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Original poster

desperate dh seeks mother's day advice

75 replies

justdh · 19/03/2006 19:59

Hello - first post so be gentle.
DW lives on this site, and has made some good friends, and gained valuable support and advice. Who'd have guessed she's the geek in this relationship after all (no offence).
Anyway, having familiarised myself with some of your acronyms (DH usually means d*head when directed at me, but anyway), I am turning to you for some important advice - my life could well depend on the outcome.
DW does a fantastic job, and we have a well adjusted 3 year-old DD as a result. I should add that she in no way does it by herself, in case you were wondering. We also have another on the way (T minus 4 weeks and counting) which she has struggled with (physically) from day one. So, I could do with some really nifty gift ideas for Mother's day to show my appreciation.
I just hope she doesn't spot me as she's bound to be lurking round here somewhere.
If you have any personal experience of great mother's day gifts, please share. Any help much appreciated - thanks in advance.
justDH

OP posts:

SleepySuzy · 19/03/2006 20:00

Hello!! Get her something to pamper herself with.

busybusybee · 19/03/2006 20:00

Thats a lovely post Justdh
I have no idea what to suggest though!

philippat · 19/03/2006 20:01

aw, well saying some of that in a card would be good
a day doing what she's like most (either with or without the rest of you)?

Blandmum · 19/03/2006 20:02

papering is good and some time to herself , before having a nice lunch with the family?

Twinkie1 · 19/03/2006 20:03

No get her someone to pamper herself so she doesn't have to do anything!!

Or maybe a weekend away before the baby comes without DD, maybe with her best friend so they can mooch around and do stuff together without kids!!

Sounds rough to DD but I would have loved that some time alone - without DP even!!!

Oh a pedicure is great just before you drop too - nothing worse than staring at your scabby toenails in labour thinking you should have done something about that!!

SleepySuzy · 19/03/2006 20:03

Take her for a nice slap-up meal, too. That would win me over :)

Crystaltips · 19/03/2006 20:03

What would I like ....

pampering
me-time
hand-made cards from kids
breakfast in bed
lunch made for me
time-out

and it just goes to show that it doesn't have to break the bank ...

ks · 19/03/2006 20:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blandmum · 19/03/2006 20:05

damn that issing m

Carmenere · 19/03/2006 20:06

Well you will get major points for effort anyway! If my dp actually cared enough to ask the other mothers on mumsnet what I would like for my birthday he would be in the good books for a long time. You should definitely direct her to this thread after the fact. As for ideas, not sure, maybe a weekend away for after the birth?

WideWebWitch · 19/03/2006 20:07

ha ha at papering! Yes, I think some time to herself would be good if she's knackered and pregnant. Breakfast in bed is never going to offend anyone, neither is a lie in, a bunch of flowers, a glass of Champagne (1 is ok even if pg in my book), a book, bubble bath and an hour to soak alone. Plus keep saying 'it's mothers day, what would YOU Like to do, it's up to you?' Book somewhere for dinner too if you think she's up to it and tell her what a great job you think she's doing. Oh, and on the day, come back here and tell us exactly whose DH you are please! TIA (Thanks In Advance)

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 19/03/2006 20:09

bless your little heart!

She needs pampered BIG TIME

How about a handmade card, either made by your DD or one of the girls on Arts and Crafts.

flowers, chocolates, do you have a local spa? A Spa voucher for post-birth would be heaven!

Blu · 19/03/2006 20:12

Search her posting name under 'style' or 'products' and see if there's anything she's secretly coveting or hankering after?
You can't go wrong with flowers as a gesture, especially nice non-cliched ones - get a big bunch of gorgeous smeling freesias instead of red roses, and get the from a proper flower shop. Are there any romantic DVDs that she would enjoy? A really fab garden chair (if you have a garden) so that she can relax outside with the new baby?

FrannyandZooey · 19/03/2006 20:13

If she is a bit of a hippy type (there are a lot of us on here) she would probably love \link{http://www.peopletree.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=461_465_466&products_id=940086\this pendant}. I think if you gave it to her with a card with some appreciative words in it would mean a lot, and she would remember your words every time she wore it.

