5 Great Holiday Gift Ideas for Mom

Whether your mom is a picky Polly or easy-to-please Emily, buying a gift for your mother is like playing Russian roulette without the revolver. I once bought my laid-back mom a holiday gift I thought she would really enjoy, an exercise DVD with retro music from her salad days. Wrong! I wasn't there when my mother opened the gift, but my sister reported back later her exact words were, "If she thinks I'm going to use that, she's mistaken."

If you're looking for a holiday gift that your mom will really love, don't make the same mistake I did. Think about what your mother really loves to do (obviously, exercise wasn't on my mom's top 10 list), and choose a holiday gift that shows your mom you really "get" her.

Here are some of the best holiday gift ideas for moms for 2010:

Holiday Gift Idea for Mom 2010 #1: eBook Reader - If your mom loves to read, but the letters on the page are becoming as fuzzy as a Renoir painting, an electronic book reader will allow her to adjust the font size so the text is more readable. Another plus of the eBook reader is its light weight, especially if your mother is arthritic and has trouble holding up a hefty hardcover. Some of the eBook readers will even read to your mother, although the audio may sound more like a robocall than a book-on-tape. Prices for these once expensive readers have plummeted, making them highly affordable holiday gifts.

Holiday Gift Idea for Mom 2010 #2: Season Tickets - Whether your mom is a sports fan or theater buff, getting her season tickets at her favorite entertainment venue is sure to make her swoon. Better yet, offer to attend some of the events with her, provided your mother enjoys spending time with you. Alternatively, you could buy her a ticket for a single theater or sporting event and even throw in a meal at her favorite café.

Holiday Gift Idea for Mom 2010 #3: Gaming System - If you think the words "gaming system" and "mother" do not belong in the same sentence, think again. Gaming systems have come a long way from shoot 'em ups and missile destroyers. Look for a gaming system that has games that match your mother's interests, whether it's dancing and bowling or playing word games. To make sure your mom uses her new gaming system, be sure to set it up for her and teach her how to use it.

Holiday Gift for Mom 2010 Idea #4: Latest Kitchen or Gardening Gadget - Whether your mom likes to slice and dice onions or dig in the mud, she'll enjoy the latest and greatest gadget for her culinary or gardening hobby. For cooking moms, silicone anything is hot right now, and the latest salad spinners seem to do everything but grow the lettuce. If your mom gardens, check out some of the new tool totes that fold down to a seat or the new soft-handled garden tools that are soft as butter.

Holiday Gift for Mom 2010 Idea #5: Spa Day - Narcissistic real housewives aside, many mothers refuse to indulge themselves unless they are guilted into it by a gift certificate that would otherwise go to waste. Most spa gift certificates allow the user to choose among a massage, facial or other pampering treatment. Choose an amount you can afford, or if you're on a tight budget, give her a head-to-toe spa treatment at home.