AARP Hearing Center
There’s a lot of pressure to find that perfect Mother’s Day present. A gift should be thoughtful, unique and express the appropriate depth of love for mom. That’s a high bar.
To take the strain out of the occasion, consider these six ideas that are both affordable and (nearly) guaranteed to pack a sweet emotional punch:
1. Write a letter
A handwritten letter is “one of the loveliest, most personal things,” according to the England-based Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society’s website, and you don’t need to be Jane Austen or Thomas Hardy to pull off a winner
Don't let the fact that letters are typically longer than emails intimidate you.
“Thoughtfulness matters more than length,” says John Coleman, a Harvard Business Review writer who has covered the importance of handwritten communication. “It’s your real feelings and thoughts committed to paper, rather than just a signature on a Hallmark card.”
Practically speaking, draft the letter elsewhere before committing your words to the page you plan on sharing. Take your time, and consider shopping for attractive stationary. (Coleman even suggests “finding the right pen.”)
“The benefit of a handwritten note is that it's more like a piece of art,” Coleman explains. “The form matters as much as the function.”
And remember, no matter how you express your appreciation with words, your mom will forever have tangible evidence of that appreciation — and may keep it in a special place to read over and over.
“You made an effort on her behalf, and that's 90 percent of the battle,” Coleman says. “It's less about exactly what you say, and more about the fact that you really put your heart on the page. Any ability to express that, in whatever words you have, is going to mean the world to her.”