Well, that's what I'd like anyway

cori · 19/03/2006 20:15

I agree with Spa vouchers or a pampering day for use after baby is born. I am pregnant myself and am hoping for something like this.

Carmenere · 19/03/2006 20:16

Have to say I think the garden chair idea is lovely!

WestCountryLass · 19/03/2006 20:44

Could you book her a pregnancy massage at a local spa? I had one when I was PG and it was heaven :)

Original poster

justdh · 19/03/2006 20:47

WOW you lot don't hang about! And there was I thinking I'd check for replies tomorrow, hoping I might get a couple of posts by then. Note to self: never underestimate the power of mumsnet, sorry, MN. Expect to hear from me around her birthday and Christmas too. Some great ideas which I will seriously consider. Keep them coming.
As for directing her to this thread after the event - I'll be directing her to this thread at EVERY opportunity! in fact I'll print this thread and call it a gift, job done.

I jest.

OP posts:

Blu · 19/03/2006 20:56

But YOU know her, we don't! You're supposed to know what she would like. Start training yourself to listen out for anyhting she admires that other people have, or things she talks about in a wistful sort of way.
Have a nose round a couple of antique shops - you may spot something quirky and unusual and 'just right' like a porcelain mug with her initial, or a beautiful silver backed mirror (if she likes anything like that).

Original poster

justdh · 19/03/2006 21:11

Hi Blu,
yes I know I know her, but I also know that I'm not like her so why not ask for some advice? I have a feeling what she would like me to do is show some initiative and get some new ideas. So here I am. I find that inspiration almost always comes from somewhere other than my own thoughts. I simply thought MN might be a good place to get some ideas. I could have asked colleagues but I can assure you the response time would be slower, and the ideas not as good.

OP posts:

Crystaltips · 19/03/2006 21:16

Depends whether or not money is a hurdle or not .... get her a photo session booked.

Some ladies feel very femenine / beautiful whilst they are pregnant ... you could get some tasteful shots done or perhaps photos of DD with / without her.

( I would have loathed it as I looked like a beached whale - still do actually )

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 19/03/2006 21:38

for me the best pressie would be something you and dd had made together. A great way of doing a card is to cut out some big letters spelling "thank you" or "I love you" or similar. Then spread them out on the floor, get dd to sit in the middle and take a photo. If by any chance you live near a beach (or somewhere snowy!) stamp out your message in footprints or pebbles. You could make this into a card or even frame it as a photo. Another idea is to draw up a calendar of the next few weeks - get dd to stick some stickers on it to make it look nice and then stick some "vouchers" on it - ie time off for shopping,(of the nice variety) girls night out, pamper session etc. It's very nice of you to ask btw.

Original poster

justdh · 19/03/2006 21:41

I'm sure you don't crystaltips, but DW is definately not someone who blooms and blossoms in pregnancy so the idea of a photoshoot makes me smile a bit. At least with the advent of digital photography they could put some colour back into her amaemic complexion, and 'airbrush' the vomit from her clothes. I often tell her she looks feminine and beautiful as I hold her hair back while she leans over the toilet pan. Do Olan Mills have bathroom props?

OP posts:

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 19/03/2006 21:43

a really easy but nice thing for dd to help you choose is to let her run wild in Lush or Body Shop. yes it's cheap and cheerful (and yes they will probably insist on using it all themselves) but the kids love choosing. And once you're a parent the greatest bit of getting a gift is seeing the little ones all excited about giving it. The other thing is that it's "disposable". might not be to your taste but you put it in the bath one night, not on your mantelpiece until they leave home.

jennifersofia · 19/03/2006 22:00

Oooh, a day at a spa! Or failing that (pricey!) a professional massage and the time to take it. Alternatively, 'time' vouchers - from you looking after the kids so she can go and get her hair cut, or buy some clothes or just sit and read a book or whatever floats her boat. (oh yeah, this includes the house not looking like a bombsite when she gets back).
Cheaper options include a good book or mag (or mag subscription) or really good chocolates.
Or maybe something like something that I got on my birthday one year -my dh made a card with his hand print and dd's handprint on it and messages written around the fingers describing what sort of mother I was (happily most of it was complimentary!)

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