Ribbons, bows and wrapping paper. Review on Choosing Gifts for a Mother

I want to you both to read this, so I’m going to leave this on the fridge door, where I can be sure both of you see it.

I have an anniversary coming up soon, and a birthday also – the anniversary is special, and I have been dropping heavy hints to your father about jewellery and such. He seems to have developed selective hearing, so I'm banking on you kids to convince him to do something about those ‘hints.’

I know both of you are quite little now, so I’m not going to ask you to get me anything wildly expensive – that Calvin and Hobbes collector’s edition will do – I’m, sure if both of you put together your birthday money, and your Diwali money, and your holiday money, and polish shoes and wash cars every weekend for a year, you will be able to swing it. I have every confidence in you!

In addition to this, there are some things I would like to have from you over the years. Please pay attention to this list if you want more than a passing mention in my will.

Your company – Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ''The greatest gift is a portion of thyself;'' the man sure knew his stuff.

Talk to me when I call, make time for me when I drop in at home or even if you are in the middle of a busy work day. Maybe I want to see you just for a minute. Maybe I just want to see that smile, maybe I just want to hug you and think of how you used to smell of baby powder, or too much perfume, or sweat after a football match.

Come with me to that hopelessly romantic movie, even if it embarrasses you to be seen with your old mom at a chick flick. You don’t have to jump off the plane with me, but drive me to the drop zone. Come out to lunch with me, take me with you when you go shopping for your new gizmo, sit with me a while when I'm unwell, and keep me a part of your life no matter where you are and how old you are, and who else is in your life.

Tell me the truth – Don’t lie to me, ever. I am always firmly on your side. It maybe a hopeless exam result, it maybe a girlfriend or a boyfriend I don’t approve of, it maybe murder you have committed, I don’t care. Tell me the truth. We will find a solution for it and face the world together.

Hugs and kisses – I will never be too old or too dignified to be hugged and kissed. Hug me, kiss me, tell me you love me; I will make sure I always return these gifts to you, doubled.

Your appreciation – I love doing things for you. Some of them are silly and spontaneous, some take a lot of planning and effort. Show me you appreciate my efforts and my thoughtfulness. Don’t take me for granted. Tell me I am the best mom in the world; pay me for what I do with your words and smiles, with your hugs and kisses. That is what keeps me going.

Your children – You will not have as much time for me as I want from you. Give me your children to love, to bring up, to tell stories to, to talk to about when you were little, to braid their hair, tuck their shirts in, to kiss their scraped knees and comfort them, to scold, and in them to see you again as you once were, in all your goodness and innocence, before you got all grown up, and independent, and left.

Make me proud of you - Live happy, live your life without regrets, follow your dreams. Life is not just about work or about material success. Be curious, be adventurous, take time off to love and to laugh. Also don’t ever forget that life has been good to you; give back to those who are not as fortunate. Let me see you do all of this, and let me feel the glow of pride that comes in seeing you live well.

Of course this doesn’t mean that you don’t provide your ol’ mom with gifts of the material kind. Surprise me with a party, pamper me with jewellery; give me presents of art, exotic holidays, accounts at my favourite book-store, and melt in the mouth chocolates. If you think there’s something I might like, and if it doesn’t feature in this list, please feel free to go right ahead and get it for me. And you don’t have to wait for an occasion to give me a present. I won’t take offence at the ‘for no reason at all’ gift.

Now you need to get working on your dad, and I've got some great ideas, so please call me the minute you finish reading this.

Love and hugs,

Amma