Thoughtful gifts for Mom

(WTNH) - Deborah Henry, author of The Whipping Club, shares what Moms really want on Mother's Day.

She says what Moms really want on Mother's day are precious memories in the forms of words, pictures and your time. Material gifts like chocolates, flowers and jewelry may satisfy short-term desires, but it is the human connection that leaves a lasting impression.

Her tips for creating lasting Mother's Day traditions and memories:
1. Spend the day doing what your mom loves, photograph it all and create an album of this special day as a gift for the next Mother's Day and carry on this never ending tradition each year with a new activity.
2. Do same as above but recording mom's thoughts about her life as a young girl & wishes and dreams for the following year.
3. If mom does email, sift through and print out the best from the prior year, and put in bound copy of a year in her life of emails.
4. If mom loves to cook, create a bound version of her favorite recipes & include a note of why you loved the recipe or childhood memories you associate with the meal.
5. Plant a tree, shrub or special perennial every Mother's Day in mom's garden (and photograph it), or give a hardy low maintenance house plant, and if separated by distance, have florist send something lasting every month as a constant reminder of your continued love.

Personalized Creative Gifts:
1. Decorative memory board with photos of mom and special mementos of her life and interests
2. Customized calendar with photos of you for each month and personalized comments sprinkled throughout random days of each month
3. Professionally bound photo album with scanned photos of you and Mom through the years
4. Fortune cookies with special hand-written notes tucked inside that have special meaning for Mom
5. Make a list of 10 of your favorite memories with Mom, print and frame.