Mom is 88 today - Ideas for the best birthday gift EVER

I've been reading about other folks' Moms and just had to post a note about my Mom's birthday.  She is 88, and fabulous.  Still living alone, takes care of her own house with just a weekly cleaning by a nice lady to do the tough stuff.  

For her birthday, last weekend, she asked us to gather at her house and  to tackle the list of chores she wanted done.  Moved furniture.  Pruned.  Gardened.  Drove the pick up truck to the dump and to green recycling.  I dug up a huge iris bed (because she doesn't like lavender iris - don't ask!  Kept the yellow and rust ones.....).  When other folks dropped by for cake or pie or just to say hello, most of them picked up the list and did a task or two.  She had a TEAM of  us working that Saturday. 

She said it was the best birthday gift she had ever received.

Hey, it does sound like a great gift. My mom usually enlists my brothers every time they come over (she knows better than to ask me ... my knees and back are so bad, she doesn't ask me to do anything more than to get her a pop if I'm up ...and I usually offer ... or to drive her to my brother's ...and I always offer because we don't want her driving that far). My sister won't do anything; she hadn't even visited my mother for her birthday until this year since her big 80th birthday bash. As mom said, it's just Rosemary being Rosemary. No excuse.

Anyway, good idea ... I'm going to pitch it to my siblings for a future party. Mom still lives on her own, takes care of her own house and garden, except for someone who mows her lawn and the young developmentally disabled man down the street who shovels her sidewalks and in front of the garage in the winter. He also trims her hedges. We worry about her walking up and down the stairs, though; she's already had one fall (broke her pelvis trying to change a lightbulb in the kitchen on a step stool; she's lucky it wasn't her hip). She still drives, but knows her limits ... she won't get on the highway and usually just drives to places that she knows where she's going.

such an awesome gift!! and to get the others all involved!!!! thanks for sharing with us!!!

i don't care for the lavendar iris' either! don't ask!!!

 Evelyn,

I think this is just wonderful...  What a fantastic idea.  For Mother's Day I always ask my sons to detail my car.....   it is just what I want every year.

Millie

For my mom's 90th I wrote her a letter. She still had it when she died and embarrassingly (for me) shared it with many people! I know it meant a lot to her. It's almost impossible to get them "things." Giving of yourself is the most wonderful thing you could do and she had you all there too which was an added birthday bonus.

i trying to catch up on the reading before going to bed.me and my family donate brick in her name at the hospital.which they was putting down a new fountin in front and new bricks around.so brought a brick which her name was put on it.it help paid for the fountin.orput something in her honor.


marylyn

that sounds like the perfect gift to me.....even tho i still have my DH it would still be a great present for anything Birthday, mothers day, fathers day, Christmas. any time....I would love it to have my kids and grandkids come and help weed all the flower beds at once. would be fantastic. lol

That is such an awesome idea, I made a big production over my Moms b-day last year (80) and with my Gdaughter turning 16 this week,and doing her shindig I was wondering what I could do low key and cheaply for Mom later in the month. Mom is in an apartment but we could give it a good cleaning, change her bedding, do things that are hard for her and then bring in a carry in meal, she would just love it..Thank you so much for sharing. Your the BEST !!
 

Evelyn...I am just blown away at the generosity and love of your family. What a wonderful gift for such a fabulous lady. Your mother is very blessed to have so many people love her so much. This was  a gift she will always remember.

Hugs....connie d