Present ideas for my mum

[blushingmare]

Not really a parenting issue, but need some inspiration from you brilliant mnetters and don't know where else to put this!

My mum is amazing. We (me, DH plus baby and toddler) have been living with my parents for the past 3 months while we have the builders in. My mum has done SO MUCH for us - cooking, washing, child care, generally running around after us and all this is on top of things being pretty tough for her at the moment with my dad being unwell and very hard to live with. It's her birthday coming up and I'd love to get her something lovely to say thank you, but money is tight for us and she's not a big one for having a fuss made. She's not into massages or spa days etc and food is out as she's on a diet.

Does anyone have any ideas for something thoughtful and meaningful, but not too expensive?

I think a photobook is a lovely present. For a birthday last year a friend went around photographing places that were important to me.
It wasn't a large expensive photobook. It was only A5 but I loved it. I was so touched by her effort.
Have you got photos of your mum when she was little, places of important to her ? Photos of your children with her etc etc.
Or a CD with a video of thanks on, if you can do it. One of my sons streamed all our videos onto a CD and showed it as a film at his Fathers Birthday Party. It was brilliant.
Other than that I think a lovely bunch of flowers. Aldi and Lidle do lovely bunches that can be combined together to make a massive impressive bunch.

How about something from the children? You can get jewellery made from their fingerprints, or go to one of those 'paint it yourself' pottery places and either get the toddler to help paint a mug, bowl etc or else do the handprints of both children and put on the pottery?

You could combine it with hole's idea of a photo book maybe?

Write a lovely message in a card saying that you think she's amazing and you appreciate everything she does (abd get your toddler to make a card too). Words mean so much more than presents. If you're still living with her, perhaps you could get up early, decorate the table with flowers and make a lovely breakfast? Take her out somewhere she'll enjoy for the day?

I would write her a letter, and put it in a photo frame. Looking at that every day, knowing how much you love her and showing her what a good job she is doing is priceless.

Does she use a diary? Gave my DM a photobook one full of DS and DN. She flashes it everywhere

I'd cook a lovelu family meal as a suprise (and do all the prep and washing up) and invite other brothers,sisters, aunts etc. Deosn't need to be posh after all with family you eat ancakes and soup if thats what is on offer.