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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

What do people buy their mums for xmas?

35 replies

farmgirls · 17/12/2009 23:09

What do people buy their mums for xmas? Mine's 60 and retired and her life is busy solely revolving around her numerous grandchildren. I'm stumped!

Any ideas would be so welcomed!

OP posts:
WeThreeNinks · 17/12/2009 23:14

I'm getting my Mum vouchers for beauty treatments at the salon she likes but can rarely afford these days.

It's good because she has to give herself a break and get out and use them

thisisyesterday · 17/12/2009 23:15

ahhhh
this year mine is getting a digital photo frame

previous presents have been:
afternoon tea for 2 at the dorchester
trip to the ballet/theatre
framed pics of the kids plus token gift of chocs/flowers
nice hamper
big bouquet flowers

we tend to go for things that she can do, or use rather than just stuff that'll sit around pointlessly

ChasingSquirrels · 17/12/2009 23:15

I got mine this.
She is 64.

It came today and I'm not sure if she will like it, it isn't as warm looking as I expected, and having tried it on myself I think the sleeves are a little on the short side.

Have a few little things for her aswell, and we can always change it after.

EvilTwinsStoleSantasSleigh · 17/12/2009 23:18

Dsis and I usually club together and get her something she can do, rather than a "thing". She loves massages and other little indulgencies, so we've bought her vouchers for a local spa before now. This year, Mum and Dad are going on a huge holiday to New Zealand, so we've paid for them to have a meal at a particular restaurant when they're out there.

EmilyStrange · 17/12/2009 23:33

Lovely outing or treat you can do together as a mum and daughter.

Curiousmama · 17/12/2009 23:42

Agree with EmilyStrange and outing would be nice perhaps?

I bought my mum an art deco mirror with a figure holding it and a birthday/address book with William Turner cards inside, we both like his work and she loves art deco figures.

I got exMIL a lovely sweater and brooch for £13 at the inside market today, bargain!

sb6699 · 17/12/2009 23:52

I bought my mum and gran tickets to see Katherine Jenkins in March. I cant do anything with them as I'm so far away so I usually get them an outing together.

mrsjammi · 17/12/2009 23:58

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EmilyStrange · 17/12/2009 23:59

I love trying to think of presents for other people as it is an exercise in understanding that person better. But the perfect present is always just out of my mental reach (clearly not that great at understanding people).

PhaseolusNativitatus · 18/12/2009 00:11

A book of photographs by Steve McCurry (Yeees, a coffee table book )

And a silk dressing gown.

AliBellandthe40jingles · 18/12/2009 00:17

This year some tickets to the Royal Albert Hall, and 2 pieces from the Portmeirion holly and ivy range plus a few smellies for the stocking.

Previous years have been, a handbag, various nice serving plates, books, a lovely bag to keep her knitting in, earrings. She is pretty easy really, I'm lucky!

stealthsquiggle · 18/12/2009 00:22

Hmm - beauty treatments seem to be abundant here. My DM would be horrified by such a present.

Back to drawing board.

mrsjammi · 18/12/2009 00:23

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LadyGlenChristmasPresent · 18/12/2009 00:26

So far I've bought my mum a
Slanket and a bottle of Amaretto. I need to come up with something better - pronto.
Oh yes, she is also getting some photos of the DC and an umbrella. But I still need to pull my socks up.

mmmwine · 18/12/2009 01:25

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BustleInYourHedgerow · 18/12/2009 01:31

Fancy clarins face creams and perfume. She never buys this stuff for herself.

nooka · 18/12/2009 05:45

My family always does lists, so I buy my parents things they have said they would like, which is nice and easy. Although a year or two back something went a bit wrong with the family grapevine, and she got a lot of towels, which I think upset her a little (she'd wanted other things too!). This year I have bought my parents a lovely book of photographs and a puzzle of a painting of a place where we visited together last summer. I hope they will like them! It always feels slightly risky to buy on total impulse, and they cost $50 in postage, so no taking back to the shop possible. I woudl have liked to keep both of them though, which I think is a good sign.

CherryChristmasEveryone · 18/12/2009 10:12

have got my mum, a cross stitch frame thingy that she wanted, a silver grandma photo frame from the kids, a pair of nana socks, and some turkish delight. she will love it!

RockBird · 18/12/2009 10:15

My mother always gets vouchers. She is retired and her greatest fear was not having enough money of her own to buy clothes etc (which is nonsense as they are reasonably well off) but she likes knowing she can go and buy what she wants and not worry about paying for it. So she stockpiles M&S, John Lewis etc vouchers. She must have thousands! But they make her happy. I'm no so keen as they're impersonal but hey, it's what she's asked for.

LtEveDallas · 18/12/2009 10:27

I got my mum a trendy shopping trolley from Lakeland. Got the idea because she was on the phone moaning to me about how she's not enjoying her monthly shopping days with my Aunt any more because she finds it too hard to carry stuff - now she'll be able to buy loads!

gagamama · 18/12/2009 10:40

Presents which have gone down well for my mum in the past have been: orange and lemon trees, a Ninendo DS (which she still loves, 2 years on), and a Radley purse. I've also bought joint presents for my parents including: nest of tables, huge mirror for living room, and a DVD recorder. These were obviously spread over several years!

Mine doesn't use smellies/candles/frames either, and she's a teacher so gets loads of these. I don't understand why people don't use these sort of gifts though, it's not really a hardship to use some bubble bath or burn a candle is it? Even if it's not really your 'thing' - it was given to you, you didn't have to pay for it!

Adair · 18/12/2009 10:52

my mum - lightshades for her front room as I noticed she hasn't got any - hope she likes them....

dh's mum - bee house (mentioned on here!) and book on decline on bees.

sisters getting her tickets for a musical.

My mum wouldn't use posh smellies (by posh, I mean nice ones from Boots or M&S) - she keeps them for best

jennymac · 18/12/2009 12:53

Usually vouchers or theatre tickets plus a book/cd or something else small but personal to add in.

FlyingReindeer · 18/12/2009 13:09

I got her a screwpull this year. She has wanted a good, foolproof bottle opener for ages and as she's getting a bit older this should help her open her much enjoyed wine. They are not cheap though. She's also getting a huge collage of our wedding photos.

She and I both love smellies, and no one ever gives them to us - and by smellies I mean proper treat ones - Jo Malone, Manuel Canovas, etc. Who wouldn't love something like that?! I am constantly dropping hints to DH but he always buys me something practical. Although before we got married we always did seperate presents to each others in-laws and I always pointed him in the direction on nice smellies for my mother.

FlyingReindeer · 18/12/2009 13:12

Screwpull

Bloody hell they are so much cheaper on Amazon UK than Amazon FR and they're a French make.