What NOT to Give Your Mom For the Holidays
Our mothers deserve the best. But no matter how much they do for us, mothers can be overlooked when it comes to holiday gifts.
That’s because many moms are the ones who spend the most time and energy picking out presents for children, spouses, and extended family. When it’s their turn, well-meaning family members can sometimes come up short. If you don’t want this happening to your mom, here are seven presents to avoid.
An electric mixer. Kitchen-related gifts are touchy subjects. They send a strong “your place is in the kitchen” message—even if that wasn’t your intent. Even if your mother is the head cook of the household, the last thing she wants is to be reminded of everyday chores on the holidays.
If you must get her something kitchen-related, choose something luxurious over something day-to-day. Pick out a fancy copper teapot or a top-of-the-line cappuccino maker (but only if she drinks cappuccino). The gift should be something she’ll use, but she wouldn’t buy for herself—not something associated with everyday cooking tasks.
A cookbook. Buying your mom a new cookbook can tell her that you don’t like the food she usually cooks, and that she needs some new recipes. This is particularly true if you give her a book of recipes that’s different from her usual style: gourmet entertainment if she’s strictly a five-minute-meals person, or exotic ethnic foods if she usually sticks to meat and potatoes.
If you do get her a cookbook, make it an autographed book from a celebrity chef she’s familiar with. Be sure to choose a celebrity she’s a big fan of, not just someone she watches casually.
A coffee mug. Most moms have plenty of mugs already. A mug is the sort of gift you get at the office from colleagues you barely know; it’s not the sort you give your mother. As a child, the “World’s Best Mug” gift was a cute idea, especially if it was hand painted. As an adult, you can definitely do better.
Scented soaps. Most moms could use a little pampering. But scented soaps and lotions tend to be returned often.
This is because many people are very particular about the smells they like, especially with bath products. Choose the wrong scent, and she may never use the gift. Even if you know what scents she likes, you could still choose the wrong brand: one company’s idea of “raspberry scented” can be very different from another’s.
Breakfast in bed too early. Breakfast in bed is a thoughtful and considerate gift for anyone. But if you’re bringing it to your mother, who probably gets up earlier than anyone else on most days, make sure you let her sleep in first.
To do it right, make her tea or coffee the way she likes it. Bring it in to see if she’s awake. If she’s still half asleep, tell her you’ve brought her a warm drink while you prepare breakfast—and then take your time in cooking. She’s sure to appreciate the extra sleep as much as she does the breakfast.
All the usual chores. Most moms don’t get a break from chores on the holidays. You’re sure to make her happy if you take over the household chores for the day, from laundry to cleaning. At the least, pitch in with day-to-day chores without waiting for her to ask.
If your mom usually handles all the household chores, you’re sure to please if you hire a cleaning service for a month. Give her a “gift certificate” for a month’s worth of chores performed by you and other members of the family, if it’s possible. Or simply offer to take her most-despised chore off her hands for the next few weeks. However you give this gift, she’s sure to appreciate it.
Your mom will always love you—even if you give her a “World’s Best Mom” mug for the holidays. But if you really want to make her smile, stay away from the six worst gifts to give your mom. With her happy, the holidays are sure to be enjoyable for everyone.