We don't know your mom. The idea of Starbucks' "first-ever metal & ceramic" card might send her into blissful convulsions of motherly ecstasy. If so, prepare to drop $200 on the "laser-etched floral detail" card, which comes with a "satin ceramic finish" in a (truly) lovely matching gift box. It's pre-loaded with $50 and, like traditional Starbucks cards, can be registered for the rewards program to earn free drinks and food. We're not doubting its potential success: Remember the $450 Starbucks Gold Card? Gone in seconds.
But, if your mom knows how to do math -- and especially if she dropped a few pennies investing in your own education -- there might be a better option on May 10.
Purely conjectural, here are 3 more things Mom probably doesn't want this Mother's Day and 10 she might. If she's anything like ours, she'll say it's just what she wanted either way.
What mom doesn't want
A tie-dye poodle: This dog was one of our absolute favorites at McKinney's Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras festival in February. Dog cuteness overload.
But, if your mom wants her elegant standard poodle tie-dyed, she'd have mentioned it by now.
Further, if she doesn't already own a poodle, don't buy one for this project without her express permission.
Daily texts, emails, calls, visits ...: She may say she wants this -- she might even drive you up the wall about it. But, even moms have their limits. Find yourself using the long-forgotten Facebook Poke function? Sending her a Snapchat of a weird mole that possibly changed color? Instagramming an unsolicited photo of her during your last dinner with spaghetti noodles dangling adorably from the corner of her mouth?
We get it. Your "mom, mum, mummy, mama, ma, Lois," just means, "Love you."
But, give the woman some room.
A cruffin: You're probably thinking, "Who wouldn't want a delectable croissant and muffin hybrid?" You're right to a certain degree. A cruffin or a cronut or a wonut might be a lovely way to cap stirring conversation over mimosas at your Mother's Day Brunch. But, where does it end?
Soon, she's standing in lines for hours for cupcakes and fro-yo. She needs a fondant fix. This big world's full of pastry trends, baby, and now that she's had a taste, there's no stopping until you find her huddled in the kitchen on a rampant sugar-detox trying to inject life into a monstrous pancake-burrito, the purrito.
10 things mom might want instead
- grandchild
- for you to practice the flute she spent half a paycheck on in 1997
- hobby for retired husband/wife
- grandchild
- hot meal
- solid 4.5 hours of sleep
- weekly call
- for that Linda next door to finally take a hint
- help getting Legends of the Fall DVD working again
- identical twin grandchildren