Mother’s Day Australia gift ideas and what not to get her

Moms have revealed the gifts they dread receiving on Mother’s Day, from self-care favor packs to household cleaners and even chocolates and flowers.

Hundreds of moms have taken to social media to share the worst gifts they’ve ever received, so that those still buying their mom something on Sunday, May 14, know where to steer clear.

The no-go present list included anything emblazoned with the phrase “World’s Best Mum,” bath bombs, cleaning supplies, and even a voucher to get Botox.

Aussies will collectively spend $1 billion or $82 each on Mother’s Day gifts this year, according to Finder data and hope they spit out their hard-earned money for something Mom really wants.

Moms are shedding some light on what they really want for Mother’s Day, with many saying they’d rather spend quality time with their loved ones or have some quiet time to themselves than physical gifts.

Many mothers said they disliked receiving gifts that “give them more work,” such as cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaners, irons and ironing boards, and cooking utensils.

“I gave (my mother) a saucepan – it was very expensive, but she hated it!” one woman remembered.

“My ex’s kid bought her a vacuum cleaner and detergent,” another added, and a third added, “A lint roller.” Enough said!’

“My husband gave his mother a toilet plunger,” someone laughed.

“MY OWN MOTHER HAD ME A BROOM. A BROOM. LIKE WE LIVED IN A HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE TIME WARP,” exclaimed another.

Supermarket shelves stocked with unbranded gift wraps containing hand creams, soaps and beauty products may lead shoppers to believe these are the ideal gift for any woman, but moms said they roll their eyes at the “ill-considered” gift.

“Just FYI, the women in your life don’t want these,” a Facebook post alongside an image of the gift packs racked up more than 2,000 likes.

“There are only so many body creams you can have in the closet,” one woman replied, and others called them “gooey” and “youthful.”

blogger Stay home mom said toiletries such as bath salts, bath bombs or loofahs often just take up space in the bathroom cabinet.

“And really, do I smell so bad that I need an entire shea butter kit that includes a lotion, scrub, shower gel, and body butter?” Seriously,” she wrote.

She gave perfume a red light, saying everyone has their own personal fragrance preferences.

“When I tell my husband I like a scent that’s slightly nutty with a woody accent and a floral undertone, I’m pretty sure he has no clue what I’m talking about,” she said.

“And even if I gave him the real name of my favorite perfume, he would buy something completely different because ‘the box is beautiful and the girl said it’s very popular.'”

A study of McCrindle polled hundreds of moms to find the five worst Mother’s Day gifts.

The results include cheap chocolates, flowers from the supermarket, underwear, ‘trivial’ trinkets and appliances.

Getting something that shows you don’t know your mom well will also put her in a bad mood, such as gifting her earrings if she doesn’t have pierced ears or giving her something she already has, like a certain candle or a book.

Also avoid “impersonal” gifts that were obviously purchased at the last minute, such as half-withered flowers, cheap chocolates, and personal care items from the corner drugstore.

Another impersonal gift, apparently, is anything with the phrase “World’s Best Mum” printed on it, such as mugs, tea towels, and fridge magnets.

“Not that it’s a competition, but I’m definitely not the best mom in the world, a fact that seems to be abundantly clear now that my toddler has started throwing up and I’m struggling every day to stay calm,” said one mom on Choose any two.

Mothers unanimously agreed that gifts that indicate they need to improve their appearance, such as wrinkle cream or scales, are downright insulting.

“My mom started complaining about wrinkles and things like that. My dad thought he knew just what he needed to get her a botox gift card,” one woman said in a Reddit thread.

Mothers also complained about partners using Mother’s Day to buy themselves something they really wanted.

“A few years ago, my husband surprised me with a PS4. For himself. I still haven’t let him live,” said one mother.

“Ex-husband got me a $400 turbo flush toilet… never said anything about wanting or needing a high commode with a power flush, but that’s what I got,” replied another.

“My grandfather was an avid woodworker in his spare time and retirement… One Mother’s Day many years ago, he made a big fuss about a special gift he had received from his wife. He really played it off in a way he never did for gifts,” a third recalled.

“It was a nice air compressor, the type used to power pneumatic tools. The kind of tools he used for some of his projects. His old compressor had recently died.’

Others shared the worst gifts they’d received over the holidays, and a few said they’d just gotten a “cheap” card more than once.

“A magnet that says ‘MYNAME’s KITCHEN’ because ‘I finally started cooking more’. It was in that cartoony kitschy farmhouse plaid style,” one mother commented.

“My (now ex) boyfriend offered me a lotto scratch… I won $5 with the scratch, but my ex took it,” a second added.

‘I’m a stay-at-home mom, so I don’t have any money of my own. We went to Target a month ago and I bought two pairs of shorts for the summer. This morning I asked if anything was planned for my first Mother’s Day and he said he thought the shorts were my present,” said a third.

A post on Mouth of Mums posed the question, “What do you want for Mother’s Day?” raking in hundreds of responses, many asking for a “day off” and a good night’s sleep.

‘A day off. A week off, a month off,’ one mother laughed and another agreed: ‘A day off, a day all to myself’.

‘Sleep an afternoon of sleep. Uninterrupted deep sleep’, a third while a fourth added: ‘Being left alone all day so I can just sleep’.

Many moms said they would love to spend quality time with their kids and get “lots of hugs.”

‘Nothing. Just to be with my family and be happy,’ someone replied.