In Search of the Perfect Present for Mom

Updated on November 29, 2010
C.R. asks from Chicago, IL
20 answers

Ok so I'm 19 and the daughter of the world's greatest mom. Although I'm not a mother myself I am finding it dificult to pick out the perfect Christmas present for her. Here's a little bit about her. My mother is 40 years old and is one of the hardest working people I know. Not only is she one of the hardest but she is also one of the sweetest. She runs a daycare taking care of four kids, generally on her own, and takes care of our family of five once she gets off. She's always very stressed out between work and her three teenage daughters and is constantly on the go. I want to get her something that could make her life a little better, regardless of what that may be or how it may do it. I'm working off of a student budget so please try and keep it under $100 but I am willing to spend as much as I need for the perfect gift because if there was ever a person in the world who deserved it, it's her hands down. I thought I'd get all of your thoughts seeing that you guys would know better than I do what a mother really wants.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Chicago on

Time for each of you is precious. There is something special about moms and daughters. I say give her abox with a coupon (that you made) for lunch or a "day at the spa" and join her. After, lunch give her a letter on how important she is to you.

Let us know what you end up doing.
J.

More Answers

C.W.

answers from Lynchburg on

Oh C.-

I can NOT advise you on a 'material' gift for your mom...

BUT for me...You putting in writing what you have said here...would be the best kind of gift for me...

Honest.

Take Care
michele/cat

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.P.

answers from Chicago on

when I was that age I had the same problem. So one year I went and found two small (quarter size) jade turtles. I wrapped up one for Mom and one for Dad. With each I put a note that said that now that I was older I would not be around as much, but they should keep this turtle with them in their pocket or purse so that everytime they went in the pocket and felt the turtle they would think of me and how much I appreciate all they had done for me.
My Dad had that turtle in his pocket EVERY DAY from then on. When he died I got it back, and now I use it to think of him.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.C.

answers from Chicago on

C.

Your best gift to your Mom are the words you just wrote! She would feel so very loved and appreciated by those words. She is clearly raising a wonderful Daughter to have noticed the hard work she does for everyone.
I promise you she will not want you spending a $100.00 on her. Write her a letter of your feelings and how proud you are to have a Mom like her, she will cherish that forever!
You could also get her a little pocket Angel (or something) that she carries in her purse, it will always remind her of you!

Good Luck

V.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Is there a place she really likes to go to get her hair or nails done? Getting a gift certificate for that will eliminate additional "guilt" that a lot of busy moms feel for taking time for/spending money on themselves. And I agree with the poster that advised that for you to express your admiration and gratitude to your mom in a note or poem and she will LOVE it!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.R.

answers from Chicago on

My chiropratic office is selling 1 hour messages with a message therapist for half the price right now. $40 instead of $80 until the end of November. They are Vernon Hills, ###-###-####. As a mom, I would love it!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.B.

answers from Chicago on

I have no new idead vs what you've already received here (I would have suggested the coupon book where you help take part of the burden off your mom once in a while with dishes, cleaning, cooking, spa day, etc.)...BUT...

I just want to say how amazed I am by you! By the time I was your age, I had already lost my mother, so I never got the chance to help grow our relationship into anything more mature than stupid young teenager stuff. And the fact that you are here admiring your mother is a testament to how awesome of a daughter you are!!

Good luck on your quest to honor your mom!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.D.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Mom's appreciate most the gift that comes from your heart. Write her a letter or a poem to let her know how much she means to you and how much you appreciate what she does. (There is not cost involved, unless you use fancy paper, :) That will mean more to her than a gift you can not afford. Then maybe spend the day together, be available for what she might want to do for the day, take her to lunch, watch her favorite movie, look at old photos, take a walk in the park or the mall, spend time just chatting with her (not checking email or texting friends), have a special picture taken of just you and her or her with her kids, etc. Gifts are nice, but the gift of time together and special memories of being together last a lifetime. My mom has passed and I miss her as much today as I did when she passed 10 yrs ago. What I would not give to have one more day to just spend time with her talking, laughing and letting her know how lucky I was to have her. That my friend is the best gift of all. Being a mom now myself, I treasure all the special little things my kids make for me or special little notes they leave for me to find.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.V.

