Is anyone's mum more impossible to buy for?

[Blueskyorchid]

I'm trying to think of a Mother's Day gift for my impossible-to-buy-for mum. I have listed as many gifts as I can think of and why they are unsuitable.

1. Chocolates. She's always trying to lose weight. She doesn't need to lose weight, but there we go.

1. Cut flowers. "They always make me think of someone who's died."

1. A plant. "I have two of these already / they attract houseflies etc. etc."

1. Candles. "I like them, but they make your dad sneeze."

1. Afternoon tea / meal out - again, always trying to lose weight. Also a vegetarian who doesn't eat vegetables, which makes it harder.

1. Theatre/concert tickets. "They're always too loud and the lights are too bright. Gives me a headache"

1. Anything kitcheny / cooking related - she hates cooking and is terrible at it, with no desire to improve.

1. Jewellery - she won't wear it.

1. Expensive toiletries, - "I tried them but they irritated my skin..."

10. Charity donation - she wouldn't say it out loud but she thinks it's a massive waste of money. (And also, to be fair, it's not really a gift for her.)

Any ideas before I stick a twenty in an envelope and be done with it?!? (Joking)

Sounds tricky! I've brought my mum a magazine subscription before, she loved having one delivered every month.

A shopping trip, for both of you, if she points something out you could buy her that?

A book?

Something for the house like an unusual ornament or picture?

Good luck!

@Rainraingoaway21

Sounds tricky! I've brought my mum a magazine subscription before, she loved having one delivered every month.

A shopping trip, for both of you, if she points something out you could buy her that?

A book?

Something for the house like an unusual ornament or picture?

Good luck!

Thank you, @Rainraingoaway21!

I took her to a John Lewis personal shopping appointment for her birthday, but I could tell she didn't really love it.

I have got her a magazine subscription before - I will look into it again, though she did make a comment about them all piling up and she didn't always get round to reading them.

A book is a good shout - any recommendations gratefully received (the more literary end, rather than easy reads).

She doesn't like "clutter" - so ornaments are out.

I should have mentioned, she also doesn't like spa days or any kind of pampering.

Saying "no" to all these suggestions is making me feel just like my mum!

Radio times subscription?

Sunglasses?

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi ticks the literary box. I've only just started it but it seems good so far.

Depending on her interests
Other Minds: the octopus and the evolution of intelligent life
by Peter Godfrey-Smith
Does exactly what it says on the tin, really. Quite philosophical.

Unquiet Women by Max Adams - stories of various women in history. I can't tell you about this because I haven't read it yet, someone bought it for me. The hardback cover has a lovely feel

Ooh, some lovely suggestions here, thank you.

In terms of things she is interested in - Judaism (she loved Jews Don't Count by David Baddiel), classical music (but very picky about which orchestra recordings/composers) etc., feminism, gardening (but she has all the stuff she wants and is picky again).

Garden plants? Garden chair / ornament / clock? A gadget - Alexa?

RHS membership?

A massage? Eyebrows, nails hair done? Subscription to ancestry? Netflix subscription?

Audible subscription and good pair of headphones?

A healthy snacks hamper?
Nice stationary?

Some feminist books?

A cd or dvd?

Following with interest as I also have an impossible mother who doesn't like anything...

Massage

It's definitely harder than it used to be, my mum is a workaholic and a minimalist. She doesn't read (just audible) and has gone totally digital for music/films/box sets. She's eternally on one strict diet or other so food is hard. Doesn't like cut flowers. Doesn't keep pot plants. Doesn't have any pets. Got lots of jewellery but never wears it. I feel like everything I think of is unnecessary clutter, really.

I'm not sure I'd bother. A decent card perhaps, and a cuppa and a chat.
I suspect that wouldn't be good enough either

I can second the octopus Other Minds book. Amazing! I quite liked Robin Ince's 'The Importance of Being Interested' too.

Alternatively, do what my sister did with my Gran when we were kids: Get her something you want, then if she doesn't like it, she'll just go 'I'm not bothered, you have it.' - Yeah, my Gran was a nightmare too!

Book subscription or one off book gift box? You can pick the genre & get a book & other goodies sent to her?

Mine is tricky for different reasons - not fussy at all and very grateful for anything she receives from us... however...

She volunteers in a couple of charity shops in what might be considered nice areas around where she lives - a Joules coat the other week for £5, a beautiful Radley bag for a tenner - she comes home with amazing things constantly for just a few pounds!

So ultimately buying her nice things has become somewhat a waste of time! She's got brand new Hunter gloss wellies the other day for £6!

If she's got interests but is picky then a voucher? E.g. for her fave/local garden centre. Or bookshop/kindle voucher?

Nice pyjamas? I like buying pjs for people because there's no pressure for them to wear them in public so if they hate them you never know anyway. And if you buy nice pjs (or a nightie, whatever) chances are they will wear them at some point, just because why not.

Have you just asked her? Depends if she's the kind of person that refuses to say what she wants and just expects you to mind read and nail it. I'm the other kind of person, where I have a mental list of stuff people can buy me at any time, ready to go if anyone asks .

Turtle doves recycled cashmere fingerless gloves or scarf

A bird box with a webcam in it so she can do her own spring watch

Garden Centre gift voucher (believe there's a national scheme)

Nice slippers/socks

Otherwise, ask her. If she can't think of anything, perhaps accept she doesn't want anything. Offer to go shopping with her and if she sees something she would like, you'll treat her.

I think it's called "House of Glass" by Hadley Freeman - it's the true history of a Jewish family through WW2 and beyond. Sounds right up her street if she hasn't read it!

I've got my mum a purse as she needs a new one