Creative, Frugal & Simple Mother's & Father’s Day Gift Ideas
By Nancy Twigg
Copyright © 2004. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted here by permission.

We all agree that our moms are marvelous. We don't need prompts from the greeting card industry to remind of that. The dilemma is how to make them feel marvelous without buying into all the hype surrounding Mom's special day.

A few years ago before I became a mother myself, I wanted to get the inside scoop on what moms really want for Mother's Day. What brings them happiness? What makes them feel appreciated? To do this, I enlisted the help of a group of women I met online. I asked them for inexpensive gift ideas that either they have received or would love to receive themselves, or that they have given their own mothers in the past.

Their suggestions fell into two categories: things to give to Mom and things to do for Mom. Below you will find a synopsis of the ideas I received. As you look over the list, remember that most of these ideas are adaptable and can be used for the fabulous fathers or the grand grandparents on your list as well.

Things to Give to Mom

• Homemade Bath Products -- Honor Mom by treating her to a little luxury and relaxation. Search the library or Internet for recipes to make your own bath oils, bath salts, bubble bath or soaps. If finding time to actually use these products is a problem, include a homemade coupon for some baby-sitting or housecleaning so she can take time to enjoy herself.

• Children's Artwork -- What mom doesn't love the gifts her children make for her? Children's drawings, paintings or poems all become extra special when placed in an attractive frame.

• A Hobby Basket -- What does your mom do for fun? Create a gift basket using her hobby as a theme. For example, if she loves to play sports, create a gift basket with a new water bottle, a book on fitness, and several new pairs of athletic socks.

• Roses -- most women love roses, right? Rather than giving her a bouquet that she can only enjoy for a few days, give her a rose bush that will bloom for years to come. If you want, include an IOU good for a few hours of gardening time to help her plant your gift in her flower garden.

• Handprints or Footprints -- Use her children's hands or feet to make a memorable gift. The impression of a child's hand or foot can be pressed into modeling clay to make a wall hanging or quick drying cement to make a garden stepping stone. You can also coat the palm of the child's hand or the sole of his foot with washable ink or paint. Then stamp the print onto cardstock to create a keepsake suitable for framing.

• A "Thanks, Mom" Book -- On each page of a blank journal, write a message of thanks such as, "Thank you for always encouraging me," or something about your mom for which you are thankful like, "I am thankful that you taught me the value of hard work." Include a note that instructs Mom to reread this book often to remind her of how much she is loved and appreciated.

• A Personalized Apron -- Use fabric paint or iron-on transfers for your inkjet printer to create an apron that is just Mom's style. Decorate the apron with family photos or stenciled decorations.

• Chocolate Fantasy -- Is Mom a chocolate fanatic? Fill a gift basket with several varieties of homemade cookies, candy and muffins in her favorite flavor. If Mom loves sweets but is concerned about her weight, use recipes for special goodies that are low in fat and sugar.

Things to Do for Mom

• Spring Cleaning -- Devote a few days of your time doing cleaning tasks over and above the ones she does on a regular basis. This could include steam cleaning the carpets, taking down and washing curtains, washing windows, defrosting the freezer, etc.

• Give Her a Mini-Vacation -- Arrange for Mom to enjoy an overnight getaway to visit friends or relatives in another city. Or take the kids on a weekend camping trip so that she can have plenty of time at home for all those fun projects she never has time to do.

• Handyman Services -- If your mom lives alone, basic home maintenance may be overwhelming to her. Volunteer a day or weekend of your time to complete those things she cannot do herself or cannot afford to pay someone else to do such as painting, pruning, or doing repairs around her home.

• Do the Cooking for Her -- Prepare a freezer full of homemade meals that she can heat and serve. If she lives alone, this can be easily accomplished by simply freezing an individual-sized portion from each of the meals you cook for your own family for a few weeks. Or if she has more people than just herself to cook for, double your dinner recipes and freeze the extra portions in oven-safe or microwave-safe containers.

• Complete a Special Project -- Is there a project she has wanted done for a long time that she can never find time to do? Ideas that would fit in this category include refinishing a piece of furniture, wallpapering a room in her house, remodeling a bathroom, etc.

Any of these low-cost, high-value gift ideas are sure to bring a smile to the face of the special mom in your life. Or, if you are a mother who thinks your family may need a little help with Mother's Day gift giving, you have my permission to make several copies of this list and leave them in conspicuous places around the house!

For many women, the fathers on their gift lists present the biggest gift giving challenges. Men don’t seem to have this problem. Being of the male species themselves, they usually have special insight into what their dads would enjoy.

If you are one of those who has trouble knowing what to get dear old Dad, look over the following list of gift ideas that fall into the category of simple, yet meaningful tokens of your appreciation and love.

• The Gift of Laughter -- Is there some old comedian or sitcom that always makes him chuckle? Use your VCR to make a tape of as many episodes as you can record. When you give your gift, include a note instructing him to watch it anytime he needs a good laugh.

• Dad’s Own Webpage -- Use your scanner and computer skills to create a homepage devoted to all Dad’s many interests. Include pictures of his children, hobbies and accomplishments. Tell how proud you are of him and how grateful you feel to have him as your father. After you’ve uploaded the site with the help of your Internet Service Provider, include the URL in a card telling Dad to visit that webpage for a special surprise.

• The Gift of a Clean House -- If your dad lives alone, housecleaning may not be high on his list of priorities. If possible, surprise him by giving his home a good, thorough cleaning while he is away for a few days. Even if you can’t surprise him, he is sure to enjoy the results when you finish.

• The Gift of Encouragement -- Find a special quote or Bible verse that is particularly meaningful. If you are handy with a needle and embroidery floss, create a cross-stitch sampler featuring those words. If not, use your calligraphy skills and put the verse in an attractive frame to sit proudly on his desk at work.

• A Subscription to His Hometown Newspaper -- This gift may cost a little more but is sure to be a winner. If he no longer lives in the small town where he grew up, purchase a gift subscription to that town’s local newspaper. This gift will help him keep up with the happenings in the place he used to call home.

Several of these ideas are ones that worked well with my own hard-to-gift father. Of course, they can be modified for any other family member -- male or female -- who presents a gift-buying challenge.

Excerpt from Nancy Twigg’s book, Celebrate Simply: Your Guide To Simpler, More Meaningful Holidays & Special Occasions.

About The Author

Nancy Twigg is a speaker and writer who loves inspiring others to live more simply. She is also the editor of Counting the Cost newsletter and the author of two books. To learn more about Nancy's work, visit her web site.

Web Site: Counting The Cost