Public Rant Announcement 15: Obviously, These Reporters Never Met MY Family
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/five-things-you-should-never-buy-as-a-mothers-day-gift-167260/
Five things you should never buy as a Mother's Day gift
by Charlene Prince Birkeland, Shine staff, on Tue May 6, 2008 7:13pm PDT
While we're on the topic of the worst Mother's Day gifts you've ever received, let's talk Mother's Day gifts that should be strictly off limits.
Kitchen appliances. Not the gift of choice for Mother's Day. No bread makers. No Cuisinarts or blenders. Even for kitchenistas. Even in cool retro colors, don't do it. Especially when you're replacing something that's broken -- that doesn't even count as a gift.
Exception: A coffee maker. Mama needs her caffeine.
Lotions. Yes, we know you think it's sweet to buy us lotions because women like to doll up and smell purdy with soft, luscious glowing skin. But what we think when we open this gift is, "I know I don't shower every day, but are you trying to tell me something?"
Exception: A slightly overpriced but exquisite lotion that a mom only purchases on special occasions.
Little House on the Prairie-inspired pajamas. Caroline Ingalls is the only mom who ever will make them look sexy.
Exception: Grandma.
House-cleaning gear. Even moms will admit the Dyson DC07 vacuum is one hot little number. But for a $600 price tag, we'd rather have the cash. We're in a recession, people. Drop that money into a savings account.
Exception: Mom asks for it. And even then, we're not even sure it's cool.
The Man Cold. Oh I know. You can't buy a cold. But you know what I'm talking about. The only thing worse than a kid being sick on Mother's Day is a husband/partner being sick on Mother's Day. You and your man colds. Mom should high-tail it 'outta dodge. But she won't. Because she's Mom.
Exception: Never.
For more do's and don'ts on Mother's Day, check out Rachel Brownell's post over at Strollerderby.
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I don't know whether to shrug this off or be incredibly insulted. Granted, most people believe in personal gifts and will rip your soul out and feed it to Satan if you get them something that's not considered a proper gift (personal experiance speaking), but opinions and articles like this only make emphisis on that $1000 diamond necklace or $200 statuette that's going to sit and collect dust on your shelf for the rest of its life.
Whatever happened to, simply, when we ask for it, we get it? Have the authors of this article not considered that a usable item is of a LOT more value than anything else? Sure, you bought mom a toaster. But you know what? IF and that's a big IF in today's age, she truly cares for you, she will accept it and she will be very thankful... after all, she will think of you everytime she uses that toaster, because you had it in your heart to get it for her and not listen to the opinions society. On the other hand, if she doesn't like it, take it back and get her a $25 gift card and tell her that if she is going to be that picky to go get her own gift. That simple.
Now, As far as the commnet on cleaning stuff, yes, we are in a recession. And though I firmly believe it's Karmic payback to the country (not for the war, but for those who liked to blow their money every chance they got) I believe that again, if your mom needs this, and if you get it for her, chances are that she will think of you when she uses it.
Colds can't be helped. That segment pissed me off so I won't go there.
All and all, if your mom or other significant other is going to hate you and bad mouth the hell out of you (again, personal experiance) over a gift you gave, no matter what it is, then obviously they are not very appreciative of you either. A gift, no matter how strange and mundane it may be, came from your HEART, and if they don't take that into consideration, you're better off just not giving them anything at all. After all, it's one hell of an insult to see a gift go unused or unappreciated.
Actually, play it safe. Get them a gift card. And if they snub their nose at it and exclaim that isn't a personal gift either, snatch it back and go use it to buy yourself something... preferably a large foam middle finger to stick in their lawn to show the world how much you really care about them.
Another rant from yours truly.
- Cougarmint.