Mothers of (Literary) Invention Make Good Mother's Day Gifts

If you're trying to think of a Mother's Day present for mom, how about a novel featuring a memorable mother?

The book could star a saintly mom, a hellish mom, or a more realistic mom between those two extremes. If your mother realizes she resembles the fictional mother in the book you give, she may also realize what you think of her!

In the positive-character category, there's of course Ma Joad in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. She's kind, selfless, determined, and never gives up in the face of heartbreaking adversity.

Or how about the long-lived Ursula in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude? She's loyal, fearless, stoic, capable, and entrepreneurial while dealing with an extended family that often saddens and exasperates her. Magical realism, and matriarchal realism...

There's also Molly Weasley, matriarch of a large family of mostly boys in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Molly is smart, resilient, tireless, and -- as it turns out -- quite adept at battling evil!

Another admirable mother is Stella Payne of Terry McMillan's How Stella Got Her Groove Back. She's a chic, accomplished, way-too-busy woman who finds unexpected love with a much younger man while on vacation.

Then we have the more mixed moms, such as Isabel Amberson Minafer in Booth Tarkington's The Magnificent Ambersons. She's an incredibly nice person, but has the fatal flaw of doting way too much on her spoiled, unlikable son.

Patty Berglund in Jonathan Franzen's Freedom plays favorites by giving her son more love and attention than her daughter, and also has other issues. But the neurotic Patty does possess several good qualities, including lots of energy and some capacity for change.

Speaking of neurotic, how about Alexander's loving but domineering mother in Philip Roth's hilarious Portnoy's Complaint?

Another mixed mom -- but one who evolves nicely -- is Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables. This austere woman at first doesn't take to Anne, but eventually grows to love and admire the imaginative, whip-smart orphan. L.M. Montgomery's book can be a great gift for mothers of adopted kids (like Anne).

A mixed mom who veers toward negative territory is Frieda Haxby Palmer in Margaret Drabble'sThe Witch of Exmoor. Frieda is a fascinating, highly intellectual character, but she had little maternal instinct in her younger days and might be a bit nuts in her older age.

Then there are the moms who are almost completely negative. One is Valancy Stirling's mother in L.M. Montgomery's The Blue Castle. This nasty, narrow-minded person treats her daughter like a child even after Valancy reaches adulthood, and has no clue about just how bright and special Valancy is.

Others in the negative-mother camp include abusive religious fanatic Margaret White in Stephen King's Carrie and the monstrous Cathy Trask in Steinbeck's East of Eden.

There are thousands of other good and bad literary moms I haven't mentioned (which makes me feel like a less-than-dutiful son). And why has there never been a Proustian novelization of the old TV series My Mother the Car? But, that said, who are some of the most memorable moms in the fiction you've read?

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Dave Astor's new book Comic (and Column) Confessional is scheduled to be published this June by Xenos Press.

The part-humorous memoir is about Dave's 25 years at Editor & Publisher magazine covering, interviewing, and meeting notables such as Arianna Huffington, Heloise, Hillary Clinton, Walter Cronkite, Coretta Scott King, Martha Stewart, Ann Landers, and Abigail Van Buren ("Dear Abby"); and notable cartoonists such as Gary Larson ("The Far Side"), Lynn Johnston ("For Better or For Worse"), Mort Walker ("Beetle Bailey"), Charles Schulz ("Peanuts"), Stan Lee ("Spider-Man"), Bill Watterson ("Calvin and Hobbes"), Garry Trudeau ("Doonesbury"), Berkeley Breathed ("Bloom County"), Scott Adams ("Dilbert"), Jim Davis ("Garfield"), Milton Caniff ("Terry and the Pirates"/"Steve Canyon"), and Herblock. The book also chronicles changes in the media, discusses personal stuff, and more.

Help honor moms no longer with us

In two weeks, moms around the country will be celebrated and pampered by their kids and grandkids.

But some people can only honor their mothers in spirit on Mother’s Day.

If that describes you, or someone you know, let the News-Leader help. We invite readers who want to pay tribute to a mom who has died to send a memory and a photo to us by end of Tuesday. We’ll include all in an online remembrance, with selected photos and submissions also going in our print Life section on May 13. (See details at the end of this column.)

