By Christina Katz 

Here’s the conundrum: Each year in May, Mom gets her very own celebration day. But isn’t Mom the person who usually does most of the gift shopping the rest of the year? So let’s admit it, folks, when it comes to finding the perfect gift for Mom, sometimes it’s hard to think up fresh ideas. But thanks to this gift checklist, you and your loved ones can brainstorm. Happy shopping!

Artsy Mom 

Umbrella from a museum store 

Biography of her favorite artist 

Tickets to a gallery exhibit 

Art supplies 

Small prints of her favorite artwork 

Bookish Mom 

eReader 

Bookseller gift card 

eBook gift card 

Book light 

Audio-book club subscription 

Caffeinated Mom 

Coffee-making tools 

Stylish and colorful mugs 

Black tea assortment 

Chocolate-covered coffee beans 

Coffee-shop gift card 

Chef Mom 

Cooking class 

Cooking magazine subscription 

Cooking tools in a vase with a bow 

Cooking store gift card 

Vintage cookbooks 

Crafty Mom 

Craft tote bag or rolling case 

Sketchpad to plan future projects 

How-to book or eBook on a craft 

Tabletop craft-tool sorter 

Craft magazine subscription 

Decorator Mom 

Antique or décor store gift card

Décor magazine subscription 

Interior design color wheel 

Portable tape measure 

Binders with sheet protectors for idea clippings 

Foodie Mom 

Favorite restaurant gift certificate 

Assortment of favorite condiments 

Food item-of-the-month club membership

Food magazine subscription 

Gourmet food store gift card 

Fitness Mom 

Exercise DVDs 

Running store gift card 

Sporty headphones 

Water bottle 

Jump rope 

Frugalista Mom 

New wallet 

Assortment of coupon-clipping cutters 

Storage container to hold coupon cutters 

Cutting mat 

Couponing-strategies book or eBook 

Funny Mom 

Joke-of-the-day calendar 

DVD of favorite humorous movie or
   TV show 

How-to-be-funny book or eBook 

Signed celebrity photo of favorite
   comedian 

Tickets to a comedy show 

Gardening Mom 

Garden tool storage cart 

Watering can 

Garden clogs 

Kneeling pad 

Seed packets or plant starts 

Green Mom 

Thrift store gift card 

Solar-powered watch 

Composter 

CSA (community supported
   agriculture) membership 

Reusable shopping bags in various
   sizes 

Hip Mom 

Gift certificate to a retro boutique 

Funky socks 

Subscription to a local zine 

New specs with artful frames 

Tickets to local indie band concert 

Inspired Mom 

Inspirational thought-for-the-day
   calendar 

Tearjerker memoir or autobiography
   book or eBook 

Seasonally scented candles 

Photo posters with inspiring thoughts 

Uplifting statuette or figurine 

Movie Mom 

Popcorn maker or microwave popcorn
   assortment 

Favorite movie theater drink
   assortment 

Movie storage rack 

Pre-purchased movie tickets 

Entertainment magazine subscription 

Gadget sleeves or cases 

Tickets to science and industry
   museum 

Socialite Mom 

Bulletin board, calendar, whiteboard
   combo 

Large, colorful tote bag 

Movie-star sunglasses 

Address book 

Lifestyle magazine subscription 

Sporty Mom 

Baseball hat 

Portable snack/drink cooler 

Tickets to a game 

Fashionable sweat suit 

Bleacher seat cushion

Stylish Mom 

Jewelry holder 

Lipstick/lip gloss tote 

Scarf rack 

Sparkly keychain bob 

Fashion magazine subscription 

Techno Mom 

Electronics charging station 

Music/books/apps gift card 

Smart phone portable keyboard

Thoughtful Mom 

Monogrammed thank-you notes 

Beautiful kitchen apron 

Floral air freshener spray 

Potpourri in favorite scent 

Lavender drawer-sachets 

Traveler Mom 

Gift card to local international store 

Passport holder 

Neck pillow, eye-mask, and earplugs 

Stylish luggage 

Travel magazine subscription 

Type-A Mom 

Gift card to home organizing store 

Checklist pads 

Purse organizer 

Designer sticky notes 

Organized-living magazine
   subscription

Work-at-Home Mom 

Desktop organizer 

Picture frames 

Magazine holder 

Stylish hook racks for charge cords 

Work-at-home magazine subscription 

Work-Away-from-Home Mom 

Smart shoulder bag 

Scheduling apps for smart phone 

Housecleaning service 

Pretty makeup bag 

Working-mom magazine 

Writer Mom 

Mom-writer book or eBook 

Fancy pen or assortment of pens 

Notepads or journal 

Hip laptop bag 

Writing magazine subscription 

Zen Mom 

Yoga mat 

Desktop Zen garden 

Yoga class gift certificate 

Teapot with teacups 

Green tea assortment ϖ

Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz is a writer mom, a fitness mom, a gardening mom, a movie mom, a foodie mom, an inspired mom, and a decorator mom.