What mom’s want: gifts from the heart
Happy Mother’s Day – especially to mine. I have been blessed with a good one and David and I are fortunate to be celebrating today with her and our three, four- legged children. I always ask mom what she wants on special occasions that require gifts. She typically indicates there is nothing she needs and I remind her that she will be receiving a gift, so it might as well be something she wants.
An annual survey released by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics reports that Mother’s Day spending is expected to reach $23.1 billion this year. Some of the more popular purchases include jewelry, special outings, flowers and gift cards. The survey found that 86 percent of Americans will celebrate Mother’s Day, and they plan to spend $180 on average.
Mom wanted a Spiralizer. It is a kitchen gadget that cuts vegetables into long spirals mimicking pasta. She sent me an online link and a few clicks later, it was on its way. I got her a card and plan to be sitting on the pew beside her in church this morning, which will probably be what she appreciates the most. We will gather for lunch afterwards. All totaled, the cost will be far less than the national average.
After reading a Twitter post last week from the Republican National Committee hawking President Donald Trump-themed merchandise ahead of today’s celebration of moms, I felt proud of my choices and grateful mom wasn’t interested in political swag. The tweet promoted a pink “Make America Great Again” hat and water bottle and a “Women for Trump” T-shirt and button: “#MAGA gear for Mother’s Day! Order by MIDNIGHT to get by Sunday.https://t.co/dB5DIxlyMEpic.twitter.com/Xf8qMBI0Na — GOP (@GOP) May 8, 2018”.
That tweet also made me wonder what moms other than my own wanted. I asked friends on social media and received a range of responses from moms and a couple of dads. If any of you waited until the last minute or need some additional inspiration, here’s the feedback I received.
— All I have ever asked for is a card from my kids and time with them. That means more to me than anything else. Especially the cards they make themselves.
— I never want any gifts … a card and just spending time together.
— A clean house that I didn’t clean.
— Of course, just getting to spend the day with my kids and grandkids as I don’t get to see them much. A massage is always a good gift too.
— Housecleaning services. For a year. Or more. Or forever. — A clean car. — Time or call from my children. — I would love my cat to buy me a case of Seagrams 7 with her allowance.
— Pedicure. Microdermabrasion. Massage. I usually ask for sawhorses, a drill etc. — To sleep in and wake up to no laundry. — A visit from my Marine. — I’ll take whatever you buy me. — Just a hug. — Spending time with them, and if they can’t be here then a nice phone call will do!
— Chocolate peanut mounds. Yum.
— A home-cooked meal, someone else cooked to sit down to. And not have to clean up afterwards.
— To have all my kids and grandkids together for lunch and spend some time together!
— Sentimental or for realsies? Real life, a gift certificate to a med spa. I need some things tweaked.
— All I ever want is a huge hug and kiss and for my family to say they love me and I did something right!
— Camping and fishing; it’s always a blast with everyone, kids and grands.
— My mom wants a hibiscus!
— I always want mulch or Amazon gift card. — Time together. And flowers.
— Probably too late this year, but … Everything That Makes You Mom: A Bouquet of Memories https://g.co/kgs/aHMXP4. — Fresh cut flowers! Always a treat! — Gift certificate for a One Hour Massage! — To spend time together … a nice card and phone call, if time is not possible.
— Today I ordered flowers for my mom’s daycare for Mother’s Day and Nurse’s Week. Life is too short to not do something for those who are older and those helping them.
— I still remember the year Anderson and Catherine cleaned my car inside and out for Mother’s Day. A gift of their time.
— Lunch or dinner fixed by someone else so I don’t have to cook, sleeping in without anyone walking in and out of the room, time with my child and husband with no cell phone distraction, and nobody asking me to make any decisions whatsoever. Oh and a new purse like the one I purchased
for myself today.
— Homemade cards … priceless!
— Anything that has to do with gardening, but never refuse hugs and kisses and family time.
— Spa day! Nails, facial, massage.
— When my boys ask me every year, I tell them I want them to be sitting next to me in church if all possible. My husband always makes it special as well for me. They know I love flowers, that’s normally a given I get fresh flowers or hanging baskets and of
course a beautiful card they wrote me.
— I put flowers on her resting place and a thank you card that said, “Job well done.” Love and miss you.
One person replied: anything from the heart. That covers a lot of ground and in my opinion, is the best type of sentiment. Gifts from the heart can include anything, like a clean car or pedicure. Hint, hint, fur babies.