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For as long as I can remember, my mom has been one of the most important people in my life. She has stood by me though good times and bad times and has always loved me unconditionally. I guess you could say that she has been my rock. In fact, she still is but over the past few years some things have changed. You see, a few years ago she lost my dad. And all of a sudden it became hard for her to celebrate the things that had once brought her joy. Special occasions lost their excitement and while she carried on with strength and grace, life was tinged with sadness.
At first I tried to “fix” things for her. But in reality you just can’t fix a loss like that. So I instead made it my mission in life to bring joy back to special occasions. After all, I knew that my dad would want her to smile. To be happy. To celebrate. Especially on a day like Mother’s Day that was all about her. So each year I’ve looked for ways to make Mother’s Day special for my mom. I’ve prepared gifts, written cards and found new ways to show her how special she is. But this year I decided I wanted to do things differently – that I wanted to find a meaningful gift for Mother’s Day that really spoke to who she has been and who she is becoming.
Now, I guess I should give you a little bit of the back story on my relationship with my mom. She’s honestly not a huge gift person. Growing up we only gave her a card each year. And she would save those cards. In fact, thirty-some odd years later I’m pretty sure each and every one of those cards are still in a box in her closet. So when I started to think about what to give her for Mother’s Day this year, the first thing that popped into my mind was a card. Knowing that I wanted to do more but not sure where to start, I headed to Walmart to peruse the aisles. I had no idea what, if anything, I would pair with her card. But I knew that step one of making this the best mom’s day ever was finding the perfect card.
As I rounded the corner at Walmart, I was met with aisle after aisle of Mother’s day items. Knowing that I was in need of some major inspiration, I headed straight for the brightest aisle I saw. And as soon as I stepped down the center of it, I was instantly amazed at the selection of well matched items that I found! Yes, there were American Greetings cards for any and every mom. But more than that there were tons of gift ideas that left my uninspired mind reeling with options for the perfect way to make Mother’s Day memorable for a mom that’s made every moment of my life extraordinary!
After walking up and down the aisle a few times, I started to think about the things that my mom really loves. She loves time with her family. She loves being outdoors. She love finding quiet spots where she is secluded from the world. And she loves to write. As the last thought hit me I instantly wondered why I hadn’t thought about her love of writing before. Since I was a little girl I had seen her sit down every morning with her journal and fill page after page. It was what she did – how she chronicled moments and how she captured both sadness and joy. Knowing that I had the perfect theme for not only making her Mother’s Day special but encouraging her to remember those things that she still loves, I picked up a variety of amazing products in the Mother’s Day One Stop Shop! Armed with journals, note pads, pens and of course the perfect card, I headed home to put together a gift that I knew would mean so much to my mom!
Once I arrived home, I set to work putting all of my items into a gift basket that was sure to surprise! I knew that while walking in to the perfect Mother’s Day gift would be special, presenting in in an amazing way would make it even more memorable. So I pulled out a tin gift basket and printed out a vinyl Mother’s Day Sign to get me started.
Once I had adorned my gift basket with the words Happy Mother’s Day, I added flowers to ensure that the moment my mom saw this gift it would catch her attention.
With my basket complete, it was time to fill my mom’s gift basket with items that I knew she would love. I had picked up just about every journal in the Mother’s Day One Stop Shop at Walmart because I knew as a writer myself that having places to jot down thoughts, memories and special moments where ever she happened to be was essential. After laying all of my items out, I placed different sized journals into the gift basket and added pens so that she could always be prepared to write.
Now that in itself would have been the perfect gift for my mom but I wanted to do more! I wanted to add ways to inspire her. And since I had found so many amazing items at Walmart, adding to my gift basket wasn’t hard!
I started by adding memo pads because I knew that sometimes inspiration hits her when she least expects it and I’ve walked in her home many a time to find her counter full of notes. Next I added in a mug since I know she loves to drink hot tea while she writes and it was important to me to provide a whole experience that would encourage her to share special moments through words. With my gift basket mostly put together I sat back to survey what I had created so I could determine if it was a gift that would make this Mother’s Day the best ever.
As I looked at my gift basket, I realized that one things was missing….the perfect card! Thankfully I had found an American Greetings card that said exactly what I felt but I wanted to add my own words to it. As I sat down with my card and pen, I realized that I’m more like my mom than I ever knew and that, just as it is for her, writing is my true way to express myself.
As I started writing in my card for my mom, the words flowed out of me. And I discovered that her gift had inspired me to say in my own words what she meant to me. Where for so long I had thought simply showing her was enough, I instantly knew that from a writer to a writer, it all comes down to the words.
Once my card was complete, I added it to my gift basket and sat back with a satisfied feeling. I would have never thought of this gift basket idea without the inspiration in the Mother’s Day One Stop Shop but as I looked at it, I knew that it was perfect for who my mom is, where she is in her life and how she expresses herself every day.
Now I simply cannot wait until Mother’s Day. I can’t wait to show her that for the first time ever, I get what she truly needed this Mother’s Day. I get where she is in life and I get that writing is her way of healing. And so though my own gift, I will encourage her to use words this year to make not only this Mother’s day but this entire year special.
So now, a gift that started out as simply a card has changed something in me. It’s built a connection that I didn’t even know was there. And it’s shown me that often the gift that is the most special is the one that allows the recipient to celebrate in their own special way.
Going forward I’ll remember this lesson. I’ll remember the moment standing in the card aisle of Walmart when I discovered that sometimes the perfect gift comes from truly knowing a person well enough to stop thinking about what you would like and instead be inspired by what they truly love. And I’ll know that in the simplest way I was able to connect with my mom on a deeper level and tell her in a way that words never can that I’m here. I support her. And more than anything I adore the fact that she is my perfect mom!
Do you want to help make this Mother’s Day the best ever for someone special? Start with a trip to find the perfect Mother’s Day Card at the Mother’s Day One Stop Shop at Walmart where you will find tons of inspiration for giving the perfect card and gift.
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Then tell me, how will you make this Mother’s Day the #BestMomsDayEver?
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