. So if you are adamant about getting a gift for your mother(ly figure), get her a gift card. This way she can buy some things that she needs and you don’t have to spend time guessing what to buy. The great thing about gift cards is that they can be used for essentials as well as luxuries. Personally, I prefer functional gifts, and I enjoy picking out what I consider to be functional.

Make a Mother’s Day care package

If you are earning a pretty penny, this is your chance to get your mother a very tailored gift. You’ll need to put on your private investigator hat for this one, so get ready. Done? OK great, now start snooping to find out what skin care products she currently uses or would love to try. Then find any extras that would work well with the products, for example a jade roller, makeup sponges, a face brush… If you are a guy and reading this, just ask your female friends, they will know.

Once you’ve got all of your items ready, buy a beautiful basket where you will put all the knick knacks. Finish it off with a bow and ribbons on the handle of the basket.

Have a lunch date

Another special thing you can do is set up a Mother’s Day lunch date. This can be either at home or in a restaurant depending on your pocket. The rule of the game is to make sure the menu consists of what your mother likes. So no KFC or McDonalds please – unless of course that is what she enjoys. I personally would prefer to have a home cooked meal than to be taken to a restaurant, that way I can have leftovers for days. Plus, if the food is really good, I can have a second helping.

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Whatever you choose to do, know that the ‘mothers’ in your life will appreciate the thought behind the gift.

What are you are planning for Mother’s Day?