Mother’s Day is a celebration for every type of mom. Aunts, godmothers, nieces, and any female who takes on a tough, caring or compassionate role is a candidate for a Mother’s Day gift basket.

Surprise, amaze and excite mom with a basket filled with items she wants and would love to buy if only time would allow her to shop for them.

Do past get-togethers between you and her bring back memories of things you felt that mom should have for fun, work or travel?

Perhaps there was a conversation where she divulged a secret longing for a pedicure, a mini Rolodex for her briefbag or the pleasure of seeing a movie that’s available on video.

Mother’s Day is a time to create a customized basket filled with items that a mother will use, enjoy and thoroughly feel as though she’s been transported to the place of her dreams if only for a day.

If you’re looking for ideas to make the perfect Mother’s Day gift basket, here are five sample themes to get your creative juices flowing. These ideas take into account the responsibilities and rewards of motherhood in all its forms.

Travel Treasures

The car (or van) has become mom’s second home. Business, errands, shopping, transporting children - you name it, mom does it. Give her products to stay comfortable, even when she’s behind the wheel.

Suggestions: Travel mug, paper holder with attached pen for dashboard mounting, auto mileage log book, visor pen/paper organizer, appointment book with calendar-at-a-glance, steering wheel cover and local and state maps.

If mom drives a van, use a mini crate available at most office supply stores as the container and fill it with your gifts. These crates come in colors that coordinate with the van’s interior, and it acts as an organizer between the two front seats.

My personal burgundy-colored crate holds scissors, a letter opener, maps, a square box of tissues, note paper, large size post-its, sunglasses and an alphabetical list of phone numbers for fire, police and ambulances around the state in case of emergencies and assistance other than the 911 access on a cellular phone.

Perfectly Pampered

Encourage mom to relax and unwind with a day at a spa or by putting her feet up at home to do whatever she wishes.

This must be true day off - don’t ask mom for anything (can this be true?).

Suggestions: Pedicure/manicure certificates at her favorite place or a local spa, soaps, lotions and mists in her chosen fragrance.

Also textured bath gloves, terry bath pillow, eye mask, foot massagers (three rows of wooden wheels to roll feet on), romance novel and chocolates wrapped separately from the fragrance-riddled basket.

Go Garden

Who says mom can’t get dirty and have fun at the same time? Gardening has become America’s favorite pastime, and moms are planting everything from flowers to fruit. Pack a special basket that’s the envy of her own green thumb.

Suggestions: Flower pot or watering can (possible containers), gloves, gardening stakes, flower and/or vegetable seeds, weed spray, knee pads, gardening tools and stones enhanced with word carvings (love, faith, power, energy, etc.).

Write On

Beautiful stationery is what she craves. Notepads elegantly carved in floral prints or die-cut lace is tops on her list as well as attractive pens which she collects like Imelda Marcos bought shoes.

Suggestions: Address book, writing instruments, letter opener, diary, fancy post-it notes, stationery set (paper, envelopes, personalized cards, gold envelope seals), book of stamps.

She’s All Business

Mom is the consummate office professional but a soft touch at home with the family. Give her the goods to take her past the glass ceiling.

Suggestions: Microcassette tapes (if mom already has a handheld Dictaphone), business card holder, calendar with positive affirmations, business card punch (puts notches into other people’s business cards for easy insertion into a Rolodex), color-coded CDs (helpful for computer projects), pocket dictionary or thesaurus, computer wrist rest.

Whatever gift baskets you choose to create should reflect mom’s current aspirations or simply what she loves most.

Personalize the gift baskets you create for every special lady on your list who deserves to be recognized for the insurmountable task we know as motherhood.

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