Have you ever wondered how to find your mom the perfect Mother’s Day gift? I do every single year. I think I may have discovered the key this year.
Have you heard of Gary Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages? It’s a really brilliant book about the 5 ways people give and receive love. If you are showing love to someone but it is not in their specific love language then they may not actually feel loved by it.
So, here is my attempt to recommend Mother’s Day gifts according to your mom’s love language. Don’t know what your mom’s love language is? Think about what makes her the happiest. Is it when you get her a surprise gift that is very thoughtful? Is it when you help her out with things around the house? Is it something encouraging you say to her? Is it when you are affectionate with her with lots of hugs? Is it when you just spend good, quality time with her without distractions? Chances are good that she expresses love in the same way she wants it most. So, if she hugs you lots you know her love language is probably physical touch.
Here are some gift ideas for each Love Language:
Quality Time
1. Take her out for for lunch and focus on her. Probably best to keep the cell phone put away for this one.
2. Take a walk with her and ask her questions about what is most important to her. Really listen and let her do most of the talking.
3. If you aren’t close enough to meet, send her a Starbucks gift card or some nice tea with a note that instructs her to get a yummy drink and join you for a long Skype or Facetime session or a phone call. Ask her all about how she is doing and what she cares about now.
4. Pull out the photo albums and ask her about the pictures from her childhood. Spend time getting to know her even better.
8. Find out what her favorite movie is and get it. Watch it with her with popcorn and candy and then chat about it afterwords.
Words of Affirmation
1. Write her a poem (It doesn’t even have to rhyme). In it, tell her all of the things that make her amazing and what you love about her. Frame it for her so she will see it often.
2. Call her and tell her 25 things you love about her.
3. Buy an art print from someplace like Etsy that says really sweet and encouraging things about her like the one below.
Acts of Service
1. Do a project for her that she hasn’t had time to get to.
2. Get her a gift certificate for a house cleaning (or do it yourself). Maybe even just schedule a cleaning for her one day while you take her out for some fun and then bring her back to the surprise of a clean home.
3. Get her a session with an organizer or a personal assistant who can help her tackle some projects she has wanted to get to.
4. Fill her car up with gas and get the oil changed for her.
Gifts
You would think this would be the easiest one right?! But, it’s tricky because, to someone who has the love language of gifts, it means that they feel loved when you take time to do something thoughtful for them. So really put thought into what you get. Here are some ideas:
1. Buy her a photo session with a really great photographer. Tell her you want to capture her the way she is right now.
2. Give her a gift certificate to get a makeover. Perhaps Sephora, Ulta or a local spa would be a good place to get one from.
3. Give her a gift certificate for a massage.
4. If the mom you are buying for still has little ones, pay for babysitting and dinner and give her a night, or even better, a day off.
5. Sneak around in her closet and find out her favorite clothing brand(s) and then buy her a gift certificate to that store or pick out something for her (be sure to note her sizes).
6. Make note of what she has been mentioning that she needs and get it. If it’s something really practical throw in something impractical too.
7. Check out her Amazon Wishlist, or Pinterest Boards for items she has been wanting.
Physical Touch
1. Lots of hugs and kisses!
2. Hold her hand, even if it’s been a while.
3. If you can’t be with her send her a card telling her what her hugs mean to you and that you wish you could hug her right now.
4. Give her a shoulder massage.
Would you add anything to these lists? What is your love language?
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