Thinking about how to surprise your mom on her birthday can be a little stressful. Moms are notoriously difficult to shop for – often, if you ask them what they like, they tend to say they do not want or need you to get them anything for their birthday. To them, your happiness is their greatest joy.
But moms are still people and even when they do not want to admit it, there are things they do like to receive as gifts. The most appropriate ones will vary from one mom to the next, but there are some gifts and surprises that are certain to appeal to the overwhelming majority of mothers. Let’s take a look at some of these.
1. Flowers
Flowers are a timeless classic. They never go out of fashion. Virtually everyone loves a surprise bouquet of flowers and moms are no exception. Pop into a nearby florist or visit a florist website to pick out your mom’s favorite mix of fresh birthday flower arrangements.
Get creative and play with a variety of colors, textures and petals to find one that will be most representative of her personality. A bouquet will bring her joy and brighten up her living space at the same time. If you prefer flora that lasts longer, consider getting her a rose bush for her garden or a house plant for the living room.
2. Post-It Notes Around the House
Of all the surprises listed here, this one costs the least but delivers the most impact. Brace for watery eyes. The good thing about this is that every member of the family does not have to be physically present to participate. Get everyone to let loose and write about things that come to mind when they think about their love for mom.
These could range from hilarious memories to sacrifices your mom made that you are grateful for. Write them down on Post-it notes and distribute them around the house in places she is most likely to frequent throughout her day. Surprise her with messages in her wardrobe, on the bathroom mirror, in the kitchen cabinet, on the refrigerator, at the breakfast table, and even on her car’s dashboard.
3. Plan a Picnic
If the weather and COVID-19 pandemic health rules allow it in your area, harness the outdoors by taking your mom on a picnic. Put together her favorite snacks and head to a local park, the beach, or even in the back garden. Enjoy the sunshine as you indulge in nostalgic conversation.
A picnic also provides a great opportunity to read out a list of the reasons you and the rest of the family love her so deeply. Alternatively, you could write these in a pack of 52 cards for each week of the year, or prepare 365 reasons for each day for a gift she can enjoy all year.
4. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Decoration
Moms are masters of reinvention. They know how to use things around the house that would otherwise seem like trash and then create something beautiful. That means homemade gifts are sure to be a hit and resonate with your mom.
Before you choose which project to take on, be honest about your skills to complete it perfectly. You want to present your mom with something that looks great and unequivocally that you really took the time to create something attractive.
In case you are struggling with DIY gift ideas and do not know where to start, check out Pinterest for some inspiration. You will find a diverse range of gifts you can make relatively inexpensively and easily.
5. Personalized Gift Basket
Over the years, you have likely grown deeply aware of all the things your mom loves. There is no better time than her birthday to put this knowledge to use. Buy an empty gift basket and fill it with all the little things she loves. This could include her favorite wine, chocolates, beauty products, health products, clothes, shoes, books, and more.
Alternatively, you can choose from one of the many pre-packaged gift baskets available online that have many of the things your mom would love. Many of these also offer options for customization, so it is still personalized to her tastes and interests. Deliver the basket yourself if you can, or have it delivered to her door as a surprise.
6. Bake Together
If your mom loves to bake, this could be a fun surprise that is well worth your time. Spending time together is probably what your mom would love best, and there is a depth of intimacy and connection that is harder to achieve with most other birthday surprises.
Recreate fond memories of baking together on her birthday by planning one or two recipes to make and enjoy together. Make sure you get all the ingredients you will need and make sure you have everything prepared in advance. It is her birthday, so you want her to do as little as possible – after all, she has been doing all the heavy lifting for much of your life.
Even if your mom is not a baking fan, you do not have to completely rule this out as a birthday surprise. Choose her favorite treats and do the baking yourself. Then, pay a visit to your mom on her birthday and enjoy the treats together.
Make It Happen. Make It Different
Your mom’s love for you is not dependent on the things you do for her. However, she will always appreciate your efforts and love on this special day.Just because your mom celebrates her birthday every year does not mean each one has to be the same as the last. As you try some of the ideas here, think about how you can personalize them to make each surprise different from the last one.