Whoever decided that Mother’s Day should fall just before payday can’t have gotten on with their mum very much.
Unless you’re one of the super lucky ones who gets paid an awkward few days before the rest of us, your bank account probably isn’t looking very happy right now. To be fair, it probably hasn’t for a while which is why you’ve been putting off buying anything for yet (even though you managed to budget for those mid-week drinks, though). But now you’ve realised that Mother’s Day is this actual Sunday and the guilt/obligation/realisation that you probably should get her something has just set in.
Don’t panic. We get it and we’re with you. No matter the weird relationship you have with the woman who gave birth to you (because no mother-daughter relationship is normal, is it?) there is a corresponding gift to give. And we’ve found the ones you can buy in the short space of time between now and the day that your mum is allowed to tirelessly remind you of how much she’s done for you over the years.
1. You’re the biggest mummy’s girl in the whole entire world
This is probably the only relationship dynamic where you can get away with buying something for yourself. So, let’s not let an opportunity pass us by. Here’s what you do. Have a scroll through the express delivery gifts on Not On The High Street, find a piece of personalise-able jewellery that you love, and order one for each of you.
Failing that, march over to your nearest Topshop and get yourself matching bracelets. She’ll appreciate wearing something from one of the young, hip shops that all the kids are yacking about, and you get a new piece of jewellery. Win, win.
2. She’s legitimately your actual best friend
Are you and your mum the Lorelai and Rory Gilmore of the real world? Then you’re probably feeling pretty smug about the fact that you’re so close but super guilty for not being better prepared. Your solution is a spa day, my friend. If there’s one thing that all mums want at all times, it’s more mother-daughter time. And chances are, if you’re that close, that you won’t hate spending the day together dressed in robes and sipping on cucumber water.
Book the tickets online and then take a few extra minutes to find a heartfelt but totally lolz way to weave in the fact that you’re taking her away in whatever you write in the card you pick up on your way home.
3. You only talk once a week and you’re counting Mother’s Day
Okay, stay with me here. You might want to think about dedicating some real actual time for your mum. I'm sorry but this sort of dynamic just screams lazy. So, scrap the weekly call and invite your mum for dinner. Just the two of you. Go fo something like salmon because it's a bit more grown up than plain old chicken. We've got some recipe ideas right here on site for ya that are the perfect balance of impressive and realistically doable.
4. You’ve got an average bond with the woman who gave birth to you but your little brother has got her something good and now it’s a competition
In this scenario, pulling at the ol' heartstrings is the only way to go. Because you need to remind your mum that she loves you a million times more than your annoying, better-prepared sibling. Find a recent picture of you and your mum. Then, find one of the two of you back when you were a wee baby and far cuter and way less mouthy (the Grandparents might be a good source for this one if you're not the type of gal to keep these in your camera roll). Take that Insta picture of you and your momma when you were a baby and march your mum over to Boots to get it printed. Buy a really nice frame there if you’re not too strapped for cash. Or you could go with the theme of your earlier cute
Take yourself off to Boots and use one of those fancy instant photo printing machines to make some sort of collage that displays your 'then and now' pictures side by side and print them on out. Pop it in a frame (or print on a canvas if you're feeling spenny, and then write something emosh about the journey you and mum have been on over the years. She'll probably cry and your sibling will be forced to bow down to you as the gift giving queen you are.
5. You get on fine when you have to but not enough to get the train back home
If you don't go home very often my guess is that your mum keeps tabs on you via social media. So if you're not going to buy a train ticket the least you can do is give her a little shout out. You know the mother-daughter baby photo we spoke about a minute ago? Whack that on Instagram, and then share that Instagram on Facebook. Yes, I'm encouraging you to be one of *those *people. Just make sure you put something about being really sorry that you and the best mum in the world who's stuck by you for so much like no other mum ever has, can't be together today'.
Disclaimer: Any other family members or friends of family you have on social media will most likely like, share and inexplicably comment on your post and then proceed to have a conversation that would probably best be had in the privacy of a phone call.
6. You love to hate her because you’re secretly terrified of turning into here
People tend to have mixed feelings about giving flowers as gifts, but I must say that they're one of my favourites to receive or buy for myself (mainly bought for myself...). But the beauty is that flowers can be as big or as little a gesture as you want. And a borderline resentful relationship with your mum is probably best met with something pretty straight forward and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
If you're not too hungover to handle making your own bouquet, you should definitely give it a go. I tried it once and it's ridiculously therapeutic. There are hundreds of ideas over on Pinterest that you can totally copy. But if that's a bit much all I ask is that you chose anywhere but the petrol station to pick up a bunch. Please.
7. You just don’t get on. At all. And you’re okay with that.
Just because you're not your mum's biggest fan, doesn't always mean that you don't want to show her a little appreciation for bringing you into existence. It just means you need to be pretty tactical about what you give her. You don't want things to be awkward but you don't want to pretend to be tighter than you are. We get it. So, you get her something thoughtful that she can enjoy, erm, on her own. Especially if you're living at home at the moment and could do with a bit of you time. Selfish? Maybe. But you gotta do what you gotta do.
Send her on one of those experience days and book it for an afternoon that you'd really like the house to yourself. Places like lastminute.com, Tesco and Argos (yes, Argos) do lots of reasonably priced activities, the trick is to choose something a bit rogue and vaguely related to something your mum displayed mild interest towards about 4 years ago so it gives the impression of being more thoughtful than it probably is. And if you're struggling to find something that doesn't have the word 'for two' in it, make it a joint present for your mum and your nan. Sorted.
Like this? You might also be interested in…
Ask An Adult: Why Don’t I Get On Better With My Mum Now I’m An Adult?
There Are Loads Of Different Types Of Daughter. Which One Are You At The Moment?
Follow Jazmin on Instagram @JazKopotsha
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.