Everyone has a mother. As the person who brought you into this word, she is by definition one of the most important people in your life. Mothers’ day is a great day to appreciate not only your own dear mum but also all the mothers in your life.

Presumably you know your mother quite well. Think about her interests and lifestyles. If she is, for example, a teacher, you might consider getting her something related to her profession, or a token of your appreciation of the nobility and sacrifice her profession entails. In fact, whatever her profession, if she takes great pride in it, an appreciation of that aspect of your dear mum’s life may be in order. Do bear in mind your mum’s feelings about her work, though. If she hates her job, it won’t matter if she’s a CEO, she most likely doesn’t want to be reminded of it.

Maybe your mum was a homemaker. In this case, recognition for her work and sacrifice has most likely been at a premium. No time like the present to recognize that not only is being a mother the noblest profession there is, but also that she’s absolutely tops in the mum department.

Something you as her offspring may choose not to notice, but which is important to your mum and who she is—is the fact that your mum is, by definition, a woman. Chances are, with the sacrifices she’s made for the likes of you, she doesn’t pamper herself enough as a woman. And quite possibly, this mothers’ day is the ideal time to intervene with mothers’ day gifts.

A selection of her favourite toiletry items and cosmetics may be an ideal way to let mum know how much she is appreciated. Or maybe go one better and send your mum to a spa. A whole day of makeover and pampering can make your mum feel like a woman without feeling any less a mother on this special day.

Everyone likes to eat. In fact, we wouldn’t be living long if we didn’t. Treat mum to her favourite dinner! Take her to a top restaurant where she normally wouldn’t go and wouldn’t dream of treating herself. Make sure, however, that it’s a restaurant and a cuisine she’ll appreciate. If you love Thai food and mum hasn’t graduated from fish and chips, this might be a good time to belay your tom yam craving and cater to mom’s tastes.

Likewise, if you’re a half decent cook, you could cook her a dinner. After all, she certainly cooked you enough dinners when you were growing up. Quite possibly she still does, to this day. How often do you cook for her? If it’s a regular occurrence, cook something special and surprise her. If you rarely cook even for yourself, then the mere act of cooking on your part will bowl her over.

Then again, there’s always brute force. You could always splash the cash and get mum a big screen telly to watch her soaps on.