My mom is impossible to buy a gift for.
Seriously, she is tough. She doesn't want anything. Anything she needs, she will buy for herself (more than likely for an incredible bargain). She grew up without a lot, and as a result is very practical and no nonsense when it comes to material things.
She doesn't enjoy massages or pedicures or other such pampering. (She claims she doesn't like people touching her, yet she'll hug a complete stranger. Go figure.)
She is incredibly thoughtful and giving. One day when she was buying a book about Jackie Robinson (not sure who that was for, but it wasn't her!) at TJ Maxx, the guy checking her out was admiring it and mentioned that he would love to share it with his nephew. My mom paid, then went back and got the other copy, bought it, and gave it to him as a gift. That's just the way she is.
She is an awesome gift giver. She will remember something you mentioned in passing months before. She always knows what you would like or need.
And she is impossible to buy a gift for.
This past Christmas, my sister and I racked our brains, like we do each year. The year before, we actually did it. We bought her a Keurig coffee maker and scored a fist pump. That made our whole holiday. So what on earth were we going to get her this year?
Finally, we decided that we would take her to the Princess Diana exhibit and lunch at Foxwoods.We would make a day of it. She loved Princess Diana, so we thought, ok, this could work. I wrapped up an invitation in a glittery package, and hoped that she would like it.
She opened it up, and stopped. Tears sprang to her eyes. "Really?" she whispered. "Yes", we assured her, and we all hugged. And that's when I realized. The perfect gift was our time. We have all gotten so busy, it had been ages since we had spent a day together, just a mom and her girls.
We had so much fun that we've decided to have a girls day every few weeks. This weekend we hit downtown Mystic for lunch and shopping! We had so much fun, poking around the shops without any boys groaning, complaining, or ever so subtlety standing near the door.
Happy Tuesday (that feels like a Monday), everyone!