My husband’s mother — my children’s grandmother — died last July, so this will be our first year to send no cards and gifts; make no calls to Michigan. Instead, we will spend time with family and celebrate her life and what we remember best. Betty was my mother-in-law but she treated me like her own daughter and it’s still hard to know she’s gone. My kids still talk about the incredible Sunday dinners she served, and how much she loved her family and always took an interest.

I know several others who lost a mother recently, or who have lived without a mom since they were young. Our Mother’s Day tribute story will be one way to honor and celebrate incredible mothers who are no longer with us.

Mark your calendar

• Speaking of Mother’s Day, my favorite gift-shopping opportunity comes around this weekend. Artsfest on Walnut Street is Saturday and Sunday. I always find something wonderful for my mother — and for myself, too. Find details in today’s May calendar.

• Another cool mom-related event in our calendar is the tribute to Remarkable Mothers of the Ozarks at the Tapas and TopHats event happening Friday night at the Remmington’s Entertainment Complex on West Republic Road. The fundraiser to benefit Camp Barnabas features speaker Kate Gosselin. Find details in our calendar.

Mother's Day tribute

By end of Tuesday, submit a photo and write something special to celebrate the life of a mom who has died. We will feature tributes online, with selected submissions to go in print, on May 13. 

Mother's Day gift grows in the heart

No other occasion is marked by such bad gift-giving as Mother's Day.

Not even Father's Day compares, because Mom usually helps with gift selection, and she doesn't wait until the very last second. And with school out for the summer by June, she can't count on the kids' teachers to come to the rescue with an elbow-macaroni/Elmer's glue/gold spray-painted pencil holder.

My friend Amy says she hasn't received a Mother's Day present in years because she's "hard to buy for." (Plus, her birthday is around the same time.) You would think after living with us their entire lives, our kids would have some ideas, and for sure that their dad would.

As a mom and a daughter, I find myself on both sides of this quandary. (And like Amy's, my mom's birthday is within days of Mother's Day. Double whammy.)

So it didn't surprise me when press releases started trickling into my e-mail in-box more than two months ago with suggestions of what to buy for Mom. A bracelet that doubles as a hair tie! A handbag with a pocket for her iPad! Gardening gloves!

Really, it's fine. It doesn't matter what you get us. We're moms. We smile and say that the waffle maker is just what we always wanted, then hug the sweet little rug rat who wrapped it in the Sunday cartoons from that morning's paper (before we've had a chance to look at them).

If you're grown, you know Mom is just happy to hear from you on her special day. You don't have to get her a thing. (But please, if you didn't pony up for a present, actually call her and talk to her instead of just texting her.)

But if you are thinking about what to do this Mother's Day, either for your own mom or for the mother of your children -- and do not let me hear you say the words, "I don't get her a present, she's not my mother" -- I am here to help.

First, a few hints about what not to buy for Mother's Day:

1. A parenting book. (If you don't think I'm doing this right, Mother's Day really is not the ideal time to bring it up.)

2. A "World's Greatest Mother" T-shirt. (It is awkward to be wearing it while, red-faced and cursing, I must haul a screaming toddler out of the grocery store by the back of his overalls.)

3. Bubble bath. (Really? Are you even trying?)

The presents that moms really dream about might surprise you. Here are a few I covet:

1. Ideally a week, but even just a day will do, when I don't have to make a single decision.

Not what to make for dinner, which bills to pay first, where to plant the desert honeysuckle, whether the dog needs a haircut, the kid needs grounding or the refrigerator needs cleaning, nor which health plan, summer camp or movie to choose.

2. A meal I didn't make. Not breakfast in bed. A cup of coffee on her nightstand is lovely. Bacon grease and toast crumbs on the sheets? Not so much.

My cousin Tiffany took over the kitchen one night during a recent visit, shooing me onto the couch to watch the news curled up next to my kid, Sawyer, and the dog (both of whom were delighted to see me stay in one spot for so long).

Not only did I not have to decide what to make (see above), she and her partner, Tim, cooked and cleaned up afterward.

3. A nap. (No explanation needed.)

4. Time without the kids. Oh, stop it. I know I shouldn't say it, and especially not pertaining to the day set aside for honoring mothers. But some of my best Mother's Days when my son was little were when my friend Archias would take his son, Sam, and Sawyer to do something fun, leaving his wife, my friend Lisa, and me to our own devices.

We'd have lunch, see a (not G-rated) movie or go to a spa. One year, we did nothing at all, just sat by the pool and read.

