21 FREE Gift Ideas For Mothers Day
This time of year can be a time to share your love by giving gifts for Mothers Day. Many of us have mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, partners, spouses and grandmothers we’d like to share this special day with. I love gifts of LOVE….no doubt about it. Sometimes people appreciate the gift of time and labor. I remember the quality time I spent with my mother about three months before she died and I was down to visit her. We sat and talked about all different things. Life, marriage, her childhood, her friends. She talked about her friend Jo who was a childhood best friend. At that time, they were both living alone and they made sure they checked in with each other, every day by phone. This was their secret to see if the other was okay, alive and safe. They would talk, laugh and call each other the next day. And the next day. Here is a beautiful picture of my mom who taught me to work, to trust in God’s plan and to accept others for who they are.
The reason I am sharing this tidbit of my life is the fact that I had no idea how getting older really felt like at that time. I sat there with my mother alone….I asked her “what can I help you with mom?” She didn’t want to “bother” me. I could tell she was probably thinking that. I said, “mom how about we clean out your closets?” She looked at me like…really???? You want to help me clean out my closets…..the biggest smile came over her face. I will treasure that moment forever. Anyone that really knows me..knows I love to clean out closets. You know its so much more fun to do it with someone else. My mother had really bad hips. Looking back I am sure she needed them replaced. I was working 60-80 hours a week and living 425+ miles away. I had no idea she had gone down hill so fast. I owned my own company and was really consumed with work. No excuse…I should have flown down to see her more often.
Anyway, my mother and I started with one closet, then another closet, and another. We took shoes, coats and clothes to the Goodwill. We took stuff she really had wanted to get rid of but didn’t have the strength to do it herself. We washed and dried her sheets. I washed her bedspread. She had a totally clean bedroom. We vacuumed the closet and dusted…man she had a smile from ear to ear. We loaded about seven or eight HUGE garbage bags and took them to the Goodwill. Life is good.
21 FREE Gift Ideas for you to give the one you love:
Gifts do not need to cost money. I know because those gifts are my favorite ones. These are gifts of love and labor. You cannot buy these anywhere. These gifts are from the heart……Happy Mother’s Day!
Love this! I too have an elderly mom. But in reading your list it made me think that a lot of these are things we should be doing all along and frequently. Unfortunately my mom is too “picky” to even allow me to arrange or clean for her so I would have to do all of the other things, and there are a lot. Thanks for laying those down for all do us to pick up!
Happy Mother’s Day!
Kari, I think sometimes we think our moms are so strong and they do not need help…in your case she is not comfortable having you help in some of the areas shown. I believe we should be doing them all along as well. I myself did not realize my mom needed so much help. She was so prideful I do not think she would have ever asked us to help. I truly believe I was inspired to ask her that day if there was something I could do….Hugs! Linda
Thanks for this post, the gift of our time truly means more than store bought item.
Hi Shannon, I truly believe people do not need stuff….well sometimes they do. LOL! But on the whole I think our moms or neighbors could use more “help”…..not everyday but we are the ones that benefit more than those we help sometimes. Hugs! Linda
Great ideas, Linda! I think I may try one of these this year. Thanks so much!
Heidi, thanks so much! Happy Mother’s Day! Hugs! Linda
Thanks for this wonderful post. It brought back so many wonderful memories of my Mom! I had spent time with her helping her get the garden produce in and visiting and laughing, lunch, me learning a new crochet pattern, cleaning the freezer, and etc. I guess I didn’t realize that she was getting older. She died just a very short time later. This was on a Friday, and Sunday morning came, and she died just as she and daddy were getting ready to leave for church. Have a great Mother’s Day. Love all of your ideas!!
Hi LaRene, that comment gave me chills. I loved it. I know your Mom loved the fact that her freezer was cleaned out, the garden, etc. I did not realize that my mother was getting older either. I am now 64 and I get it. Sort of anyway. It is harder to do things now compared to when I was 30! Happy Mother’s Day! Hugs! Linda
Linda, this is a fabulous post. It sure makes me miss my mom. I know that look you describe when someone who loves you knows you love them because you offer to do something they’ve really wanted for a long time. Thanks for this post.
Deb
Hi Deb, I know it made me sit back an think about all the good things my mother taught me. I like to remember the good things. She had a hard life. Hugs! Linda