Question: Gift for Mom....herself.

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 10:33:38 -0800

Help me find a gift for my 55 yr. old mother that will help her begin to wonder of her own thoughts and wishes, and think that just maybe she could be a force of her very own in this world.

I would like to find a magazine or something similar that is simple, very accessible (not intimidating), and visually appealing. Ultimately, the magazine would get my mother thinking about VERY BASIC social, economical, and political issues women face today in terms she would understand or mostly understand, in addition to helping her learn English without her feeling like she's doing homework. It should appeal to a 50-something woman who likes to garden and likes beautiful things (home decor, clothes, flowers, etc.), but who's attention needs to be won away from cooking, cleaning, errands, bills, etc. When she has a moment, she enjoys watching or reading true stories (biographies, or non-fiction dramas)-- feel-good stories that are inspiring and spiritually uplifting. I imagine this magazine to be something like the magazines geared toward empowering young girls translated in style and context for a woman of 55. It should be fun and beautiful.

The reason I thought of a magazine was because it feels like a leisure activity, and because its incremental/ serial format makes any educational effect unfold gradually and gently. I don't want to make her feel badly about her life, but I do want to encourage her to think about the possibility that there can be more.

My mother has had a challenging life and has gradually forgotten parts of her identity that lie outside of wife and mother. I feel that more confidence in her English language skills and general feeling of awareness of the world around her would help her begin to wonder of her own thoughts and wishes, and think that just maybe she could be a force of her very own in this world.

Other gift ideas that you think I should look into are very welcome. Thank you Mefiers.

By: Serena

Serena — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 10:47:43 -0800

I think More magazine would be a good fit for her. The tagline says they celebrate women 40+.

And I think it's sweet of you to be so concerned about your mother.

By: xo

xo — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 11:09:39 -0800

I think Oprah does the older-female empowerment thing well. And I don't think she's off-putting to women who are of different social and economic classes because she has spanned quite a few herself.

By: MsMolly

MsMolly — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 11:21:14 -0800

I second O, the Oprah magazine. I think it's almost exactly what you're looking for.

By: Melinika

Melinika — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 15:00:33 -0800

Both More and Oprah sound like what you're looking for. My grandmother and mother really like More.

By: BigBrownBear

BigBrownBear — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 02:55:29 -0800