answers from Chicago on

I don't know if you go away to school, but I miss spending time with my daughter when she is away. I would want her to take me out instead of just giving me a gift certificate or coupon for something I did on my own. A mother/daughter day where you take her to lunch or to the movies would be nice. You could have mani/pedis, massages, or get your hair done together. If not that then maybe even a joint venture with your family where you buy her something to wear for an evening your dad takes her out and you and your sisters clean the house while she is gone.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Chicago on

You're so sweet! I'm sure someone already suggested this, but a massage or something along those lines would probably be great. Or you could take her out to a nice lunch, something relaxing and just for the two of you. I find that "experiences" are the best gifts for people who are hard to buy for - always appreciated and memorable. How about tickets to a show of some kind?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.B.

answers from Chicago on

This is going to sound corny, but the gift of your time would be a huge gift! You could use a website like Shutterfly to create a nice photo book that captures your family for the last year (or more) depending on what you want to do. Then you could give your Mom IOU's for things like cooking dinner, running her errands, anything she does that you know would give her a break and let her relax for a little while.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Chicago on

My brother, sister and I get this for my mother every year and she loves it. We coordinate a formal portrait of the family. We pick out the clothes to make sure everyone matches and we buy her the portraits and her Christmas cards using the portraits. We always go through JCPenny because they do a great job and they are reasonably priced. You'll need to use coupons (which are easy to come by) and sign up for their portrait club at $20 per year, but it saves you a $9 each sitting fee. We just did our pictures and it cost $100 for the Christmas cards and all the portraits everyone wanted.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.G.

answers from Chicago on

I've got the PERFECT present for your busy mom!! The One Trip Tote (www. Onetriptote.com). I've been telling everyone about this item... A great present for any really busy woman! It's a very unique spin on carryalls. It's large, horizontal and stays open. The idea is you gather everything you need for the day and make only One Trip out the door (instead of 2-3). So many uses... To school, to work, shopping, sport games, pool or beach, laundry or just to organize your trunk!!! You've got to check out the website. It's strikingly beautiful, so unique and Useful!!! Perfect gift, really!!! It's locally made from a woman in Chicagoland. Good luck. Your mom sounds incredible!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Wichita on

have you thought of like, a spa day, or a massage or something, along with a letter about how much you appreciate her?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.A.

answers from Chicago on

How about making a scrapbook with a letter at the front pretty much saying what you said here. Add in family and friend pictures and ask others to write notes about what she means to them. Every couple of pages tuck in an offer of help. Stuff that is never done for er around the house. This may cost a little but as a Mom it would be loved.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

What about a gift certificate to a spa? Every woman wants to be pampered. :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.G.

answers from Chicago on

My first thought is something to pamper herself. Would she like a massage or pedicure. How about maid service for a day? Or you could clean the house while she goes to the spa!! Your lucky to have such a great mom!

J.P.

answers from Lewiston on

How about a gift certificate to her favorite place to get coffee? Other ideas:

A home made coupon book to help her out with chores around the house, a dinner cooked by you while she relaxes, girls day... etc.
For my mom this year I want to take some pics of my daughter (13 months) with wooden letters from walmart to spell out LOVE and put them in a frame that holds 4 pics. You could try the same thing with your siblings...

I hope my daughter will say this stuff to me :) I love how much you admire her <3

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.F.

answers from Chicago on

I have the hardest time getting my children to take a family picture. My mom passed away less than a year from the time we took a family picture with my godson. It is my only professional picture with my mother. She loved the picture and I treasure it now. You could also look into getting her a message from a day spa in the area. They are very relaxing. Also you and your siblings could give the house a really good cleaning so that when she comes home the house is spotless, and have dinner ready to papmer her for a change. Those are my ideas, hope it helps

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.K.

answers from Chicago on

I like everyone else, has nothing new or different to offer. Love the coupon book idea. Include: mother/daughter chat time. Movie night with the whole family, mom can pick movie. clean out the fridge. Think of things your mother would like to do with the whole family. Love the idea of the shutterfly book, you can do favorite pictures of each person in the family with your mom and have them put a story to go with it. Make a video of how much your mom means to all of you, capture everyone in the video. Another great idea is to get one of those recorable books from hallmark and each of you can record a page. Then she will have everyone with her always. If your mom likes massages or getting her nails done, you could buy her a gift certificate. Good luck! She is one very lucky mother, but that shouldn't surprise her because she has a wonderful thoughtful daughter.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions