Your Total Guide To shopping

Total Guide to Mother’s Day and alternative gift

Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, as it is known here in the UK, is a day devoted to the celebration of mum’s and their contribution to society.

Unlike our global counterparts, its date is dictated by the Easter holiday, with Mother’s Day falling on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

The celebration originates from centuries ago where people would often visit their “mother” and reunite with family once a year in the middle of Lent. Children would pick wildflowers and violets for their mothers on the way into the church as to surprise them when they reunited. And fasting rules for Lent where relaxed allowing the family to partake in treats such as Simnel cake.

Today, although we have kept the traditional date of Mothering Sunday our celebrations are less formal; focussing more on showing our love and gratitude to all mums opposed to just our own through cards and gifts.

Here, at TGt, we would like to help you celebrate mum’s in all their forms and the influence they have on our day to day lives with our alternative gift list for the special woman in your life.

“Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation.” Robert A. Heinlein

1/ Record their story

As surprising as it might sound, your mum was not always a parent. Find out more about your mum, her childhood, her life before a family, her memories of becoming a mother - and record her story.

Get to know your mum, because however well you think you do know her there is always more to learn. Listening and recording your mum’s memories is a gift not only for her but for your family - a record for yourself - prosperity - and future generations to come.

For those whose mum is no longer with them, if not too painful, try to record your memories of your mother or remember her through; journaling, audio recording or videos, because she is gone but not forgotten and will always remain in your heart.

2/ Bake it/ Make it/Craft it

Call upon your creative skills to make a heartfelt gift that means something, made by you, or/and the grandchildren. Stuck for ideas? Here, are a few of TGt’s suggestions;

Bake your mum her favourite cake or cook her top dinner dish.
Customise a set of terracotta plant pots.
Stencil a tea towel or scarf.
Create a piece of art – we particularly love decorative letter wall art.

3/The gift of time

Your mum has devoted a large portion of her adult life to you. Return the favour by spending time with her in return. It need not be expensive. Remember a gift can be in the time spent not the amount of money it costs.

Create a family cookbook together. Help your mum write down her family recipes, who knows she may even reveal the secret ingredient for her legendary Bolognese or chocolate cake.
Take a road trip together. Ask yourself, is there anywhere in the UK your mum has always wanted to visit? It could be the coast, or a local landmark, pack a picnic and hit the road. And remember; life is a journey not a destination – so make the most of your time together.
A family photo session. Make a day out of your photoshoot by including a family lunch. If a professional photographer is out of your budget – why not go to your favourite family spot, i.e. a local park, nature reserve or home and take some group shots.

4/Personalised gifts

Show her how much she means to you with a personalised gift. She is important, she is appreciated, and most importantly loved. Remind her with our keepsake gifts.

Design and personalise a tote bag.
Create a family photo collage.
List all the things you love about her or write a poem and frame it.

5/Birth Flower / Magic Beans (etched with messages)

A Birth Flower represents each month, gift your mum one for your birth month so that she will always have flowers in the month that she became your mum.