I can't buy my mum a Mother's Day present at 31 y.o

[ExtraPineappleExtraHam]

We are very very skint at the moment. Tax credits have been stopped till May, have to pay £800 in childcare and the car has just died. I have absolutely no spare money at all, except £5 for a bunch of flowers. I've got a card and I'll get the kids to make her something but I feel awful.
The week after Mother's Day we're going away for a week in a caravan (me, the kids and my parents) and I'll be able to buy her a cream tea or two then. I've also paid for the holiday so do you think this is an ok substitute or will she be annoyed she has nothing to open?

[MaysLostIt]

Thanks for all your thoughts x

[HappyBumbleBee]

@MaysLostIt I'm so very sorry for the loss of your mum ❤❤

[HappyBumbleBee]

Since becoming a mum 25 and a half years ago I've always said the best present my boys could ever give me would be the biggest hug, a handmade card and knowing we all love each other. They're getting older and growing so fast etc (eldest moved out a couple of years ago) that is more important to me than anything they could go and buy in a shop.
Mothers Day is about showing and telling your mum you love her. Not by monetary value of shop bought gifts xxx

[EarringsandLipstick]

@MaysLostIt I'm so sorry about your mum.

That's put everything in perspective really ...

[llangennith]

I've been a mum since DD1 was born 48 years ago and while it's nice to get flowers or a meal out the most important thing to me is the card and that it arrives in time. I'm speaking to you now DS!

[purplepears]

Take a photo on your phone of you and the children holding a home made sign saying you love her loads. And send it to her on Mothering Sunday. She'll love that! And be proud to show her friends.
Is she close enough to you to come over during the day? If so, just say you'd love her and your dad to come over and join you for a cup of tea. Talk about happy memories of your childhood with her.
Give the children some crayons and ask them to draw your mum. And give her the pictures.
Remember, you're a mum too and your mum will recognize that's it's your special day too.

[youknowmedontyou]

@Hyacintharehighersincelasttime a bunch of daffodils are a £1, OP has a fiver surely you wouldn't want or expect your child to give 20% of their money for a gift to you?

[MerQueennotMaid]

Can the kids make her some vouchers to put in the card?

Cream tea
Ice cream
Cocktail

That kind of thing for presents she can have on holiday?

[Purpleartichoke]

I have plenty of money, I have never done more than a card for mother’s day. A card, flowers, and something from the kids is plenty. In fact, I would skip the store bought card and have the kids make one. Cheaper and more meaningful.

[Pimmsypimms]

Are you good at baking op? Could you bake her a nice cake?

[youknowmedontyou]

I'd be absolutely devastated if my DCs thought I'd be upset that they couldn't afford to buy me a present. They know me well enough to know I wouldn't ever want them to spend money on me on those circumstances!

[Alsohuman]

If my son sends me a card I’ll be over the moon. I’d hate him to spend his last fiver on me. If your mum’s anything like you, OP, a big hug and “I love you” will do the job beautifully.

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

BetsyBigNose

Your "estmemory" is a lovely isa!

[tillytrotter1]

I would hate to think that my children were getting upset about something like this.
If you're paying for the holiday she should be offering something towards it as you're so hard up.

[Sparkletastic]

Write something heartfelt in a card, bunch of daffodils, homemade cake.

[Ribbonsonabox]

Goodness I'm sure your mother wouldn't want you to ruin yourself over mothers day! Flowers ARE a present!! That's all I'm expecting from my kids, flowers and a card... or even just a card tbh! It's the effort that counts not how expensive the gift is.
Sometimes I do get my mum a gift as well as a card but not every year because some years I've been skint... as long as I've made some sort of effort shes not complained.
I'm really sure your mum will love her flowers and you spending some time with her by taking her out to cream tea when you can. I think thats a great idea.

[TheGirlWithGlassFeet]

Mother's Day is about letting your mum feel loved and appreciated. You don't need to buy anything. Just tell her what she means to you and give her a big hug. Have a lovely holiday together.

[anniehm]

I would love to give my mum a hug and a £5 bunch of flowers - I can't because she's 200 miles away so I did send a cheap bouquet but there's no reason to do more, spending time with her is far more important

[Eliza9917]

@Hyacintharehighersincelasttime Tue 26-Mar-19 09:19:03
a bunch of daffodils are cheap

They aren't if you've got sod all

[AliceLiddel]

@ExtraPineappleExtraHam why not get the kids to make her a "voucher" for her cream tea while youre away? that way it looks like you got it as a gift (rather than just you paying while there) and makes it something to look forward to

[lottiegarbanzo]

Mothers Day = a home-made card and a £1 bunch of daffodils, doesn't it? Something handmade by a small child if relevant.

Maybe lunch together, or a walk and a cup of tea if it's a nice day. It's about appreciation, time, small gestures.

The concept of 'a present to open' does not correlate with Mother's Day to me. That's birthdays and Christmas.

[MrsJayy]

I’m getting my Mum a bunch of flowers and a card, not due to cost but because that’s what I’ve always got her. Never occurred to me to buy anything else
Am I really tight? What do other people do?

I am wondering if im tight too as I said i just do flowers or chocolates depending on what my Sister is getting My dds just do the same for me althoygh swap chocs for wine and I am a happy bunny

[MsHopey]

Only you know how well your mom will take it.
I moved house and lost my job in the same month, my mom told me to sell something to give my young sister a tenner for her birthday when she knew I didn't even have money for food 😂
I did, btw, some guilt in me there!
I know plenty of people who wouldn't care and we don't do anything in my house for adults birthdays, anniversaries or mothers/fathers day.

[GirlcalledJack]

Do you have the ingredients in to make her a nice cake or some little pastry type things?

If you had the ingredients in the cupboard you could do her an afternoon tea with little finger sandwiches, little cakes etc.

[Coronapop]

A few years ago I decided I would have zero expectations of Mothers' Day (I have young adult DSs). This means I am never disappointed and sometimes I get a pleasant surprise. There are many more important things in life than an overhyped special day. I still recall a truly ghastly pub meal we took my mother for many years ago on the actual day, pub had overbooked and was short staffed and it was a memorable experience for all the wrong reasons.