So this year I am sending her home-cooked food, because I LOVE to cook. I’m making lamb stew, turkey soup, and avgolemono; various cheese spreads and crackers for her guests; and quickbreads: maple walnut, banana, orange cranberry, lemon blueberry. I’m sending the soups and stew frozen along with everything to serve with: grated Parmesan, Monterey jack, couscous. It’s all MUCH more healthful than the preservative-laden stuff she’d buy at the store.

I’m having a blast making it all and typing up descriptions and directions on what goes with what. I could see doing this once a month to save her some work and to give her really great food. I’ll package it all in double ziplocks so if it thaws it won’t spill.

Bonus for her: she gets to brag about her daughter’s cooking. This will mean as much to her as the relief of not cooking will.

I used to give coupons to my parents for Mother’s and Father’s days when I was a kid.

My husband no longer agonizes over what gift to get me (which I usually end up not really needing or liking…) and instead he checks off some things on my honey-do list. I absolutely love it! It’s way better than “stuff”. For my last birthday, he built me a pantry while I was gone for the day!