When you’re trying to come up with Mother’s Day gift ideas, don’t go down the pots and pans, can opener, or ironing board route (unless you happen to know there’s something like that she really wants). These things remind moms of all the hard work it takes to be a mother. Instead, get her something that tells her that you appreciate her for being a mother. Try to find gifts that will make her feel good by thinking of things that will help her relax, that are entertaining, or that pertain to something she enjoys doing. Of course not every mom will like all of ideas on this list, so it’s important that you have some idea of what your mother, grandmother, stepmother, or mother-in-law enjoys. Here are some Mother’s Day gifts ideas to get you started:
Guilty Pleasure
A chocolate and coffee gift basket
If you know that your mother loves chocolate and coffee, try making her A chocolate and coffee gift basket. You can buy a basket at a dollar store or a craft store like Hobby Lobby, or you can opt to forgo the basket and just get a nice gift bag. Then all you have to do is go to your local grocery store and select a few nice chocolate bars. Brands like Lindt, Ghirardelli, and Russell Stover can be found at most grocery stores, or you can try to find chocolate-covered espresso beans, which are absolutely wonderful. Then you can either get a bag of gourmet coffee grounds or buy a six-pack of Starbucks bottled Frappuccinos or Godiva Belgian Blends. If your mother loves chocolate but isn’t into coffee, you can get her some gourmet hot chocolate mix instead. If you opt for this gift idea, just make sure you know that she’s not on a diet!
Health-Conscious
Blooming tea bags
If your mother is more of a health-conscious type, perhaps she is a tea lover. Bed Bath & Beyond has this amazing product called “Teaposy”. These aren’t your average tea bags. When they are placed in boiling water, they “bloom” into beautiful flower shapes. This is definitely one of the more unique Mother’s Day gift ideas on this list.
Casual Comfort
Slippers, bathrobe, or pajamas
These gift ideas are great for a mother, grandmother, stepmother or mother-in-law who likes to relax and feel comfortable when she’s at home. Bed Bath & Beyond has some slippers called “Anti-Stress Comfort Booties” by Earth Therapeutics that aren’t just comfortable; they can be heated up in the microwave or cooled down in the freezer to sooth sore feet. Stores like Target and Wal-Mart are great places to find affordable robes, pajamas, or house shoes. I know anytime I’ve ever gotten any of these gifts, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them, and by getting a gift like this, you’re letting your mom know that she deserves to take a break every now and then.
Pampered Princess
Lotion or bath set
This gift idea may seem a little boring, but if your spouse puts off buying a gift for your mother-in-law on you, it’s a good way to go, because most women do enjoy body wash or lotion. You can again try stores like Target or Wal-Mart where you can get more for your money, or go to Bath and Body Works or Victoria’s Secret for higher-priced but higher-quality products. I know many women who say they love getting bath products for gifts because they just don’t ever buy these products for themselves. You can also get her some pedicure products. Bed Bath & Beyond has a great pedicure salon kit by Earth Therapeutics that’s under $20.
Hard-Working Woman
Massager
This is one of my favorite Mother’s Day gift ideas. There’s a reason why massagers are such popular gifts: they feel so good. If your mother does a lot of physical work, this may be the gift for her. Homemedics, which is my favorite brand of electric massagers, make a head and neck massager that’s under $20 that can be found at Bed Bath & Beyond, and at Linens ‘n Things, you can get a very cute, pink breast cancer awareness mini massager that is also made by Homemedics. Target and Wal-Mart also have a wide variety of inexpensive massagers.
Fun-Loving
Whether your mother loves card games, Wheel of Fortune, or SuDoku, there are a variety of electronic Handheld games available at stores like Wal-Mart and Target. These are great gifts for moms who travel a lot (or who don’t have access to addicting internet game sites).
Intellectual
A good book
Well, you don’t really have to be an intellectual to enjoy a good book. Many moms love to read, though. You may not know exactly what kind of book your mom likes, so you can try getting a book that’s a collection of inspirational, funny, or heart-warming stories, like the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series of books. Or you can just browse around Barnes & Noble until you find something that you think she’ll like. Just make sure you know a little about what your mom enjoys reading.
Artistic
Scrapbook or photo album
This is a great Mother’s Day gift idea for an artistic mother or a grandmother. You can get a nice scrapbook from Target or a local scrapbooking store and decorate a page and insert some photos yourself. Then you and your mother or grandmother can work on the book together as time goes by, filling it with memories. A nice photo album is a great idea for a mother or grandmother who loves to take pictures (if they don’t already have a stack of them!). You can also get a multi-framed photo frame from Target and insert pictures of everyone in your family. This is a great gift for a grandmother to proudly display on her wall.
Movie Lover
Theater gift certificate or favorite “chick flick
If your mom loves to go out but just doesn’t ever get to, give her an excuse! Get her a gift certificate to a movie theater so that she and her significant other can get out of the house and enjoy themselves. You can also take her yourself and enjoy some quality time together. If she loves movies but hates the theater, buy her a copy of her favorite chick flick. You can also buy one of those microwavable buckets of popcorn to place the movie or gift certificates in. If you opted for the chick flick idea, you can have the popcorn and watch it together.
Plant Lover/Cook
Herb, strawberry, or tomato growing kit
This is a great Mother’s Day gift idea for a mom who loves plants and likes to cook. You can buy these kits at Target, and they are made by Buzzy. Not only will your mother have the pleasure of caring for and enjoying a beautiful plant in her home, she will also enjoy cooking with fresh herbs, tomatoes or strawberries year round.
These Mother’s Day gift ideas are great because they all let your mother know that you want her to enjoy herself. They are thoughtful and will make her feel appreciated, and that’s what Mother’s Day is all about.
