Congratulations your wife is pregnant! Now not only are you buying a Mother’s Day gift for your own mother it is time to buy for your wife as well.
That’s right the Mother’s Day gifts begin when she is pregnant, not after she’s had the baby. Don’t screw this one up, or you may get a shovel upside your head (I’ll explain later). Chances are, if your wife is pregnant with your first baby she’s already expecting a gift or at least acknowledgement that she is now a mother. If this has not crossed her mind, she will be so happy that YOU thought of it, it will be more than worth it. Also note Father’s Day gifts will not start pouring in until after the baby arrives, not during pregnancy, obviously.
Let’s look at some Do’s and Don’t for first time Mother’s Day gifts…
Avoid buying clothes. Mother’s Day means only one or two gifts, you really think you can pull off the miracle of finding just the right outfit for your wife without a backup gift to soften the blow if it’s wrong? Have you seen women try to buy clothes for themselves? Even that’s a disaster. And if she’s pregnant, or just had a baby, there’s almost no way you’re going to get it right. Seriously, don’t even try. Save the clothes for a different holiday where you’re giving more than a couple of gifts. You don’t want it to be all you have to offer and then get it completely wrong. Or better yet, play it safe and never buy her clothes. Ever.
Don’t buy her something that you secretly want. Unless she’s a super fan, she will see right through that pair of playoff basketball tickets you bought. Play it safe and watch on TV from home this year.
Household appliances- No. Unless you can hear yourself saying this on Mother’s Day- “Happy Mother’s Day, I love you so much, I wanted to say thank you for having our kids and to show my appreciation- here’s a brand spankin’ new coffee pot, 16 cup!”
Don’t buy something that’s for the kids. Even if she’s been talking about wanting a new stroller now is not the time. Get it for the child when it’s his or her birthday instead.
So what’s left to give? First time dads, Mother’s Day is your chance to show your wife that you still plan to take care of and appreciate her even when there’s more than just the two of you occupying the house. Maybe schedule her a couple of massages, as she gets more and more pregnant? It’s hard to go wrong with any type of pampering service that spas have to offer, I say go with something like that.
You may be asking, alright Mr. Know It All, what exactly did you get your wife for her first Mother’s Day? Well, if you must know, I did get her a gift the year she was pregnant, nine years ago, it was a gift I’m not proud of… it was gardening gloves. Yes I got my pregnant wife gardening gloves, a couple of shovels, and some other assorted gardening items. I’m lucky she didn’t knock me out with one of those shovels.
Needless to say, I’ve learned from my mistakes, which is why I’m writing this, to help you. Please don’t be the guy, like me many years ago, getting his wife gardening equipment for Mother’s Day.
-Pete
