• Moms deserve special recognition on their birthdays.mom image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Moms deserve special recognition on their birthdays. Many moms spend time doing so much for others and rarely take time to do things for themselves. These birthday ideas give mom a break and a chance to spend time in the way she enjoys the most. Adapt the ideas so that they appeal to your mom's taste. The ideas can be combined or used individually.
  
  

Time Alone

• The gift of time alone is a great gift for a mom of young children. Provide babysitting and activities for the children so that mom can have an afternoon or a morning to herself. Another way to provide this is to give her a weekend away by herself or with her best friends. This retreat can give the mom a chance to renew herself and give her an opportunity to re-energize. At the end of the day, treat her to a nice dinner out.
  
  

Lunch Out

• Treat your mother to lunch at her favorite restaurant. It allows you to celebrate her birthday without making a mess that she will need to clean up later. This works well for a younger child who can pay for it himself, or for the adult children to get together to celebrate the birthday in an environment that gives the family a chance to talk.
  
  

Queen for the Day

• Treat your mom to a day at the spa. Give her the entire spa package with a facial, massage, manicure and pedicure. After her time at the spa, take her out to a fancy restaurant. If the spa is not your mom's thing, you can schedule an activity she would enjoy such as a play or a sporting event.
  
  

Family Adventure Gift

• Plan a family adventure for your mom's birthday. This can include a day at the beach, a hike or an activity that your mom would enjoy doing with the family. The activities can be a series of clues that lead to a nice dinner or another exciting adventure for the entire family.
  
  

Time with Family

• If the children are teenagers or grownups, a good gift is the gift of time. Teenagers can give a coupon book with chores and activities that mom can cash in. Adult children can schedule regular meetings with mom or plan a special vacation to spend time with mom. If there are grandchildren, time with them can be a great gift as well.