Christmas is a busy time of year. There’s lots to think about. Lots to plan. Children to excite. Gift planning and purchasing. End of year concerts, recitals, performances. And the list goes on…

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Mums are not always the best at acknowledging just how much they do on a daily basis.

So Dad’s if you have a partner that you adore and you’d like to let her know how much you value all that she does each day, here’s a range of gift ideas for you at various price points to suit your budget, most are at ZERO cost and designed to make maximum impact:

1) DIY Vouchers

I remember the first time my husband gave these to me. I was deeply humbled. They were DIY vouchers that offered me 1 day off, a home cooked meal (he rarely cooks), week off the laundry. You can create a voucher for whatever you like and bundle them up to build up the value.

As a mum, I cannot begin to tell you what these vouchers meant to me.

Firstly, they were acknowledging the activities that I did daily that I thought went unnoticed. Secondly, each voucher allowed me to step back and see the value in what I do. They were a big hit!

2) Variety is the spice of life

I love the phrase ‘variety is the spice of life.’ I believe choosing a variety of activities to do together keeps things exciting and alive. Dance, go for walks, play golf, arrange an impromptu picnic, go to a tennis game. Dinner is lovely too. These can all be done as a family or a couple. Arrange something and do it!

3) Paradigm shift

Taking yourself out of the day-to-day shifts perspective and can have a profound effect on a mum. Being able to take some time away from the family, to be able to think about the family strategy as well as take time out for herself can be just what the doctor ordered to reset mum. This January weekend retreat in Sydney is designed by mums for mums. Find one in your area and BOOK her in today!

4) Present

I asked a mum today, “if you could have anything, material or non-material as a gift from your husband, what would it be?” She answered, “I would love my husband to be present to me. Not all of the time, one hour a day and then half a day a month maybe.” Sounds so simple doesn’t it, yet it can be quite challenging in practice with work stuff, finances and the like, playing on your mind. In my relationship, my husband offers me this gift daily. It was me who struggled to be present with him, until I learnt this trick.

Firstly, it’s so important to understand, what being present is and why being present is so important in a relationship.

Being present to another means to be fully engaged in your body and mind. All of your attention is on the other with no phones, or other distractions and a clear mind. Being present offers respect to another, offers value, offers care, and allows the other person to know they are important to you and that they are worthy of your time and attention. The result is the recipient feels fully appreciated. When I find myself being distracted in my mind, as soon as I realise I listen for the sounds, look for the colours around me and feel the air on my skin, this helps me to bring myself back into the present. It gets easier with deliberate practice over time. Try it!

5) A meaningful gift

This one you may have thought of already. In case you haven’t, something meaningful to mum is important, rather than meaningful to you or the kids. She may have mentioned it a few times. You may have noticed her one is broken, e.g umbrella, watch. You may have noticed her eyeing it as you pass the store, but turns away. Go for that gift. Because I don’t know about you, but the gifts I remember the most are the ones that the giver has thought about, contemplated and offered.

Hope you find these ideas useful to show the mum in your family how much you value her this Christmas.

Do you have other meaningful gift ideas that mums love? Please SHARE in the comments below.

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