Why is it so difficult to buy a gift for Mother’s Day – Especially for men!

It all starts with the way Mother’s Day is calculated in the UK which is 3 weeks before Easter; Easter in the UK is determined, would you believe, by the 1st Sunday after the full moon on or after the Vernal Equinox. Phew, it sounds all really complicated but has the effect that Mother’s Day in the UK is on different dates year on year. This makes it difficult to remember exactly when it is; you probably have a vague idea it is sometime in March but without a consistent date many people think they have lots of time but can be suddenly confronted with buying a gift far sooner than they had imagined. This in turn adds to the stress of choosing a suitable gift and because it is for your Mother or your Wife or from your kiddies on Mother’s Day you really want to get something appropriate and something that is going to be appreciated. In the US however, the situation is somewhat clearer as it is always the 2nd Sunday in May. 

Now I'm not making excuses for men here, but sometimes we do panic which is not conducive with choosing that elusive perfect gift. Men mostly do try, speaking as a man I can attest, however, herds of men can be found wandering from shop to shop in search of this and probably with not much of a clue but with the knowledge that it is important to get it right.

When it comes to choosing gifts, men generally find great difficulty, however, if we are married with kids this makes this process even more difficult as we have to buy a gift for the mother of our children, then, we have to buy a gift on behalf of the kids. Do we buy one gift from all the kids or gifts from each individual child; this also goes for Mother’s Day cards. We always set out with good intentions and desperately want to find gifts that express the sentiment of the occasion, not easy for the male of the species and we probably know the consequences of not getting this right, despite our best endeavours. The memory of past mistakes with that disappointing look haunts us, which just adds to the pressure. This goes some-way to explain why men, at best, find it really, really difficult and at worst, holds a special hell reserved just for us.

When children move into adulthood or late teens the responsibility then usually passes to the individual child for the procurement of the expected Mother’s Day gift. The female of the species usually not only finds out when it is, but has a gift & card organized. Sometimes they will inform any males in the household of the impending occasion and then when the time becomes near, will remind them that is only a week away and to get out there and get that gift and card. The males of the family then panic, usually because we have thought about it and are still unsure what to do. Do we go down the chocolates and flowers route or something else? It is my experience that the girls have already covered this and because the boys are not on the ball have to find possible alternatives.
It now comes full circle because most mothers would probably like a gift that reflects just a little thought. However it is my contention that men and, I'm a man with extensive experience, over think and get it wrong because we feel we have to get a perfect gift reflecting everything we feel our mother or wife would like, without some simple steps to establish this.

These steps are to find out what she might need if anything and a little research would yield dividends and not just at Mother’s Day. We only get into hot water when it is clear that she never would want such gifts and that the answer lies in her normal tastes and needs. The needs section of this issue is very simple, is it practical, is it what she would herself choose? The simple truth is that all the information is already available; all we have to do is listen, observe and use this when we think of buying a mother’s day gift, and of course, remember to buy a nice card!

Just to let everyone know this year Mother’s Day in the UK is on Sunday 30th March 2014, and in the US is on Sunday 11th May 2014, so you have been told in plenty of time so good luck and I hope you find that special gift without the stress!
Peekaboogifts is an online general gift store where you can buy gifts for mothers day. For more information and to browse their collection please visit www.peekaboogifts.co.uk

Attitudes to buying gifts. Do men really find it harder to choose gifts for people?

A frequently occurring thought that occurs to men when they are faced with buying a gift for a loved one is what to buy them. A lot of the indecision comes from more of what to buy the recipient that they will actually like and appreciate. When men buy things for themselves they base the decision on whether the item is useful or will help them with some part of their lifestyle or interests. Getting gifts for others especially if they aren't that close in your life can pose a challenge when using this method as you won't know what the person wants or needs at any particular time. When it comes to buying gifts for women men can also fall short. Women like gifts with a sense of sentimentality or romance – both things men aren't naturally accustomed to in their average daily thoughts. This can also bring a feeling of stress and inadequacy for man especially when they have gone to some time and trouble to find a gift only to have it rejected or misinterpreted. So given the pressure to do the right thing and not make a mistake can take a lot of the fun out of finding gifts and make the whole experience an undesirable one. Men are more likely to leave finding gifts for special occasions and Christmas to the last minute. This would seem understandable given many men's aversion for shopping in general. Usually when a man goes to shop for something they will have a good idea as to what they what and where to get it before they leave the house. When it comes to Christmas shopping however they will find themselves going from store to store trying to find something that the recipient of the gifts will appreciate. This does generate frustration and can leave men feeling drained – not looking forward to when they next have to try again for more gifts. So to answer the question, yes men do struggle to find gifts in general and it's not because they can't or don't want to but more because it doesn't suit the average man's mindset or sense of masculinity and even if it is a good use of their time. Like for instance if a man would like to get their loved one a new fragrance it would be a question of do they like the fragrance even though it is intended for a woman. If the answer is yes then it is very likely the woman will also like it and appreciate the thought and effort of getting it. So in that way it was a good use of their time and not diminished their sense of masculinity. So it does come back to the thought of will the other person even like the gift but that shouldn't be the main focus on why we are to go through the time, trouble and expense of acquiring the gifts. The most popular mindset is that the recipient will appreciate the gift no matter what it is and can be rest assured. Is it the thought that counts? - Yes, so there is nothing wrong if you are concerned with whether it's the wrong gift or not. Peekaboogifts is an online general gift store where you can buy gifts for any occasion. For more information and to browse their collection please visit www.peekaboogifts.co.uk