Mother's Day is May 13th - Think Creative Gifts for Mom

In 1904, a West Virginia woman named Anna Jarvis thought about the contributions that her mother, Anna Reeves Jarvis made toward reconstruction after the Civil War. Jarvis vowed to honor her mother’s memory by campaigning for one day a year to recognize mothers nationwide. She began by passing out white carnations to the congregants at her church. Three days later, the church administration made a decision to establish a yearly service honoring mothers. That tradition spread in the early 20th century to churches in 46 states. During the Wilson Administration, (1913-1921) Congress passed a joint resolution honoring the role that women play as mothers in the family structure.

So today, on one special Sunday every year, families and loved ones honor mothers in their own special ways. Many will present mom with something from a mall or favorite store that they are certain she will love. I don’t have a pasta and hot pink suit to match the macaroni and shell necklace my daughter made for me three years ago, but it is one of my most treasured pieces of jewelry. This year, your child or loved one may want to create a gift that’s handmade, more personal or a treasure that will last a lifetime. Here are some ideas on some simple things kids can do to remind mom how much you mean to them. Moms, give this article to dad, your partner, a teacher or other caretaker—they’ll have fun helping the little ones make something special just for you.

Personalized Ceramics
Many moms themselves remember putting their handprint into a blob of clay at school, and days later having a nice little plaque to take home for mom to hang on the wall. Nowadays, everyone can join the fun by visiting retail stores that cater to your child’s creative outlet. Crafters like created by Us, Color Me Mine and others offer a variety of ceramics to work with, from painting plates and vases to piggy banks and figurines. You’ll want to give yourself some lead time, though. Once you’ve created your masterpiece for mom, most stores need about a week’s turnaround time to fire the pottery. But in the end, you’ll have one of the most unique treasures for mom.

Be-Jewel & Be-Dazzle Her
     Dad may have something else in mind, but making your own jewelry is all the rage right now. My macaroni necklace is great. Food necklaces are great fun for the younger children. Cereals, string, pasta and paint go a long way on the road of creativity.  Older kids can go to the local craft store—or even a bead store—and find a huge selection of high quality beads in a variety of stones and metals. Encourage children to think about mom’s favorite colors, learn by patterning—whether it’s a rainbow of Fruit Loops™ or a row of colorful stones.  

A Mother’s Garden
     Every kid loves to play in the dirt, right? One of the most beautiful and useful gifts a child can create for mom is a flower or herb garden. Small clay pots are less than a dollar at most garden stores. Kids can plant from seed, or find many annuals and herbs ready to go with a scoop of dirt and a drink of water. Make the gift even more personalized by having children paint the flower pots themselves.

It’s the Thought That Counts
No matter how simple or how intricate, any gift made with your child’s own hands are precious. My macaroni necklace hangs on my bulletin board in my office—and it reminds me every day that my daughter was thinking of me. It’s nice to have a day in May to celebrate that, and a treasure to remind me every other day of the year.

This article originally appeared in the May 2007 issue of Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. Copyright GVP, Inc.