When someone asks me what I want for the holidays, it takes me awhile to come up with things. When I do have a “list” to share, it tends to be really practical stuff: socks, clothes, things to help me organize. This year, with buying a house and finishing renovations, I literally asked my mom for curtains.
So what do we moms really want? Trust me when I say we’ll be super appreciative of practical things; after all, we love getting things that are useful. But if you want to go above and beyond, keep reading.
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I polled some of my mama friends on Facebook to find out what they ask for. Everyone had different answers… some asked for practical items, others (admittedly) said they were dreaming big. But nearly every gift idea they offered up fell into one of these categories.
Practical Things
Okay, okay, I already mentioned this. But I can’t stress it enough. A lot of us mamas would be thrilled with something practical, and yes, that includes socks (especially comfy fuzzy ones), bed sheets, a planner, bath towels, a vacuum, and shoes. No, I’m not kidding. These items were mentioned the most frequently in my very informal poll.
Hobby Gift Ideas
Us moms like to joke that we don’t have any hobbies anymore since having kids, other than, I don’t know, going to the bathroom alone. But you know what? We miss our hobbies. And as our kids get older, we try to get back to them…and a holiday gift can go a long way in helping us do just that.
For me, it’s reading and writing, and this Christmas I asked for The Artist’s Way for Parents (I did the Artist’s Way pre-kids and, if you’re looking to up your creativity in whatever line of business you’re in, I recommend that as well). If the busy mom in your life enjoys reading, like I do, this comfy reading pillow is welcome, too. For the active mama? Workout clothes and a Fitbit top the list. Does she like to sew? Get her some supplies. Loves to cook? Kitchen gadgets on sale for the win. So pick a hobby she loves (or misses) and find something to go with it; she’ll love it.
Experiences and Pampering
Sometimes we just need a break, so why yes, we’ll take a hotel stay for just a night or two away. Alternatively, my mom loves getting my family and I “experiences” so often it’ll be a membership to a place that we like to go to as a family, like the zoo or arboretum. Other experience gift ideas that we’d love include movie or theater tickets.
You also can’t go wrong with pampering experiences: gift certificates for massages, spa visits, pedicures, manicures. You name the relaxing experience, and we’ll take it.
Items She Won’t Buy Herself
One mama in my poll said it best, “I ask for all the things I don’t necessarily need but wouldn’t bother buying myself if that makes sense.” Lotsa mamas agreed with this idea. We rarely ask for big-ticket items, but come the holidays (or our birthdays), we won’t say no to something that we’ve dreamed of getting, whether it be an Apple Watch or Neck and Back Massagers.
Still not sure what to get? When in doubt, grab a gift card. Trust me, we’ll put it to good use.
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