Not that we don't appreciate burnt toast in bed, says Molly Whitehead-Jones
WHILE flowers, ‘breakfast’ (read: burnt toast) in bed and lovingly-made, sticky-fingerprinted handicrafts are all well and good, I suspect that the mums of Manchester might well be hankering after something a little more thoughtful this Mother's Day.
From dads buying on behalf of babas to kiddos who haven’t a clue when it comes to good gift-giving, this selection – designed to offer something to suit, whatever your budget – is sure to please her no end. And, let’s face it, she definitely deserves a treat.
Sterling Silver ‘Mama’ Necklace
This stylish chain’s been a massive hit with the ‘Instamums’ keen to put their mama status on show. Cult of Youth founder, the none-cooler-than Kelly Seymour, makes each piece by hand around caring for her little boy, so best get your order in quick-smart if you want it in time for the big day.
£55, Cult of Youth
Afternoon Tea at Sugar Junction
Mother's Day is the perfect excuse to sip tea out of china cups and stuff your face with scones, so why not book both you and your mama in for a carb-and-sugar fest? (There are of course healthier options on the menu too for the more saintly amongst you). You can add prosecco or even a cocktail (crazy times) to your traditional afternoon tea if you want to make it a proper celebration.
From £7.45, Sugar Junction
‘You Got This Mama’ Mug
Lots of mums rely on a good cuppa to fuel them up for the many challenges each day brings, and this mug will remind her that, yes, she can totally handle anything (and if you can also gift her with an uninterrupted fifteen minutes to enjoy a peaceful brew in it, even better).
£11.99, Scandiborn
Rave Coffee Subscription
And while we’re on the subject of caffeinated beverages: mama needs her coffee – but piling into Costa with kids in tow isn’t exactly relaxing... Buy her a Rave Coffee subscription and she can ditch the Nescafe and enjoy the fruits of some freshly roasted, quality beans in the comfort/chaos of home instead.
From £19.25, Rave Coffee
A Box of Dates
This one’s a great buy for new mums who feel like they’re NEVER GOING TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE/FEEL NORMAL AGAIN. Made by a Manchester-based mama, the prettily-presented box contains a date night idea for every week of the year, from stay-at-home sessions to going-to-need-a-babysitter blowouts so couples can recapture a bit of precious ‘me time’.
'NO JUDGEMENT PIN'
This heart-shaped pin serves as a cute cue that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of your mothering style… It looks fab affixed to a leather jacket or a nappy bag, and the pink background shade’s bang on-trend too.
£6, Muthahood
Don’t Buy Her Flowers Gift Set
This genius company came about thanks to the realisation that when you’ve just had a baby, the last thing you want is something else that needs taking care of – meaning a thoughtful gift designed to help you relax is better than a bunch of blooms. And these carefully put together gift sets, which incorporate everything from biscuits to booze, will be just as welcomed by veteran mums too.
From £18.50, Don’t Buy Her Flowers
Spa Treatments at The Midland
Mums spend so much time thinking about everyone else that the chance to clear their heads and totally switch off is always welcome – and what better place to do so than in the soothing surroundings of The Midland’s luxurious spa? With a range of different packages to choose from, you can either get her a quick treatment or splurge on an entire spa day.
From £55, The Midland Hotel
‘Winging It’ Oversized Tee
FMLY Store tees and sweaters have become something of an unofficial uniform for Mamas Collective members (you’re sure to spy at least a few of their slogans at each of our meetups), and this is the most iconic of them all, because, let’s face it, we’re all ‘winging it’ really.
£30, The FMLY Store
The Unmumsy Mum Diary by Sarah Turner
After the runaway success of her first book – which was full of the kind of honest anecdotes and stories that make us all feel better about our own parenting pitfalls – the mum blogger’s released a follow-up, which charts an entire year of frenzied family life, just in time for Mother's Day.
£6.49, Amazon
Manchester Gin
Nowadays, gin is considered less ‘Mother’s ruin’ and more ‘Mother’s must-have’… As the name suggests, this traditionally distilled gin with refreshing citrus notes was lovingly created right here in our city, so it’s a great choice for G&T-chugging Mancunian mamas.
Around £36, various stockists
‘Slay Mama’ Print
Propped up on a dressing table, displayed on the fridge or tucked inside her handbag, this mini print is a daily prompt to channel her inner Beyoncé at any given opportunity.
£3, Haus of Mono
‘Tidy Moment’
Surely one of the greatest gifts you can give any mother is chore-free time to herself. Get this e-voucher, and a cleaner will come round for a one-off, three-hour spruce-up session so she can do something infinitely more enjoyable with her afternoon.
£45, Mum Days