At his age now, Sawyer wouldn't have to actually leave the premises. He could just occupy himself -- oh, I don't know, clean his room, pick up dog poo -- yet come when I holler, to hand me the remote, make me a sandwich and give me a hug and tell me how awesome I am.

Seriously, over the years, I have loved every elbow-macaroni/Elmer's glue/gold spray-painted pencil holder, little handprint pressed in clay, and crayoned card my son has made. And now that Sawyer is older, he has proven to have impeccable taste in silver jewelry and cozy pajama pants.

But my best Mother's Day present ever came on my very first Mother's Day, when Sawyer was just 6 weeks old, tiny, yet awe-inspiring, and still a mystery to me.

His father planted a tree in the backyard, a young ash, its trunk not even as thick as a soda can.

"I want something that he'll be able to climb by the time he's 5," I told Jim when we picked it out at the nursery, baby Sawyer asleep on my chest in a sling.

"It will be," he assured me, and it was. And it kept growing, just like the boy hanging from its branches. Now both are tall and sturdy.

The tree reaches well above the house, and its steady growth, fallen leaves and new ones unfurling, the watering, fertilizing and pruning, and the spread of its branches toward the sky remind me, always, what it means to be a mother, carefully tending a life.

That's the gift.

Mother’s Day program for kids

LEWISTOWN —Dickson Mounds Museum presents Mother’s Day Gift Ideas, a free program, for kids ages 5-14 from 1 to 3 p.m. May 6.

Participants will spend the afternoon learning about Native American lore and creating Mother’s Day gifts. No reservation required for this free program.

The Illinois State Museum - Dickson Mounds is located between Lewistown and Havana off Illinois 78 and 97.  The museum is open free to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day

Mother's Day 2012 Is In Two Weeks: Gift Ideas

Mother's Day is a long-celebrated tradition where moms in the United States are honored and remembered by their children for the contributions and self-sacrifice that moms make in our lives.  

Because Mother's Day is one of highest seasonal days for the delivery of flowers, greeting cards, gifts, and newer traditions such as edible fruit arrangements instead of the older fruit baskets, very often the price for these items increases as Mother's Day approaches.  


In many instances, you will see that coupon codes expire at the end of April just before the height in demand for the Mother's Day holiday, so it is important to get your order in sooner before those coupon codes expire.

One viewer offered this gift idea for the mom who does not use a cell phone.  Buy a pre-paid cell phone with a camera.  Add photos of the kids and/or grand kids to the phone.  That way mom will always keep the phone with her and charged to show the pictures.

For younger children, Mother's Day often means crayon drawings or hand-made arts and crafts for mom. Sometimes accompanied by a well-intentioned (but novice) attempt at making breakfast in bed for mom. 

In the U.S, Mother's Day is always celebrated the second week in May which was made an official American national holiday by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914.  So if you are asking, "When is Mother's Day in 2012?"  Mother's Day in 2012 falls on Sunday May 13, 2012.

Roundup: Our Top Picks For Mothers Day Brunch And Dinner In Philadelphia

Mothers Day, May 13, is a great opportunity to enjoy either brunch or dinner al fresco. (Left photo courtesy 333 Belrose, right courtesy Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing)

Let’s be honest: Moms are always worth the splurge.

Given all their hard work that goes unnoticed, it’s a good thing we have Mothers Day (which falls on Sunday, May 13 this year) to remind us to appreciate the moms of the world. It’s also a good thing that Philadelphia restaurants have got you covered for brunch and dinner on Mom’s special day.

And some non-restaurants (see below) are offering exciting brunch packages with activities attached.

Below, we present our top picks for Mothers Day meals:

• Bistrot La Minette: Chef Peter Woolsey has put together a $40 prix fixe menu that he’ll be offering all day. The three courses include a host of classic French recipes, prepared with his signature decadent flair. Try the mustard-braised rabbit with homemade tagliatelle, or the salade savoyarde, with lardons, potatoes and sumptuous Comté cheese.

• Hyatt Regency: The Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing is serving an elaborate Mothers Day brunch, with something for everyone — and then some. The $50-per-person meal ($25 for children 12 and under) includes a seafood station with seared tuna, a carving station with grilled flank steak and much, much more. Best of all, everyone’s favorite part of the meal is given the royal treatment, with more than a dozen dessert offerings including chocolate fondue and classic crème brulee.

