There are some people who accept any gift you give them, others who are a dream to buy for as you know them well and they’ve dropped a million hints. Then, there is the nightmare of buying gifts for mothers…
It doesn’t matter if it is a present for a mother or a mother-in-law; the odds are it adds up to the same impossible conundrum.
In some cases, you may have a mom who insists she doesn’t care what you get them but then certainly cares when it’s the ‘wrong’ thing entirely. Sometimes the issue is down to not knowing what your mother wants, and for the most part, when you ask for pointers, you’ll get the stock answer of ‘anything is fine.’
Then, in a hellish twist, you may have a mother or mother-in-law who, as her birthday fast approaches, insists that they don’t want a present as they have everything they need. Be warned; this is a test. Do not, under any circumstances, go for the option of getting no present at all. If you go down this route, we can not protect you.
Here are some ideas on how to plan a great gift for your mother or mother-in-law, as well as some suggestions for presents that may well be ideal for your specific recipient.
Plan Ahead
Whatever the occasion, and there are many, the reason you are buying your mother or mother-in-law a gift is no doubt to mark a specific date. Therefore you shouldn’t let that date creep up on you.
The worn-out excuse of being busy can only cut it for a year or two; frankly, it’s not much of a reason to forget entirely. So, with this in mind, plan ahead. Set a reminder, a series of them if necessary, that lead up to the date.
Don’t be ambushed by the key moment and then have to rush out and get a last-minute gift because, frankly, that is almost as bad as not getting a gift.
Ask, Ask and Ask Again
If your mother is in a good mood and has her guard down, now is the time to mine for answers. Make her a nice cup of tea, show her some photos of her grandchildren and then subtly bring up the conversation of her next birthday (best to do this in the sweet spot of at least two or three weeks away, not earlier and certainly not sooner as you don’t want the conversation to appear to be anything more than a last-minute afterthought).
Go for specifics, don’t let her give you responses that don’t actually get you any closer to knowing what she wants. Try to narrow the field of vision. In the words of Jerry Maguire, help me, help you.
Timeless Gifts
For mothers who are impossible to get gifts for, the best bet is to go for something timeless that is also very specific, which may sound like an impossible dream but is actually perfectly achievable.
Jewelry is always a good idea for presents for relatives. The implied luxury factor will always work in your favor, and a great way to make the item more bespoke is, for instance, might be a birthstone necklace for your mom. This would hit home on a number of levels. Firstly it’s a sophisticated gift that anyone would love, and secondly, it shows your mother that you know her birthstone and that you’ve done more than just the minimal amount of thinking before making the purchase.
Other timeless gifts may relate to the key date itself. If, for instance, the gift is to mark a milestone wedding anniversary that your mom and dad have reached, then why not get them a framed star map that shows the way the night sky was aligned on that auspicious occasion?
Useful Presents That Suit Her Lifestyle
Does your mom have a hobby? Is there a pastime that interests her and takes up a portion of her day? If so, use this as a potential hook to hang your present giving options. If she’s a bit of a bookworm, then a subscription to a book club would go down a treat.
Does she like a nice bottle of wine? You can sign her up for a wine club. These kinds of gifts are the ones that keep giving. Every month she gets a reminder of how devoted her children are to her.
If she just likes to learn new things, then maybe a Masterclass subscription; if she likes to garden, then get her gifts that aid the progress of her gardening. The beauty of buying online is that you can find just about anything and everything, so use this to your advantage.
Just remember to buy well in advance of the relevant date and be sure to check the relevant delivery timescales.
Take The Time She Deserves
One important factor when it comes to buying gifts for your mother that is often overlooked is that your heart should be in it. You need to, above all else, make sure that the present you get her isn’t just an empty gesture of something you feel compelled to do.
Sit down and really put some thought into it, especially if it’s a pivotal occasion you are marking, and try to take into account her thoughts and feelings. You’ll find that taking the time to do so, and not even a huge amount of time, will often help to lead you in the right direction when it comes to the choice of present you finally settle on.
