Mother's Day Gifts and Ideas that You Can Give Mom for Free!

Are you looking for a great Mother's Day gift this year but can't afford even a cheap box of chocolates? Whether you are a child or an adult, there are plenty of free ways that you can say "I love you" this Mother's Day.

Of course it's always good to fall back on the old favorites. Any Mom would enjoy a nice long massage after a candlelit bath. Homemade cards and handmade artwork are also old favorites that are sure to please. Don't forget breakfast in bed! What Mother's Day would be complete without pancakes and a glass of milk on a bedside table?

Another great idea that Mom is sure to appreciate is a chore day. Have everyone in the family take over all of the chores for just one day. Dad can cook the meals, the kids can handle the cleaning, and Mom can sit back and relax or spend the day shopping or catching a movie by herself.

Coupon books are a great Mother's Day gift. Cut a sheet of paper into eight rectangles all the same size and staple them into a booklet. On each page, write a different coupon with a hand-drawn picture included. The coupons can say things like "good for one car wash" or "good for one foot rub." Mom can save her coupons and cash them in when she needs them.

Picnics are a romantic and fun way to show Mom that you care about her. Whether it's your own mother or your sweetheart, she will appreciate you putting together a meal and taking her to the park for some fresh air and sunshine. Bring your camera and be sure to get plenty of photos. Mothers love looking through photo albums filled with wonderful memories.

Speaking of photographs, here is another great idea. If you can get a hold of an empty photo album, go through your boxes of loose photographs and choose your favorites to put together and include in a special Mother's Day album. Seeing photos of her children as they grow up is a wonderful reminder of how much she has done for you over the years and how much she loves you.

Poetry is sure to bring tears of joy to any Mom on Mother's Day. Write your mother a poem about how special she is to you. Be sure to include reasons why she is a wonderful mother and how she has touched your life as you grew up. You can also include your poem as part of a handmade card or a painting or drawing.

If she has a computer, make a collection of digital photographs for a screensaver and install it for her. Try some of the following free screensavers:

http://www.download3000.com/download_51475.html

http://www.downloadthat.com/windows/Screen-Savers/Misc/Free-Photo-Slideshow-Screensaver.html

Can you bake a simple recipe? Homemade cookies are delicious and fill the house with an enticing aroma - just the thing for Mom to come home to after a day on the town! If you have never baked, start with a simple recipe like the one included on the back of a package of chocolate chips. Chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cookies have fairly simple and easy-to-follow recipes. Kids will need the help of a responsible adult. Of course, make sure you clean up completely after you have finished destroying her nice clean kitchen!

Kids can write and put on a play for Mom. Stories about mothers are especially nice. Want to make your mother cry? How about writing a silly but touching play about how you were born and grew up. Include memorable stories that happened during your life and funny things that happened along the way.

Have a special family night where everyone stays home and spends time together without having to turn on the TV or call a friend. Get out some games everyone can enjoy playing. Pop some popcorn, snuggle together on the couch and watch you Mom's favorite movie.

Everyone feels special when decorations are put up. If you have any party decorations saved for birthdays and other special occasions, put them up. If you do not have any, you can make your own. Mom will be so excited to wake up in the morning and see decorations put out for her special day.

The treasure hunt game is a fun way to involve Mom on a Mother's Day hunt for her gifts. We always include a treasure hunt on birthdays and other special occasions. Leave notes around the house with clues leading to the next note on and on until the last note leads mom to the gift that you have hidden for her in a special place. This is a lot of fun for the entire family.

Most importantly, remember to make your Mom feel special on Mother's Day. It's not important to her for you to give her something. What she really wants more than anything in the world is to know that you love her and that you really do understand and appreciate everything that she does for you. A simple hug and kiss and saying "I don't know what I'd do without you, Mom," will really make her day special.

If you'd like more ideas on what you can do for mother's day, try some of these wonderful links:

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/mothersday/

http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/mothers-day-crafts/

http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/mothersday.html

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/holiday_mothersday_crafts.htm