Over at Reddit, I came across this rather amusing 1-800-Flowers ad.
Moms moms, they’re good for your heart, the more you give them flowers, the more they don’t cut you out of the will.
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Wow, that’s harsh. And morbid. Actually, it’s kind of mean when you think about it.
But you know what? Lots of moms don’t want flowers, they want TOOLS!
I was talking to an older women a few weeks ago – an associate at my Dentist’s office – and she was gently complaining about her grown kids. She had moved closer to them and their families, and leading up to the winter holiday shopping season, she had been strongly hinting about a couple of tools she wanted so that she can work on some things herself.
She had some projects she wanted to do, and she knew she needed some tools but wasn’t sure what to buy, aside from maybe a cordless drill. The only tool she has is a “very heavy hammer.”
After all that hinting, they got her another hat.
I have a series on DIY tool kits coming up, as well as a Mother’s Day gift guide, but I also want to hear all of your thoughts on the matter.
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I know some crafters, hobbyists, and casual DIYers who would absolutely want to receive some nice tools for Mother’s Day, their birthday, or the winter holidays. Even the different moms and women in my life who aren’t very interested in tools have a need for quality basics.
What are your thoughts on the matter?
Obviously, ever mom is going to have their own preferences, and there are plenty who will cringe at the thought of tools as a gift.
But also, my inbox has been bombarded with Mother’s Day tool gift ideas and sales pitches. I have a series on DIY (and mom-centric) tool recommendations and ideas coming up, and I guess I’m not the only one to have this idea.
What kinds of tools would you get the moms in your life?
For the moms out there reading this, what kinds of tools would you want to receive as a gift?
Tom D
Number 3 Robertson head nonslip screwdriver, of course.
Stuart
Ha!
David Zeller
I just want to tell a story… my mother, despite my having given her “real” tools over the years, really only used three tools most of the time. They worked in the house and for gardening, and they lasted her for literally three decades. They were: the original Ginsu Knife from tv, a large kitchen spoon utensil, and a butter knife. That Ginsu cut well forever, despite digging in dirt, doing a little pruning, and even doing a little simple woodworking. I bet it cut a nail or staple or two, not to mention rope, lamp cord, and a meriad of craft chores.
She passed a few years ago, but I am sure she is McGyvering her new home out there somewhere.
To all the moms who always figured out how…
William Adams
My choice would be a Chopstick Master and making a set of chopsticks as a family activity (or I’d just take mine and a bunch of blanks to celebrate Mother’s Day).
https://bridgecitytools.com/collections/chopstick-master
Maybe next year it’ll be a Pencil Precision.
Joe H
A really good pair of Gingher scissors for cutting fabric/sewing and another pair of Wiss, Milwaukee, for general around the house work. Also if she has a garden then get a good pair of hand pruners. If she deals with thorny stuff some arm protectors from Garett Wade. Radius Ergonomic garden trowels help ease the strain on wrists to keep gardening enjoyable and every gardener needs a proper garden spade and maybe a bonus drain spade. A good quality frying pan is also great. If she likes cast iron but hates the weight then a De Buyer Mineral B frying pan is a very nice alternative. Glasslock food containers are great for food once it’s cooked. A sliding trapdoor bug catcher is excellent for dealing with bugs inside the house. If she likes crafts then maybe a good quality glue gun or mini glue gun. A large good quality cutting mat and a small one paired together is a great combo.
Joe Hanson
Other things to consider might include a tea kettle, tea infuser or tea mug with an infuser or tea thermos. A lightweight folding step stool or small aluminum folding table or a lightweight folding workbench are great options as well. A variable temperature heatgun is a nice upgrade to a hair dryer for certain tasks. A percussion massager, neck massager, and heated foot massager are usually well received. A vacuum that separates into a small, light, easy to carry form is another thing to consider. A small shop vacuum for her to keep her car clean but don’t forget to get her hearing protection if you don’t get a quiet one.
fred
My mom would be 110 years old if she were alive for this Mother’s Day – but my wife and mother of my children is into hobbies that can benefit from the new tool now and then.
