How to Have a Non-Materialistic Mother's Day

Ask mom what she wants for Mother's Day and she'll probably tell you nothing, or maybe just to spend time with her kids. The truth is that the flowers, watches, jewelry and kitchen appliances that are normally heaped on mom during her special day are just more unneeded and unwanted STUFF to clutter up the house. Not that she doesn't appreciate the sentiment, but few people today need more stuff! Here's some creative ideas to treat your mom on Mother's Day without the focus on material gifts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Recreate a special day or forgotten ritual. Did you and your mother always go to the ice cream parlor and then the zoo? Did she take you to buy shoes and then out to lunch? Maybe you always went someplace special after a good report card. Recreate a special day that you shared in your childhood and show mom how much those memories mean to you now.

2. Make mom dinner. You used to make her breakfast when you were a kid, right? Now that you are an adult, you can make mom a fantastic dinner all by yourself without setting off the fire alarm! Make her favorite foods or make your favorite foods that she always made for you. Bake a batch of cookies together.

3. Gifts that keep giving. Does your mom love her garden? A gift of plants, landscaping, or a gardener for a week would make a nice gift. She can enjoy her beautiful yard for weeks and months afterwards without having to make more space on the counter.

4. Take mom out on the town. Take mom to a play, concert or other special event that will be in town. Get dressed to the nines, have a great dinner and then attend an event together. Memories and time spent with you are the best gift of all.

5. Make her something. Remember how she went on and on over the macaroni and glitter card from 3rd grade? Well, you've got more skills now (hopefully). Make mom something that she can show her friends and display proudly. Head to a ceramics studio, fused glass studio, or use your own crafty skills.

6. A day of beauty. Make appointments for you and mom to spend the day or a few hours at a spa together. Get massages, nails, or facials. Get her some time at her favorite hairdresser or beauty parlor.

7. Education. Has mom always wanted to learn to line dance? Make pottery? Write her life story? Sign mom up for a seminar or community college class that she will enjoy. Don't get her computer lessons if she doesn't want to learn. Make sure it's something SHE has always wanted to do.

8. Acts of charity. Is your mom a huge animal lover? Donate money to the local shelter in her name. Soft spot for kids? Sponsor an event at the local children's charity for her. You can even take it one step further and volunteer time with your mom at one of her favorite causes.

9. It's all about family and friends. Look up an old high school friend or college friend online and get your mom reconnected with some special people from her past. Have loved, but rarely seen relatives come out for a surprise party (or at least some surprise phone calls).

10. Physical labor. Clean mom's house, empty the gutters, rake the leaves, or paint the spare room. Give mom some help around the house for Mother's Day.

11. The old stand-by coupon book. Remember the coupons you gave mom for cleaning your room and massaging her feet? Well, make a grown-up version for taking her to lunch, working around the house or special time, just the two of you. I bet she still has one of your old ones that you can look over together and laugh!

12. A picture is worth a thousand words. Get gussied up and take mom out for some portraits. She will treasure them for years and proudly show them off. When they come back, have one nicely framed for her living room.