Mother’s Day is a high-pressure holiday for kids and husbands!  It’s tough to find the perfect gift that shows Mom just how much she is loved and appreciated.  And, there’s a lot on the line.  Get this one wrong, and things could get really ugly, really quick.

I’ve seen lots of articles and blog posts about what moms do and do not want for Mother’s day.  You should know, every one of these authors is wrong.  Why? Because the well-intentioned people who wrote these bits of advice don’t know your Mom.  And, when it comes down to getting Mom the perfect Mother’s day gift, the first thing you have to do is know her.

Moms regularly put their wants and needs on the back burner in order to ensure their family’s wants and needs are met. That’s, like, the number-one requirement of motherhood—putting one’s self last. It can be easy in this dynamic to forget that God created your Mom as a unique individual with her own likes, dislikes and desires.  Mother’s Day is the perfect time to show her that you recognize and appreciate who she is as a person.

Before you head to the store to buy Mom a gift, consider who she is as a person! Think about her love language, her hobbies, her passions, the kinds of people she spends time with.  Think about the last time she mentioned wishing she had something she saw at the store or on a commercial. Once you have considered these things, it’s time to head out to get her a gift, or do something for her that shows you love, appreciate AND know her deeply.

Finally, if you’re reading this after Mother’s Day, keep in mind, there is never a bad time to show Mom you love AND know her.