Mother’s Day is coming up and it’s time to start thinking about what to give to mothers. Sometimes I find myself wanting to say something special to my mom but I’m not quite sure how. Lame, I know. But still. It can be hard to express things personally. (Not to say that we shouldn’t – for we should absolutely try and do our best! Even the clumsiest “I Love You” can mean more than you know, I realize.) However, if you want to just tuck an extra reminder of how much you love your mom into her gift basket or gift, then here are a few things we can suggest.
#1 – What a Wonderful Life for Moms
. This is probably one of my favorite “mom” gift books because it does what the subtitle says – it celebrates the wonder and joy of motherhood. Full-time motherhood gets a bad wrap these days to a certain extent. People are always asking me what I “do” for a job and hearing that I’m a mommy isn’t always met with the awe and wonder that the post truly deserves. Being a mom is HARD WORK as any mother knows! This book acknowledges the hardship, provides encouragement for the weary, and offers little tips on how you can make each day a little brighter for yourself and for your children.
#2 – Home Is Where Your Mom Is
is true, especially for young children. This book is merely a book of quotes detailing the trials and joys of motherhood. This is a tiny little gift book (pocket sized?) that comes with a little attached bookmark, making it easy for you to mark a quote that expresses what you feel towards your own mom. (Although I hope that thought is positive!) My favorite quote from this book is as follows:
“If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much.” Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
(You can decide whether or not that quote is encouraging or discouraging. It appeals to me, at the very least, because she used the word “bungle” which I think is really quaint!)
#3 – Mothers & Daughters: That Special Bond takes a look at various popular mother-daughter duos that are familiar to us. This book is also filled with quotes alongside pictures of the famous from Mary Higgins & Carol Higgins Clark to Melisa & Joan Rivers. This book is kinda cool from the perspective of seeing how much mothers and daughters tend to look alike. Plus the glamor of Judy Garland (for whatever part of her life was glamorous) is intriguing to see alongside her daughter, Liza. This book also includes a quote from Caroline Kennedy which would seem to reflect the idea that Carolyn feels very content that her mother did not bungle things as she was being raised. This book holds quotes from Ali MacGraw, Ricki Lake, Diana Ross, and Annie Dillard.
#4 – Motherhood Is Not For Sissies
. Isn’t that the truth!? This book would take what some would refer to as the “realistic approach” to motherhood. It documents the spills and disasters of the home while offering humorous commentary in quotes which reference frogs, skinned knees, raising teenage girls, and cleaning up the chaos while pregnant. Best quote (in my opinion)?
“Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.” Phyllis Diller
These books are each uniquely different and express different personalities, thoughts and visions of what motherhood is (or could be?). Hopefully this gives you a few useful tips as you peruse the book aisles wondering if you could possibly find anything that would have express what you feel towards your own mother . . . as you seek to bless her this Mother’s Day.
To win a copy of What a Wonderful Life for Moms, leave a comment below. Standard Publishing is giving away one copy to one of our readers (U.S. shipping addresses only). We’ll announce the winner on April 8.
This contest is closed.
The winners of last week’s contests are:
The Kite Runner Blu-Ray DVD goes to #76 Karen Gonyea.
#17 MJ and #12 Amy at Hope is in the Word are the winners of the Castle books from Silver Dolphin.
If you did not receive an email from me, please send your shipping info to 5minutesforbooksATgmail(dot)com. If I don’t receive your information within a week, you forfeit your prize.
Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles – one of whom she’s trying to brainstorm over how to bless this particular Mother’s Day! She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.
I’d love to win a copy! : )
these are great mom’s day gifts
Please include me in the draw!
I really would love to win a copy!
This sounds like a great book.
throw my name in your little hat
I would love to win Wonderful Life Mom book
Thanks and blessings
Stefanie Hartman
150 Sherman Rd
Greene, NY 13778
[email protected]
I would love to win a copy – I was just trying to figure out what to get my mom for mother’s day and these are some good ideas.
love the chance to read this
Looks like a good book.
would love a chance
I would like the book for my mom
this sounds like a fun book from the excerps!
I don’t have a relationship with my own mother (she never wanted to be a mom and made that abundantly clear from the get-go), but I have three little ones, whom I adore, and I am proud to be a stay-at-home mom.
Alicia Webster
[email protected]
My sisters and My mother would all love this. They are mothers. I am not so I’d love to give them something that would mean so much.
All the books look wonderful!
Great contest.
love to win this
Hooray for moms! This sounds fab 🙂
thanks for this
Great books!
I subscribe!
I am thinking of getting the Mothers & Daughters book for my mom and my sister. Thanks for the chance to win!
What a fun read. Thanks for the chance.
Sounds like a great read!
fun read
Happy Mother’s Day to all mommies! 🙂 (Early)
Thank you for a great giveaway!
I would love to win.
Thank you
[email protected]
I’d love to win!
and I subscribe
I would love to read this book! thanks
It would be encouraging & validating to read some positive affirmations for mpthers by mothers.
[email protected]
email subscriber.
[email protected]
Great book, great contest!
Please pick me. I love to read and this looks good!
I would love to win a copy to share with my mother
I would love the chance to win, thanks.
Nice book. Please enter me. Thanks!
Please count me in to win this book. Thanks.
Sounds like a great book!
Sounds like a great book!
Sounds like a really good book!
What a delightful book.
enter me
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
I would enjoy this very much. Would make a great gift for my sister. Thank you
Happy Spring!
Sounds like a good book
Very nice. Thank you very much!
I would love to win this. If I won I would give it to my mother in law. Thank you for a great contest
I am a new mom of 2 weeks and as hard as it is, I love my new job.