What mums and wives want most on Mother’s Day costs very little at all. A home-made card is at the top of the list of preferred ways to be treated on Mother’s Day.
The survey by Wilkinet put breakfast-in-bed second with the more expensive option of a bought gift or flowers coming in third and fourth.
With cost-cutting going on around the country this will come as good news for hard-pressed families. 24% of people say they are spending less on a gift or card this year, with money-saving ideas ranging from getting kids to make a crafty collage through to creating a ‘spa day at home’ experience for Mum.
A spokesman from WilkinetBabyCarrier.com said: “It should be reassuring for people to know that what Mums want most is to feel special on Mothering Sunday. It seems the best way to do that is not to spend lots of money, but to take time making a gift or a meal. These results should also be a message to men who are trying to wriggle out of doing anything for their mums and partners that they can use the things they have at home to make something, instead of ducking out entirely.”
It’s not just mums and grandmas who are hoping for a special day. Women currently pregnant with their first baby would like a Mother’s Day gift from their partners, even though they haven’t given birth yet.
The survey found that while around 25% of mums-to-be don’t want a fuss made, 3 out of 4 are hoping for a show of appreciation from their partners. But a lot of them are set to be disappointed with only a quarter of prospective Dads planning to do anything for them. But men can redeem themselves by getting to work on something crafty or by doing their baby product shopping early as 16% of first time pregnant women also said they would like to be given a gift for their baby on Mother’s Day.
In the UK and Ireland Mothering Sunday happens three weeks before Easter Sunday. It is thought to originate from a 16th Century tradition of the working classes in servitude getting a day off to go back to their mother’s church annually meaning they would be reunited with their mother at least once a year. Mothering Sunday is on 22nd March this year, but can fall anywhere between 1st March and 4th April each year (depending on Easter).
Top 10 treats on Mother’s Day (as voted for by Mums):
1. A home-made card
2. Breakfast in bed
3. Bought gift
4. Flowers
5. A bought card
6. A home-made gift
7. A gift of ‘time’
8. Get pampered/spoilt all day
9. Spend the day together as a family
10. Taken out for a meal
March 2009
As a result of this survey Gideon from Wilkinet will be making sure his mum and wife both get a gift of time this year and will save the rest of his money for the mortgage! | 
8 in 10 Grandparents Are Used For ChildCare
