Give a perfect present

By Ava Traverso, Special Sections Editor

With the coming of spring weather brings Moms Weekend. In the blink of an eye, Mother’s Day will be here before we know it. The problem that often arises during this time of year is finding that perfect gift for mom. Have no fear! Here is the list you need to help find that special gift, no matter where your mom’s interests may lie.

Gifts for if …

Your mom loves history

An ancestry kit from “23 and me” or ancestry.com, is a great gift that allows the whole family to get involved. For someone who has a penchant for history or is very family-oriented, a genetics kit can help them learn information about their relatives they may have previously been in the dark about. It also can be a great bonding experience for everyone, not just mom.

Your mom is a bookworm

Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!

  • Catch the latest on University of Illinois news, sports, and more. Delivered every weekday.
  • Stay up to date on all things Illini sports. Delivered every Monday.
Thank you for subscribing!

An e-reader, like a Kindle Fire or a Nook from Barnes & Noble, can help your mom access any book her heart desires. With e-readers allowing access to millions of titles, it gives your mom the opportunity to find new titles she will fall in love with while also being able to reread old favorites, all on one device. With the new Kindle clocking in at around $100, it’s the perfect price to split the cost with your siblings. If you’re looking for a lower price range, the Nook comes in at around $50, so it allows you to treat your mom without breaking your college student budget.

Your mom loves beauty

A trial month to a beauty subscription box, like Ipsy or Birchbox, can allow your mom to try luxury cosmetic products while staying on a drugstore budget. The beauty (no pun intended) of the subscription box is it comes with trial sizes of products of cult favorites. This gives your mom the chance to try multiple products without having to make the financial commitment of the full-sized container.

Your mom digs self-care

Treating your mom doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself, too! If your mom lives for her face masks and scrubs, you two could make a day of it. Booking a manicure and pedicure, massages or facials could be a great way to bond with your mom while pampering yourself as well. If these treatments seem a bit pricey for your budget, no worries. Websites like BuzzFeed or Pinterest can offer you some great ideas into the world of DIY spa treatments. No matter what your price range is, having a spa day with mom is always a good idea.

Any mom

A gift that never fails is Illini gear. No matter if your mom is an alumna or not, she will love getting the opportunity to be able to represent your school. A way to personalize it even further could be to get your mom gear from your specific college or an organization you are a part of. For example, if you and your mom are members of the same sorority, getting her a T-shirt or hat from the house could be a great gift idea to help her remember the great times she had.

If all else fails, the classic bouquet of flowers or her favorite dessert will always do the trick. No matter what you end up getting your mom, it’s truly the thought that counts. Making the effort to show your mom how much she means to you will be more significant to her than a material gift could ever be.

Ava is a sophomore in ACES.

[email protected]