b'day gift for mom

Finding the right gift for our loved ones, particularly for our mom, can be an arduous task. You need to consider the following before rushing to the nearest mall: your budget, mom's age, mom's interest, the occasion. You might have noticed that in all my suggestions, budget is always top of the list. What you buy for your mom will depend on what you can afford to buy. How far can you go? Do yo have that much cash to buy her a new washing machine or do you only have a limited budget?

Years back my children gave me a fish in a bowl as a birthday present. I also received such gifts as blouses, skirt, make-up kit from them. I have worn and used all those gifts except for the fish that died after a few months because of overfeeding.

As a mom, I'd appreciate and welcome such gifts as a pair of fancy earrings, a red wallet, or a handy bag. If money is a problem then why not surprise her with a good deed like giving the house a whole new look---cleaning it and rearranging the furniture, changing the curtains, etc. Make sure that you do this while she's out doing the marketing. Or, volunteer to be the cook of the day, or dishwasher of the day. There are various other creative ways to make moms happy. You can put up posters all over your place saying, "to the best mom ever: happy b'day!" or "We love you mom! Happy b'day!" Moms are pretty sentimental and touchy and they will appreciate such gestures. Come on, give your mom that perfect gift now.

Once upon a time....

Once upon a time, when my children were still kids in high school, I got the biggest surprise of my life when they concocted a sort of program for me on Mother's Day. I am sharing this now because of the coming of Father's Day on June 17, some of you might get some ideas from this experience.

I just got back from the market and I was about to step inside the house when they gave me a surprise dramatic welcome. They had prepared the house in such a way that there was supposed to be a grand program that was going to happen and they were hosting it. They sat me at a chair in the middle of the sala and started the program. Of course, there was no big audience to witness that surprise program except my helper and our two dogs. But there I sat like a queen because they gave me a scepter and crowned me as "the best mother in the world" along with a sash bearing that title. It was such a big surprise to me that I did not know what to say.

See? My kids were being creative. They didn't have money to buy me anything but they had given me the greatest affirmation.

Happy Fathers' Day to all dads and also to moms who act as dads in the family.