She’s a parent who has been there for you through thick and thin, a wife who tirelessly cares for her family or a friend you love dearly. She’s a mother and May 14 is fast approaching, but you have no idea what to get her this Mother’s Day.
Well don’t worry. Alabama Baptist associational secretaries and women’s ministry directors say that cost does not determine the sentimental value of a gift. According to these mothers, the thought really does count.
• Nancy Bentley, who served Alabama-Crenshaw Baptist Association for years, said a good gift for her would be potted plants or dinner with her family. “My kids live way out in Texas, so quality time together is really important to me,” she said.
• Central Baptist Association’s Maarah Marks also looks forward to spending time with her children and grandchildren on Mother’s Day.
After being diagnosed with leukemia, Marks’ doctors said she would only have 10 more days to live — that was more than two years ago.
“I’m not so much into stuff as I am into relationships — having your family close by to be with you, pray for you and support you,” Marks said. “When you face a traumatic life situation, things don’t matter. It’s the family that matters.”
• Ann Fullerton of Limestone Baptist Association said thoughtful gifts are often more special than expensive ones. She recommends gifts that suit the recipient’s preferences.
“An inexpensive gift with a personal touch is more valuable than an expensive gift just for the sake of getting a gift,” Fullerton said. “Think about what you are giving. Make sure it’s appropriate for their needs and they would enjoy it.”
• Wanda Green of Cahaba Baptist Association believes that cards are good gifts but was surprised by her daughter’s gift a couple of years ago.
“She bought me some pieces of my discontinued china from a thrift store to replace some that had gone missing,” Green said.
• Jane Barnes of Fayette Baptist Association likes gifts from the heart such as personal cards, family pictures and photos of her grandchildren.
“I like anything and everything that they pick out, even written letters telling you how much they love or appreciate you,” she said. “Those kinds of gifts are more meaningful and they don’t cost anything, and you can look at them and ponder over them for years to come.”
• Sand Mountain Baptist Association’s Tracy Andrews likes homemade gifts, going out to dinner, clothing and jewelry.
A new mother, Andrews recommends buying clothing for mothers of young children that matches their needs, tastes and personal styles.
“Get something that doesn’t stain, that is washable, modest, nice-looking but comfortable,” she said. “Nothing that has a lot of decoration on it that the baby could grab or tear off.”
• Anna King of Escambia Baptist Association recommends practical gifts.
“Gift buying is special,” she said. “It needs to come from the heart and say that you really thought about them. Don’t just go buy them something that you think they would like. Find out what they really enjoy.”
King suggests doing something different if you do the same thing every year.
• Mary Alice Johnson of Tuskegee Lee Baptist Association said that a good gift might be a year’s membership to a fitness center.
“It’s something that we don’t usually take time for and something that would maybe be put at the bottom of the list because of time or money,” she said.
Johnson also suggests that children schedule lunch or dinner dates with their mother every two or three months.
“Just for them to take you out for dinner or lunch would remind me that they still care about and love me and probably remind them that mom is special,” she said.
• Barbara Bencko of Birmingham Baptist Association appreciates gifts that require time instead of money like help with household and lawn duties. She also recommends allowing grandchildren to give homemade cards.
“As our kids were growing up, I would let them make a special card for my parents and my husband’s parents,” Bencko said. “It took time for them to do that, and it teaches them to be thoughtful.”
She added that children should at least contact their mothers on Mother’s Day.
“My birthday is not as important to me as Mother’s Day because I brought them in this world and it shows respect,” Bencko explained. “They should also make an effort through the year to make you feel special.”
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