• Balcony: If Mom is looking to get more decadent this year, the new restaurant at the Doubletree Hotel on Avenue of the Arts is offering a buffet of comfort food favorites. On the $34 menu ($15 for kids) are grilled cheese with tomato soup, homestyle roast turkey sandwiches and a create-your-own mac and cheese bar.

• 333 Belrose: Radnor eatery 333 Belrose is a great choice for al fresco dining this Mothers Day. A brunch buffet will be offered at $31.95 for adults and $12.95 for children, and standard dinner service will begin at 3 p.m.

• The Prime Rib: Frequently rated the best steakhouse in the city, Rittenhouse Square’s The Prime Ribopens at 2 p.m. on Mothers Day for refined dining in their throwback atmosphere.

• Square 1682: Swanky restaurant and lounge Square 1682 at the Hotel Palomar is serving their a la carte menu with special additions, as well as globally-inspired grand breakfast buffet for $45, or $20 for children.

More Mother’s Day picks, below.

• Davio’s: The popular Northern Italian steakhouse is serving a luxe three-course feast this Mothers Day. The $55 menu is available 1-8 p.m.

• The Palm: The historic steakhouse is offering its regular menu all day on Mothers Day, and offering a $25 gift card to every mom who dines.

• Victory Brewpub: The top-notch craft brewery’s Downingtown restaurant is opening its doors to beer-loving moms and their families for a $20 ($10 for kids) brunch buffet, featuring many American classics.

Meals and More

• Top of the Tower: For moms who like a view, Top of the Tower is opening its doors — usually closed but for private events — for a seriously elaborate brunch buffet. Highlights of the $50-per-person menu include prime rib, lemon-sage chicken and bananas foster french toast.

• The Clay Studio: This ceramics center in Old City is offering a triple whammy of Mothers Day fun, with brunch, mimosas and pottery. First enjoy a catered meal with your loved ones, plus that classic brunch cocktail. Then move onto the potter’s wheel for an instructional workshop where you’ll make a creation that’s yours to keep.

• Penns Woods Winery: Just a 35-minute drive from downtown, this local winery features more than just grapes on Mothers Day. For $50, Moms can take part in an hour-long yoga class, followed by a tasting of wine, chocolate and cheese.

• Betsy Ross House: The historic Betsy Ross House in Old City hosts a playful Mothers Day tea every year. Tickets to the Saturday, May 12 event are $20 and available here.

Dotcoms For Moms Launches The Great Mother’s Day Promotion

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Dotcoms For Moms has put the best style together for spring with The Great Mother’s Day Promotion & Giveaway

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 29, 2012

Dotcoms For Moms (DFM), a lifestyle site for today’s contemporary mom, has partnered with Linea Pelle to offer a Mother’s Day giveaway worth over three and fifty hundred dollars.

Linea Pelle handbags and accessories can be seen worn by the top celebrities this spring, including the Dylan Triple Zip Shoulder Bag included in the Dotcoms for Moms Mother’s Day Promotion.

To complete the look, DFM has put together a stylish package of accessories for the promotion. The giveaway includes a gold bracelet, eternity scarf and a mix of cosmetics from top brands like Stila, Nars and Butter.

Registrations will be taken via re-pins on Pinterest and post commenting on Dotcoms for Moms site. The promotion runs through Mother’s Day and the winner will be announced via the Dotcoms for Moms Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“Fashion and Beauty is a big area on DFM, and we are excited to launch a promotion that will give one lucky winner a gift of indulgence this Mother’s Day.” Rita Maucer, Founder of Dotcoms for Moms.

About Dotcoms For Moms
Inspired by her own busy life as a mother to three children (twin boys followed a year later by a girl,) award-winning television producer, author and lifestyle expert Rita Mauceri launched Dotcoms For Moms™ in January 2011 to provide moms a solution to the challenge they face online: keeping track of the gems and weeding out all the junk found in a typical online search. With the launch of Dotcoms For Moms™, Mauceri draws on her more than 15 years of experience in entertainment and women’s lifestyle to create the ultimate online destination for moms of all ages with children of all ages. For more information on Dotcoms For Moms.
A veteran television producer of top-rated entertainment and lifestyle programming at E!, Discovery, Travel Channel, TLC, and HGTV, Mauceri is a published author of two style books, “Frumpy to Foxy in 15 minutes Flat” and “Curves Rules and Flat is Fabulous: Sexy, Stylish Looks for Every Figure,” and is best known online for her highly-read weekly entertaining and style columns on Yahoo!, Foxy Festivities and The Foxy Life.