Mother-in-Law Gift Ideas

The woman who raised your spouse deserves some special attention. Let this gift guide help you make a choice that will make her feel cherished.

1. Spa day.
Every woman likes to feel beautiful and pampered. You can treat your mother-in-law to a day of beauty and fun. Local spas and beauty salons often sell packages with massages, facials and other treatments. Call around to find the best deal. A facial, manicure or pedicure is something that your mother in law will really enjoy. You can purchase just an individual treatment or book a whole day of beauty, depending on your budget.

2. A magazine subscription.
Give a gift that will last the whole year. You can buy a magazine subscription that reflects her interests. There are magazines on virtually every topic imaginable. Whether she is a crafter, gardener or yoga fanatic, there is a subscription for her. Do some investigating to make sure that she doesn’t already have a particular magazine before you buy it for her. Place a current issue of the magazine in a gift basket with a few small gifts that correspond with the magazine's theme. 

3. Gardening tools.
If your mother in law is a gardener, she’ll appreciate some tools that will help her tend to her favorite flowers. She probably already has the standard gardening tools, so look for specialty equipment, such as an angle weeder, a go-anywhere hose or a presto bucket. Make your own gardening gift basket by collecting a variety of tools and packaging them together.

4. Housecleaning service.
After years of picking up after her own family, your mother-in-law will appreciate a helping hand around her house. You can get a service to come every two weeks to do some deep cleaning, or have someone come once a week for specific tasks, such as cleaning the bathroom. Before you make arrangements, make sure to check with your mother-in-law to make sure this is something she would appreciate and enjoy. When everyone opens presents, give her a card with details about your gift.

5. A family photo.
Give a picture of your children or a picture of your spouse. Another idea: frame some pictures of your children with pictures of your spouse at around the same age. Or try to find a picture of your spouse’s family before you got married and frame it with a picture of your current family. Or arrange for the entire family to meet for a professional portrait together that you can all enjoy for years to come.

6. A gift certificate to a specialty store.
When all else fails, you can always rely on a gift certificate. Instead of getting a certificate for a large store, try finding specialty shops based on her interests. Many craft stores, gardening shops and other small boutiques offer gift certificates that you can purchase.