A Guide for Teenagers on Finding the Perfect Mother's Day Gift

Teenagers everywhere, take heed. Being a mother of four (two who are teens) and having a great circle of friends who also have teenagers at home, I have come up with this list of items you can get Mom for Mother's Day. You may pooh-pooh them, but I assure you, they will be loved even more because you are a teenager.

One: Make your mom a card. You may not like this idea because you feel you are too old to do this. That is all the more reason to do it. You are growing up and growing older and mom knows the homemade cards or pictures are becoming more and more scarce every day, if non-existent at this point, and believe me, she misses them. Yes, she knows you are growing up and she appreciates it, but the fact that you put the effort into making her a card will not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Two: Write mom a letter or poem for Mother's Day. Express to her all of the reasons you appreciate her being your mom, or why you love her. Put some effort and time into it and be sincere. I guarantee you this will easily become more than just one of her most treasured Mother's Day presents, it will become one of her most treasured items, period.

Three: Make mom breakfast in bed on Mother's Day. Serve her favorite morning items on a tray with a single red rose or other beautiful flower. Make sure to have coffee or freshly squeezed juice on the tray as well. You might even put a little note card on there that says "Happy Mother's Day" or "I love you, Mom." Take her picture when you serve her the breakfast and give her a big kiss. It may sound corny, but trust me, it will leave mom reduced to a sentimental puddle of mush. Mom's appreciate when their children consider them important, this is especially true during the teenage years when children are exuding their independence.

Four: Date night is a great night for mom if you have planned it all out and given her the head's up to keep her schedule clear. Maybe you can pull out her favorite movie and the two of you can watch together with her favorite treats on hand, or maybe you can schedule a walk to the park together or some other event you know she will enjoy it. Designate a time and place for her to be to make the 'date' official. Arranging to spend quality time with your mom will undoubtedly be one of things she will most love doing.

Five: A spin-off from the breakfast idea, if you are feeling even more ambitious, would be to make her lunch or dinner. You can cook for her alone or for the entire family. Bake a cake and decorate it with a Mother's Day slogan for dessert. Make her favorite items and serve them up with candles or fresh flowers, depending on the time of day. Even as appealing, clear her dish for her when she's finished and do the dishes without having to be asked. The last part of this might make her faint, if you are anything like my teens, so be sure to have smelling salts at the ready. Okay, I'm kidding about the smelling salts, but know for sure that your efforts will be appreciated. Plus, you don't really want to make a nice meal for mom and then leave her a big mess to clean up, at least not on a day designated solely for appreciating her.

So there you have it. Five ways to utterly spoil your mother and give her a gift she will love. You can use one of the above or you can use them to help you think of ideas of your own. I am willing to bet that whatever you get or do for her will be special, simply because it has come from you. Mom's are funny that way. Happy planning.