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She gave you a million things. Now it's your turn. Here are some suggestions.
By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2002
Here at Weekend, we really love our moms. Some of us even are moms. So we didn't have to go too far to investigate this matter of the Ideal Mother's Day Gift.
Let's face it: Moms love those handmade cards, those hand-picked posies, that slightly sloppy Pop Tart breakfast in bed. One mom we know even loves it when her grown kids call and sing that song that starts "M is for the million things she gave me, O means only that she's growing old . . ."
Us, we'd skip the "old" part.
But moms are a multidimensional bunch. They also go for jewelry (perhaps with some kind of motherhood motif), spa packages and fancy meals, whether at home or at a special restaurant.
The key: You gotta know your own mom. Don't give more knickknacks to a mother who's sick of dusting the ones she's got. Don't assume that what Mom really wants is to have her grandkids deposited on her doorstep for the day. And whatever you do, don't give her an iron!
Here are some ideas we like, most of which will work very nicely for Father's Day too, which is fast approaching:
CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO MOTHERLINESS: Take Mom's car to be detailed and waxed. Get all those Cheerios, fast-food wrappers, juice spills, dog hair, fingerprints and other ick out of there. Or, provided she won't be offended (we sure wouldn't be), get a cleaning service to do a good old-fashioned spring cleaning of her home. Take her out for lunch and a movie while they're there.
SOMETHING SPARKLY: What girl doesn't like something pretty? Try one of those bracelets that spells out the kids' names, or a necklace with birthstone charms to represent each child. The bracelet pictured here is proudly worn by its lucky owner, whose daughter had it made for her at Marion's, 5320 Fourth Street, St. Petersburg. Prices start at $55 for a single strand, plus $4 per block letter.
Or make one yourself; bead and craft stores carry the components.
For that gift combining form with function, Target is offering a Philippe Starck-designed baby monitor for moms on the go. Mom wears an oval, silvery pendant with a ruby-red "eye" that picks up signals from a matching unit in baby's room ($39.99).
If you can't find these items at a Tampa Bay area mall or specialty shop, you're not trying hard enough. But the miracle of overnight shipping means you can still shop online. Just plug the phrase "Mother's Day gift ideas" into your favorite search engine, and scores of Web sites pop up. We particularly like redenvelope.com, which is featuring a nifty necklace with a charm that opens like an accordion to display six photos ($65).
MORE IDEAS: Think about what would help Mom get more enjoyment from her favorite activities. One example: Gardening moms might appreciate a rolling cart that holds tools and provides a low seat to make weeding easier. We like the $27.97 Ames cart at Wal-Mart, which even has a drink holder. Or get an exotic plant or tree that she just won't splurge on. Or solar-powered outdoor lights to keep her hard work illuminated. Garden stores and discount retailers have all this and more.
MEMORIES FOR MOM: When you take Mom out for the day, stop off at a photo studio or enlist a friend who's a decent photographer. Pictures of the kids are great, but they're even better when Mom's in there, too.
THE GIFT OF MOM'S TIME: She may be too sweet to ask for this directly, but we heard from a lot of mothers with young kids that it would be heaven to have some time alone.
-- Maybe a morning, an afternoon, full day or even two days: one to relax, one to catch up on the chores they can't do with little ones underfoot. One of our friends spends the day alone at the beach, and Dad and the kids bring a picnic and join her for sunset. Another shops all day long. You know the mom in your life. You figure it out.
-- To make sure she truly relaxes, give her a gift certificate to a day spa, or even a local hotel where she can have the TV remote all to herself for a blissful evening.
-- Does she have a faraway sister or old school friend she longs to see? Get her a plane ticket.
-- Mothers of any age will appreciate gifts that save them time and effort putting food on the table. How about a gift certificate to a fancy grocery, delicatessen or bakery where she insists "I'd never spend that kind of money." She loves seafood but thinks she can't cook it? Buy her a couple of pounds of big shrimp. Peel, cook and pack in quarter- or half-pound freezer bags. All she has to do is thaw and add to pastas, soups or salads. Or indulge her with a personal chef service that will buy groceries, put a fresh meal on the table and load the freezer with vacuum-packed dinners. Check personalchef.com, personalchefnetwork.com or hire-a-chef.com for local providers.
THE GIFT OF YOUR TIME: Moms of adults or teens, on the other hand, tell us their ideal gift would be to see their offspring.
Can't get reservations at her favorite restaurant, but you'd rather visit with Mom than spend the day slaving in the kitchen? Call the restaurant to see if they'll prepare a takeout meal for you. Get out the crystal and candles, and serve Mom like the queen she is.
Take her to a play (Mamma Mia!, currently at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, seems appropriate for ABBA fans). You could even buy her a theater series and keep the fun going.
Musical moms would enjoy a concert. See the Pop and Stage sections of Weekend for this week's offerings, including chanteuses Jennifer Holliday and Yolanda Adams, folkie Michael Smith, the Women's Blues Revue, the Tampa Oratorio Singers and the Florida Orchestra. You'll also find offerings for the weeks ahead in our calendars.
Mom's an art lover? Many area art museums have reciprocal agreements, so if you buy her an annual membership to one, she'll have a world of options all year long. If she's a shopper, check out the gallery districts in downtown St. Petersburg or Gulfport.
Can't decide what Mom's cultural tastes are? Introduce her to some of your own (provided they won't alarm her).
Or give her the option with a "you pick it" gift. In your Mother's Day card, offer several choices -- dinner out, a ball game, an orchestra performance, a movie and dessert, a dinner cruise, a fishing trip on a charter boat.
THE GIFT YOU'D BETTER BE SURE ABOUT: Serious household appliances. Unless Mom specifically tells you she wants a new washer-dryer for Mother's Day, do not go there. On the other hand, if she keeps leaving the Williams-Sonoma catalog open to a fabulous pink KitchenAid mixer, take the hint.
THE GIFT YOU'D BETTER BE REALLY SURE ABOUT: Exercise equipment or gym membership; beauty makeovers. You do not want to guess wrong here. This is not the day to tell Mom she's anything less than gorgeous in your eyes.