How much effort have you put in for Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day is literally round the corner. Sunday the 6th of March is the day when you officially have to appreciate the most important woman in your life.

She took care of you when you were sick, worried about you when you didn’t come home till 3am and was your unpaid taxi driver for (at least) the first 17 years of your life. But what do you do if you’re struggling over your seminar prep and hundreds of miles away? Indeed, how much effort should you put in for Mothers’ day at university?

Rely on your (more organised) siblings

What are younger siblings for if not to bail you out when you are completely incompetent. Your annoyingly perfect younger sibling has organised a hamper of gifts and they had half the stuff the last time you came to visit. A quick, grovelling message means that said younger, better sibling can sign your name on the artsy card they bought and then it’s a cute shared gift.

Remember that sharing is caring.

Effort Level: 0/10

Send her a text message

You’ve woken up hungover from Brassick and remembered that you meant to buy a card. It’ll be 2pm before you’re able to message her with a pathetic “Happy Mother’s Day xxxx”. It’s free and requires very little effort. But it’s a coward’s way out.

Effort Level: 1/10 It’s better than a slap in the face with a wet fish. But not much.

Send her a nice card

The standard one to do. Yes it’s boring but there’s nothing quite like a nice card from Clintons. It’s standard Mother’s day practice so pop down to Tescos and buy one. Whilst it’s not a grand gesture at least your not relying on your younger siblings.

Effort Level: 2/10 Standard. Pretty boring after everything she’s done for you.

Send her chocolates

This is a risky one. Some mums do not fancy gorging on a whole box of Thorntons – and will probably regift it for a dinner party present or share it with your younger siblings. But if you’re far away it can be tricky to send a bottle of wine so organisation is key with this one.

Effort Level: 5/10 If she’s a chocoholic, this could be the way to go.

A nice bottle of wine

Most mums like a nice glass of wine when snuggling up to watch House of Cards. It will definitely be appreciated. Try not to buy her the cheap stuff, she’s is not a student and therefore probably wouldn’t appreciate a bottle of Lambrini. Prosecco is always a good bet. Once again, postage will be tricky to arrange.

Effort Level: 6/10 Wine is ALWAYS appreciated.

Write her a poem

Hey, you’re in Hullywood. It’s time to embrace your inner Philip Larkin and start busting out some sentimental rhymes. Whilst it’s extraordinarily cheesy, it’s also very sweet and she’ll probably cry happy tears that she produced such an emotionally intelligent, and dare I say it, talented child. Plus it’s also quite cheap.

Effort Level: 7/10 You absolute babe.

Send her flowers

Flowers are really expensive and, like chocolates and wine, have probably been done numerous times before. Besides sending flowers are really expensive – with nice bouquets costing upwards of £30. Do you really love her that much? Interflora was obviously not designed for a student budget.

Effort Level: 5/10 Expensive but you don’t have to sort out postage.

A cute picture

It’s amazing how a pretty photo frame and a nostalgic pic can make a great pressie. Unlike chocolates, wine and flowers – photos last a lifetime. If your doing this, make sure you pick one where she looks drop-dead gorgeous so she’ll have no issue displaying it with pride on the mantlepiece.

Effort Level: 7/10 You both looked so young then.

A scrapbook

Yeah you may only have eight contact hours a week so you have to do something suitably “productive” so fill up the time. A scrapbook makes a picture look lazy (and it’s really not). You’ve printed out all the pictures of Mother’s day from yesteryear and compiled them in something she’ll love. Then you’ve written ten reasons why she’s the best mum ever. She’ll love it (unless she really likes wine).

Effort Level: 9/10 But you obviously have too much time on your hands.

A surprise visit home

If your doing this, you’re obviously annoyingly good with money, organised and love your mumma a lot. The tickets may have cost you upwards of £60 but it’s totes worth it.

You’re not actually telling her that your coming and she hasn’t seen you in six weeks. There will probably be tears, hugging and then more tears. It’s the ultimate mother’s day gift. Take her out for afternoon tea and spoil her rotten. Do the hoovering, make her lots of cups of tea and be nice to your siblings.  Basically, you are the best mother’s day gift.

Effort Level: 100/10 You put us all to shame.