Photo by montanaraven

Rather than write a glib intro, we’re going to turn it over to a young lady with a big heart. Heather wrote:

“I’m 13 years old and my mom has three kids. I need a DIY or recipe that I can do to make her feel really special. She means the world to me and sometimes I don’t really show her that. She works, goes to school, and takes care of all of us at the same time! Please help me make my mom’s Mother’s Day special! Anything will do!”

Just makes you all teary eyed, doesn’t it?

Here are 14 ideas to help Heather — and you — make Mother’s Day very special.

1. Manicure & Pedicure
If you’re good at polishing nails, give Mom a manicure, pedicure, or both! Any woman would love to get pampered, and Mom will, too.

2. Manicure The Garden
Pull the weeds from her flower beds, or plant flowers and veggies for her. If your mom likes gardening, but she hasn’t gotten around to tending the gardens this year, do it for her.

3. Long-lost Friend
Surprise Mom with a friend or family member that she hasn’t seen in a long time. Take your mother to this person’s house as her Mother’s Day gift, or arrange for the person to come to yours or your mom’s house. She will be shocked, thrilled, and very happy.

4. Fix Something
Maybe your mom’s been requesting – for quite sometime – that someone fix a certain something that’s broken. Step up and be the one that fixes whatever it is – she’ll be so happy you did! Not good at fixing things? Offer to paint, shampoo the carpets, or clean the windows. All these are tasks she’d be more than happy to have someone else complete.

5. Mom & Me Scrapbook
Put together a scrapbook for your mom, showcasing her children when they were little, family pets, old homesteads and so forth. She’ll treasure this gift always. All you really need is a photo album, some scraps of colored paper, pictures cut from magazines, and words cut from newspapers. Start (and finish) this project without waiting until the last minute. It takes a little time to put together a scrapbook!

6. Babysit
If you’re the eldest of several siblings and are old enough to tend to them, give mom the day off without guilt. Take the kids out or entertain them at home, depending on whether mom wants to spend her day out or at home.

7. Pamper Her
Surprise your mom by running her a bubble bath and placing a favorite book or magazine, as well as a glass of wine or cup of coffee, beside the tub. Arrange towels, wash cloths, sponges, razors, soaps and other items to where they’re convenient and look attractive. Mom will love this relaxing surprise.

8. Wash Her Car
Mom spends far more time looking at the inside than the outside. After you’ve washed and waxed the exterior, get out the vacuum, window cleaner and upholstery spot remover. Don’t quit until the windows sparkle and nary an ancient Cheerio remains.

9. Tea for Two, or Three, or Four
Polish the silver, bring out the fancy tea cups, make finger sandwiches and sweets and gather all the moms together for high tea served, of course, by the older children. It’s simple, elegant and a memory all the moms will cherish. Don’t forget appropriate soft music.

10. No Drama Day
If you and your mom have been going through some rough times lately, give her a no-drama day. No fights, no sulking, no complaining…just sweet, quiet bliss. Throw in some compliments and she’ll likely consider it the best day of the year.

11. Join Her at Church
Why not give mom a spiritually special gift. If she often ends up attending church solo, join her for Mother’s Day morning. Organize attendance by the entire family and she’ll have the added bonus of showing her loved ones off to church friends. Just make sure everyone is dressed appropriately.

12. Open Your Heart
Sit down and tell your mom what she means to you. Reminisce about special times when she inspired and encouraged you. Open up and share what’s going on in your life. Tell her your concerns, triumphs, good times and bad. Showing you love and trust her will help build a stronger friendship and a better future.

13. Clean House
And we’re really talking clean here. Just like with her car, get out all the cleaning equipment and do it right. Of course, this makes for an easier gift if the whole family takes part. If cleaning the whole house is too much, concentrate on the kitchen and pick up the rest of the house. Young children will make mom plenty happy just by cleaning their rooms without complaint.

14. Heartfelt Card
We’ll end with a response from a mother, who said the sweetest gift she ever received was a card from her child that read: “Dear Mom: This Mother’s day I LOVE YOU for a thousand different things. For every school activity you sat through. For every ‘yes’ you gave in to and all the ‘no’s’ you were so right about. For every word of advice and the times you stood by silently. For those lessons I needed to learn on my own. For every dream you put on hold, and the sacrifices I never even knew about. For all the nights you waited up and the hard times you helped me find my way through. I will always love you! Your Child.” Don’t worry about making a fancy card. Just speak from your heart and mom will cherish your words the rest of her life.