General

My wife works full time and is a great mom, so she's pretty busy. I usually try to give her something that'll give her space to relax (like a gift card to a spa) and something to let her know how much I appreciate what she does as a mom (like the first year of my oldest child's life, I gave her a photobook with pictures of fun, candid moments of the two of them together).

Get her a nice world globe. One of those glow in the dark ones. Nailed it.

Bleed_DukeBlue wrote:

I got her one of those last year (spa gift card). She still hasn't used it.

And thanks Jaw...Problem solved, you nailed it.

Once the kids were old enough to make her something I bowed out of the equation. No need in buying something that likely won't get used, she does enough of that on her own.

I got my wife some LEGO flowers for Valentine's Day. Will be doing the same for Mother's Day (different set).

I've always gotten my wife a Mother's Day gift. Sure, she's not MY mom, but she's the mother of my children, and a great one at that. So, I like to show her my appreciation and celebrate her on that day. Although, I try to do that every day, so sometimes it seems a bit redundant But, it's still nice to have a special day for it once a year.

As for what you should get your wife, idk what to tell you there. I don't believe in universal gift ideas. You have to know the person and know what they're like, what their interests are, what they already have, etc.

Sun wrote:

Nice! If my wife liked Legos I would definitely steal this idea!

My husband gets me flowers but this year got me a pellet ice machine that I've been wanting. I got a cheap one, so he knows I'll use it and it'll help me get in more water. Personally if a gift isn't on the table I love being gifted alone time.

"You go do X while I clean or take care of the kids"

Usually X would be playing video games, biking, yoga or TV shows or reading.

Scott wrote:

I guess Scott's wife reads his GameTZ posts. Hi Mrs. Scott.

lol

Getting my ex an indoor plant from the kids, she likes indoor viney plants.

She just wants a day where she can stay in bed and someone else watches the kids and cleans the house....

A day out. Spa, massage, facial, blah blah... Easy win. Also just making food and taking care of kids is an instant win.

Geez some folks really hate globes…

This year, my wife and I will have been married for 25 years. At this point, we don't really give each other gifts for holidays anymore. Whenever I do give her a gift, it's pretty much out of the blue, just because. Also, since our children are 18 and 23 this year, it's on them to get their mother something.

Mothers day this year is my actual birthday too! *may 14th* and our wedding anniversery is *may 15th* so she loves Starbucks, so ill get her a card with starbucks in it, and a mani/pedi most likely.

sinnie wrote:


I used to tell my wife that if our daughter was still alive when she got back, I did OK. But the truth is:

When they are your kids, it isn't "watching the kids" or "babysitting", it is parenting.

Tony wrote:

I completely agree. But the amount of men in my life who don't have that logic is astounding. My husband is decent half the time but occassionaly falls into that same mindset. Which is why I went to Vegas for 3 nights and said "you deal with it."
I come back and am more much appreciated, lol

Growing up, I had some cousins who I was close with. I was over at their house all the time. Was there multiple times a week for years. One year on mother's day, I mentioned to my uncle that I was thinking of getting something for my aunt, since I hung out at their house all the time and was treated like one of the family. My uncle was all for it. So I went to a local store, got a balloon and a card I think. My aunt was very pleased by the gesture, big smile, that crinkly eyes smile that you know is genuine.

My wife and I actually had this kind of discussion in reverse. For months after our daughter was born, she frequently found things to do outside the home saying she needed "me time". After a while, I asked when she thought my "me time" was. I had to remind her that my leaving the house for 8+ hours a day wasn't personal time.

I also worked with a lot of guys who said they were living the old cliche of living with a wife who believed his money was "their money", but she could spend any money she earned the way she wanted.

Tony wrote:

Yep I can see that for a lot of couples. I grew up with my dad being a construction worker and he still had time for me after work which amazes me to this day because I don't do hard labor and I'm exhausted all the time! For my own personal experience, my husband has been working from home since the start of covid. We hire a nanny for days that I'm "off." But when my husband works it's extremely low pace, when they go out they do things like Dave and Busters, Axe Throwing and bar hopping all as business expenses. So if you see a lot of that and never get a "break" it's completely different.
Everyone has to figure out what works for their own marriage and what they're wanting to give and take.

This year I had no idea, I bought her a raised garden…. I know what I am doing may long lol

Raised garden beds are great. I got super into growing vegetables this year because of them and found a crazy and unexpected amount of calm and peace watching them grow. I just kept adding more, lol. No annoying bugs (ants, mites, gnats) so far and no weeds! The worst is keeping the birds off of them. I'm sure more bugs will show up when they fruit though. Bees don't count and are welcome.

gameremporium wrote:

Happy birthday brother

I was actually thinking about planting clover in our lawn
.. I mean it's mainly just weeds. I would not mind something a little more
Drought resistant... I am not going to waste money on sod, I really want to but there is a field behind us and there are neighbors don't seem keen on having green yards. But it's pretty tuff. Talked with one guy and the stuff that blows of the field your constantly fighting weeds and alfalfa.. eventually just gave up.