Nine Last-Minute Gifts for Mother's Day

If you're reading this, you're probably in a club of which no one wants to be a member: the club of those who haven't yet gotten a present for their mom for Mother's Day—which is this Sunday. Never fear; here are 10 quick and easy last-minute gift suggestions to steer you away from the Valley of Guilt and Disappointment. 

1. Homemade gift certificates: Grab a pen and some colored paper, and start creating gift certificates she can redeem for a lunch, a visit, a shopping trip, a certain number of phone calls—whatever your mother enjoys. Maybe she wants you to weed the garden? Throw that in as well.

2. A gesture of love: There are lots of reasons you love your mom. Write some of them on small pieces of paper, fold up the papers and send her a box with the papers inside. She’ll be opening them for hours, stopping to smile as she unfolds each one. Classic.

3. Call her up and sing a silly song: It could be the theme to Sesame Street or a song your family sang while driving on family vacations. Be prepared for a scream if you launch into “99 Bottles of Beer.”

4. Flowers: Predictable? Duh. Lovely? Of course. A good last minute gift idea? Yes. 

5.  Dedicate a book in her honor: Did your mom read to you? Of course she did. Dedicate a book in her honor at the library. This is a great way to show your love, to your mom and to other readers.

6.  Sponsor a dog in your mother’s name: Does your mom have a dog or cat? You can get her another companion without actually bringing one home. Sponsors get a certificate when "their" dog is adopted. Make your mom happy while helping dogs; it's a win-win.

7. Chocolates, candies or other sweets: Say no more. This is a quick and easy gift for last minute shoppers. It's a special day—tell her not to worry and let herself indulge.

8. Cook something special: If you can't get a reservation at your mom’s favorite restaurant, cook her dinner at your house or maybe just whip up a special snack. 

9. Give her a memory book: There are many online services that will help you turn those files and folders of photos into books that your mother can show to her less computer-savvy friends. This gift may be the best, but is fairly time-consuming and probably won't be ready in time—just include a note in your mom's card. Try a site like Snapfish to get your project underway.   

What's the best Mother's Day gift you ever got? Tell us in the comments.