Mother's Day comes at the same time every year. The holiday always falls on the second Sunday in May, so in theory, we should always be prepared for it, and there should never be any desperate offspring running around frantically at the last minute trying to locate the perfect gift.
Or at least one that will please Mom enough that we will be spared hearing for the millionth time about the 80 hours of grueling labor that she selflessly endured in order to give us the gift of life.
If you're like me, though, and you aren't enough of a type-A personality to have purchased your Mother's Day gifts while doing your Christmas shopping last June, you have probably just realized that Mother's Day is rapidly approaching, and that you are going to need a gift, like, yesterday.
Fortunately, you can find a great Mother's Day gift just by making a quick trip to your local bookstore. There are a lot of great new books that have been released recently that would make excellent gifts, as well as many classic books that have been well-received by moms year after year.
Top Mother's Day Books For Mom
1. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother — Amy Chua created a firestorm in the parenting world when she suggested in her book that being a Chinese "tiger mother" is superior to more laid-back, Western styles of mothering. Love her or hate her, every mom is going to have an opinion about Chua's outspoken but refreshingly candid take on motherhood.
2. Chicken Soup for the New Mom's Soul — Looking for a book for a mom who's new to the game? You can't beat the Chicken Soup series for funny, inspirational short stories, and you'll find great ones in this newly released addition to the series. (Added bonus: the book includes stories from Parenting Squad's own Lela Davidson and Rhonda Franz.)
3. The Happiest Mom: 10 Secrets to Enjoying Motherhood — Meaghan Francis has been inspiring moms to be happier for years at her blog The Happiest Mom, and the happy mom of five has just written a book in which she shares her own secrets to finding happiness amidst the chaos of motherhood. Francis is funny and down-to-earth, and has a knack for reminding moms of all the things we have to be thankful for in our lives.
4. Bossypants — Not every mom is a fan of Tina Fey, but there's a lot for moms to enjoy in her new book. Fey writes with her usual sharp wit about many aspects of being a woman and a mother, including how she manages the work/life balance that so many working moms struggle with, and what it's like to be a successful female in an industry dominated by men.
5. Birth Matters — Birth Matters is the latest book by our nation's most well-known midwife, Ina May Gaskin. Not all women will share Gaskin's passion for natural birth, but her insistence that all woman deserve better prenatal care and her commitment to the fight to lower maternal mortality rates make her a champion of mothers everywhere.
6. The Joys of Motherhood — The Joys of Motherhood is not a new book; the novel by Nigerian-born author Buchi Emecheta was first published in 1979. But even though the story takes place in Africa many years ago, mothers from all walks of life can relate to Emecheta's bittersweet story of the joys that mothers experience and the many sacrifices they make.
7. Mother O' Mine: A Mother's Treasury — Written and illustrated by popular artist Mary Engelbreit, this treasury is filled with quotes, stories, and beautifully drawn pictures all about mothers. It's a sure-fire win for the hard-to-buy-for mom on your gift list.
8. Love You Forever — Yes, it's a children's book, but I still think it makes a great Mother's Day gift for the sentimental mom. I don't usually like sappy stories, but even I get choked up every time I read this one about the lullaby that a devoted mother sings to her son as he grows from a baby to a man who becomes a parent himself.
9. The Hot Mom's Handbook — This one is for the moms with new babies and young children who are probably feeling anything but hot. Hot Mom's Club founder Jessica Denay promises to help mothers "laugh and feel great from playdate to date night" in this recently released addition to her Hot Mom series.
10. The Sweet Potato Queens' Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit — Since raising children isn't always fun, and is almost never profitable, you can tell before even opening this book that it's going to be hilarious. And Jill Conners Browne doesn't disappoint. Her side-splittingly funny "guide" to childrearing is a must-buy for any mom with a sense of humor who will appreciate a good laugh.
Further Reading
If you haven't found a book you like in the list above, consider the mom for whom you're shopping. What are her hobbies? Does she like gardening, cooking, knitting, or art? There are books on just about every subject imaginable, and you can certainly find one if you take the time to think about the things she's interested in.
And for more suggestions of books that make excellent Mother's Day gifts, visit the Barnes and Noble Mother's Day Gift Guide.
