memorial gift ideas for mothers day

My Mum sadly passed away in March 2007, she was ill for some time before she ended up in the hospice. Although my Mum was very ill she still greeted me with a smile on her face and told me off for being sad. Right up until the last day my Mum stayed positive and strong. Although i knew my beloved Mum was dying, she appeared to be the same as normal, which made it all the more harder to accept. My Mum had always been the person i ran to in a crisis, the person i stayed up talking to for hours just because we could, the person who i would phone when one of my children got sick, and the person who was there for me no matter what. She was not just my Mum but she was my best friend too. I visited my Mum every day in the hospice, we all took it in turns so there was always two people with her, but the day before my Mum passed away i was ill and so was not allowed in. The next morning when my Aunt and my Mums friend was due to go in for their visit, my Aunt suggested that i take her place as i had not been able to see my Mum the day before, when i walked in i instantly noticed the change in my Mum, she slept mostly and so i just sat by her bed and talked about life in general. My Mum reached out and held my hand before falling asleep, she never woke up, and i never again got to tell my Mum how much i loved her or phone her up or just do all the general things that people take for granted. My beautiful amazing Mum had gone forever and a piece of me went with her that day. The first Mothers day without my Mum i felt depressed all day, i got jealous of friends who were going to see there Mums and annoyed at the people who had forgot about Mothers day or who just moaned about their Mums full stop. I felt like shouting "At least you have you're Mum". I went out and bought my partners Mum a card and present, we have become very close and she is like my second Mum now, but nothing stops the pain you feel when all you want to do on Mothers day is go and see your own Mum which is why i decided that i would still celebrate my Mum on Mothers day after all that is what the day is all about. My Mum may not be here in person but i know she is here in spirit and i wanted to be able to do something special for my Mum every year. Here is some of the ways in which i do this and a few ideas that i have still yet to do.

Remembering Mum on Mother's Day

1. My Dad bought a big album that he used to put all the kind cards he got when my Mum passed away, so every year on Mother's Day i send a card with a little thought or poem inside and my Dad puts it up for Mother's Day and then places it in the folder along with the others. I found it very hard trying to buy a Mother's Day card without a verse meant for a Mum who is still here, so instead i designed my own card on Moonpig.com and typed a little poem inside, you can do a card with a photo of you're Mum or there are many other suitable designs for you to choose from.

2. After my Mum passed away i dug out a flower bed and planted a Rose for my Mum, my children also planted some pretty flowers in the bed and so every year on Mothers day i go out and tend to the flowers. I also bought a plaque for the flower bed from my local florist which is like a stone Bible with two pages, one side has a cross with the word 'Mum' underneath, and the other side has a flower and the words 'Forever in our Hearts'. You can also get these plaques in the shape of a cross, a star or a teardrop.

3. My Children obviously found it equally as hard loosing their Nanny, and so when she passed away they all let a balloon go for her. Now on Mothers day we buy a Nanny balloon from the card shop and they all let them go for their Nanny. My youngest son was born a few months after my Mum passed away so sadly never knew her but he will say Goodnight to his Nanny by looking at the brightest star in the sky along with my other children.

4. You can buy beautiful Mum candles from most gift shops and i know that some sites offer personalisation too, this is not something i have done as yet but i think it is a lovely idea to buy a Mum candle and light it every year.

5. A few years ago my Brother stumbled across a lovely memorial site called GoneTooSoon, this site enables you to create a everlasting tribute to you're loved ones. This is a free service where you're friends and family members can also light a virtual candle and leave a tribute on anniversaries, birthdays and special days such as Mothers Day.

6. My family paid for some water lilies to be placed in the pond at the Hospice where my Mum passed away, we would wheel her outside and sit by the pond so it seemed very fitting. You can also send a bouquet of flowers or a donation to say Thank You for the care your loved one received.

7. I mentioned before that i planted a Rose but is also nice to plant a tree in memory of you're loved one along with a personalised plaque.

8. As i said my children see their Nanny as the brightest star in the sky, and so another lovely idea is to buy a 'Name a Star Gift Box' where you can name a star after a loved one which will never be forgotten.

9. Making a scrapbook is also a good idea as you can fill it with memories and photos, this is a particularly good idea if you have children as they can look through it with you. We are currently making one for our children so they will always remember what a amazing person their Nanny was.

10. I know this one is nothing to do with Mothers day but i thought it was worth a mention, i have a lovely Christmas Tree ornament which is shaped like a angel and has a photo of my Mum inside and we place it on the Christmas tree every year. Last year i bought my Mother in Law one for her tree with a photo of her Father inside and she was rather emotional but very pleased with the gift.

11. I also have a beautiful wooden memory box that my sister made for me as a Christmas gift and inside she put some photo's of me and my Mum and also a few items of my Mums jewellery, i have since added memories of my own.

12. Another nice idea is to put a tribute in you're local paper, a lot of local newspapers actually do a double page spread on Mothers day where you can send in your messages to you're Mum.

Special occasions are celebrated throughout the year, so my thinking is "Why not celebrate you're loved ones who are no longer here". After all you are not just celebrating their lives but the person that they were and what they meant to you. You are keeping their memory alive and i have found a great comfort from this, and i hope you can too.