So Mother’s Day tool gifts might be best selected based on passion, hobbies and interests of the recipient – and not what the giver likes. (Don’t buy her a bowling ball – like Homer Simpson did for Marge – if you, not she is into bowling.) My other advice is to look for gifts that the recipient is “too cheap” to buy for themselves.
So if your wife has no real hobbies then maybe a new Bentley would be a nice gift or if she would like something sportier – maybe a Lamborghini.
MFC
My mom is excited to get wheelbarrows, scissors, diagonal cutters, etc. She has a little ranch and tools are necessary to keep things going. I’ll probably put a new roof on her lean to for Mother’s day.
A son is the best tool in a Mother’s toolbox.
David
My partner has appreciated:
– A quality multi-tool (actually a couple so that there’s one handy for work as a NICU nurse and one in the car/around the house)
– A good AA flashlight that’s not focused entirely on being bright, but instead has a useful illumination level for walking the dog at night and picking things up afterwards. Easy battery charging/replacement, pocketable size, and a couple of easy to access and useful brightness modes were key.
– A car Lithium ion battery car jump starter and cordless compressor set for in the car for emergencies (and spare multi-adapter USB cables for charging phones and devices packed in! – Anker makes a great 3-in-1 that I give to friends for these)
– A good first aid kit for the car (in her nurse skills specific range, actually an EMT level response kit) and one for the house
– A good quality pocket knife – in her case, a Leek in a color she liked
She’s now eyeing some craft and hobby specific tools, but most of the list above are things that lots of my friends who are moms have expressed a desire to have or have appreciated as gifts over time.
Leo B.
A Lumintop Tool AA flashlight with the 21700 battery is absolutely fantastic. I have a few Lumintops, and they’ve all been great. If you were interested in a different light or anything, check it out!
Bolt
This year is easy. My mother lost her garden trowel so I’m getting her several to replace it.
Charlie
Tools are better than flowers that don’t come! (Happened to me twice in the past year with two major national online companies)
How about a quality hot melt glue-gun (not a huge one)? Or is there even such a thing?
Geoff
My mom is so jealous of my 20v max dewalt tools, that she’s asked for them for Mother’s Day! I had to tell her she needs to wait for Father’s Day sales. 🙁
I’m just going to give her a Home Depot gift card and hope they come out with a great sale…
Dave O'Heare
A traditional gift for women in my family, most specifically women *joining* our family, is a good 3/8″ reversing electric drill.
Yes, really. My sweetie got hers 36ish years ago.
David Zeller
If any of the moms in your life are crafters, consider these from Ryobi: one of their glue guns (I like the the one that has the battery like a drill, not the other one one with a separate base), the pin nailer, their Dremel-like tool, and possibly one of their vacuums. The first three are great to have at a craft table (or workbench or on the deck) with no cords.
I think Ryobi would do well to bundle these as one of their sets, maybe at Christmas and Mothers’ Day. Then they can lure folks in further on the household side with fans, vacuums, bicycle pumps, etc. The tabletop fan (10 inch?) is great and could be another set member, especially for those hot-flash prone.
Abhijit Dey
My mother’s favorite tools were a pair of sewing scissors and two small flathead screwdrivers which came with a Singer sewing machine, She jealously protected them from me and my siblings who frequently begged them for finishing school craft projects.
Jerry
My wife likes her cordless hand vac, and glue gun from Ryobi, and LOVES her Engineer scissors. The scissors handle is a bit small for my hands but fit hers well. She likes it has a sheath so it can be tossed in the just k drawer and they cut very well.
Jerry
Ps and also a small one handed reciprocating saw. Shed much rather use that that. Primers for branches over a half inch or so, and can cut a larger branch if need be