Stuck on what to get mom for Mother's Day? Here's what Wisconsin moms say they really want.
Stuck on what to get mom this year for Mother’s Day? You’re not alone.
That’s why USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin compiled a list of gifts moms actually want. How do we know these gifts are guaranteed to please? We asked moms across Northeastern Wisconsin.
Who knows, maybe the moms in your life responded. At the very least, this list can serve as inspiration.
Here’s what they said:
A break
Hands down, this was one of the most popular answers. Many mothers said they want a day or night when they don’t need to field questions from their little ones, cook, clean or handle any of the tasks that come with having a family.
And yes, this includes giving them a good night’s sleep.
For some, like Green Bay mom Karina Olbrantz, the ideal is a mini getaway: a hotel room all to herself, with room service and a late checkout “just because.”
Abby Bieniewski, a Kimberly mom to an infant, said that would be nice — but she would also be happy with just being home alone.
“If my hubby took our daughter to a hotel or stayed at his parents’ house and let me have the house to myself for one night that would be amazing,” Bieniewski said. “(I) would love to order takeout, watch the shows I like and sleep in without any interruptions or responsibilities.”
Related: Where can you find inclusive playgrounds in the Fox Valley and beyond?
A clean home — that they didn't have to clean
Here’s another popular answer. For Erika Rohm’s family, this has become a tradition.
“Every year, my family cleans the whole house whilst I inspect, direct and sip mimosas. That’s my gift: a clean house that I didn’t lift a finger for,” the Neenah mom said.
Other moms said they’d like their car detailed.
A spa day
As a precursor to the coveted night to herself, Olbrantz, who is a mom of a 2-year-old with another little one on the way, suggested a spa day “with the whole shebang — massage, facial, mani/pedi.”
New additions to their garden
This idea is perfect for all the plant-loving mamas out there: a new plant. To ensure it meets your mom's preferences, you can let her pick it out herself. For extra quality time, join her in the garden to plant it.
When I was young, my mom and I planted a little pink rose bush together. It was so fun to watch it bloom and grow, and it was a special memory we both carry today.
Keepsakes
Our very own regional features and local business editor Alexandria Bursiek Kloehn recently became a mom, and she's hoping for a little craft to remember this special time in her son's life. A picture featuring his little hands or feet — you get the idea.
A few moms said they would specifically like sweatshirts made out of their children's outgrown clothes.
Katelyn Bowman, a Hollandtown mom of a 4-year-old and almost 2 year-old, said she'd love to have one made from her children's outgrown PJs. She got the idea from Etsy.
Payton Seewald, a Green Bay mom of an infant, wants a sweatshirt that says "mama," with the lettering made out of her son's newborn clothes.
The Crafty Crawford, a business based in West Allis, makes these sweatshirts. Its owner, Bethany Crawford, previously made a "mama" sweatshirt, using the same patterned fabric of her son's first outfit for the lettering. Now, she's working to make these keepsakes for others.
The best part? She ships anywhere!
Related: 8 tips to help Wisconsin parents find the right pediatrician for their kids
Quality time with family
While some moms prefer a day planned out for them, Appleton's Carrie Kreps Wegenast, a mom of an 11-year-old and 9-year-old, plans her own special Mother's Day every year. The day comes with a special stipulation: Nobody can complain.
Over the last three years, the family has enjoyed picnics, hiking, museums and ice cream. This year, Kreps Wegenast looks forward to trying the famous pies at Adelle’s Bluebird Cafe in Clintonville.
“I like it when it’s a new adventure for all of us,” she said. “It makes the day feel like a vacation, so every year we go somewhere we haven’t been before.”
Another mom connected to our newsroom weighed in, too. Jaime Rosandick, who is married to our video producer Jim, usually enjoys family time in the kitchen for Mother's Day.
"I usually ask my teen to find a recipe they'd like to make (or) bake with me," she said. "My gift is the ingredients for it, and the uninterrupted time in the kitchen with a great kid. Bonus, I'm teaching them the tricks of the kitchen at the same time."
Some want quality time with their mothers, too. After all, it’s their day as well.
Time to stop
This response from Nicole Basten, a Green Bay mom of a 2-year-old, might make you tear up a little: “More time. Our kids grow so fast,” she said.
Unfortunately, we can't turn back the clock. That's why Green Bay's Tina Ramirez, whose children are now adults, wants a day with all of them under the same roof.
“As an empty nester, I’d like a day with my kids. All of them. Just hanging out and laughing. I miss those simpler days," she said.
When in doubt, just ask!
We hope this list gives you some fresh ideas, but you can never go wrong with asking your favorite mother what she’d like, said Kaukauna mom Kelly Dopson. That way, you know you will nail it this Mother’s Day. To her 8 year-old: take note!
Madison Lammert covers child care and early education across Wisconsin as a Report for America corps member based at The Appleton Post-Crescent. To contact her, email mlammert@gannett.com or call 920-993-7108. Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to Report for America by visiting postcrescent.com/RFA
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Here's what Wisconsin moms actually want for Mother's Day
