What do you get a mom who seemingly has everything? If you ask her for gift ideas, she'll most likely say she doesn't want anything except some time with you.

Well, Mom, that's not much help -- especially for us kids who are already planning to spend the day with you. We're happy to spend time, give hugs and say "I love you," but we also want to get you something we can wrap and you can open.

If you're an exceptionally good child, you probably have a gift idea in mind already. Well, you're not going to make the rest of us mediocre children look bad. We'll be ready when the big day comes.

What Does Mom Really Want?

Where to start? Let's look at national trends. Flowers, cards, and food were the most popular Mother's Day gifts last year, according to the National Retail Federation. More than half of consumers bought a card, one-third bought flowers and another one-third took Mom to a restaurant.

Mother's Day is the third most-popular holiday for sending greeting cards, behind Christmas and Valentine's Day, according to the Greeting Card Association. And the holiday ranks second only to Christmas in the purchase of flowers, according to the Society of American Florists. Of flowers purchased for Mother's Day, 40 percent are cut flowers, 37 percent are outdoor bedding and gardening plants, and 22 percent are flowering and green houseplants.

Other popular gifts are jewelry, candy, clothing, housewares and gift certificates -- especially for facials or massages.

Apparently, some moms set their sights high to make Mother's Day special. A survey of 300 women by wishlist.com found that 4 percent would love to receive a car, money or a weekend getaway.

Other moms opt for more practical gifts, including flowers, time alone with their spouse or a dinner at a nice restaurant.

According to the survey, the best Mother's Day gifts were:

Handmade gifts: 13 percent
Jewelry: 12 percent
Flowers: 12 percent
Spa/massage pampering: 8 percent
Getaway trip: 8 percent

The majority of Mother's Day fantasy wishes revealed some surprisingly traditional requests:

Be with family: 23 percent
Dinner at a nice restaurant: 13 percent
Relaxation/sleep: 12 percent
Day Trip: 9 percent

Other less conventional fantasy wishes include an African safari, a cruise or a trip to a tropical resort.

Worst Presents

Thinking about buying Mom a can opener or vacuum cleaner? Wrong. Household appliances rank second on the list of worst gifts ever received by moms, according to the wishlist.com survey.

Other no-nos included cooking and cleaning items, socks, and clothes that don't fit. One woman said the worst gift was a tie between a "toaster and having to eat out with in-laws with a 1-year-old with a 101 temperature."

Worst Mother's Day Gifts:

Nothing: 16 percent
Household appliances: 11 percent
Cooking/cleaning supplies: 7 percent
Socks: 6 percent
Non-fitting clothes: 6 percent

New Ideas

If you feel like you've overused all the traditional ideas, it's time to do some brain-storming.

Is your mom a do-it-yourselfer? If so, she might rather receive a dozen tools than a dozen roses for Mother's Day. According to a telephone survey of 600 female homeowners conducted by Sears, Roebuck and Co., 83 percent of the women surveyed said working with tools makes them feel more empowered.

If your mom fits this mold, start paying attention to what tools she might want to complete her set, or ask Dad or one of Mom's good friends for ideas. She might also appreciate a gift certificate to her favorite hardware store.

If your mom has a green thumb, you might get her some exotic flower or vegetable seeds, just for fun, or some upscale gardening accessories. How about a gel kneeling pad? Ergonomic hand tools? Or maybe a fun new sun hat? Perhaps a new gardening book would be up her alley.

Maybe your mom prefers to be inside -- at the computer. If so, a tech gadget is the way to go. Now might be the time for that digital camera or camcorder. If you're not thinking about shelling out that much cash on a gift, go with a fancy computer mouse or a new program that she might like.

Gifts From The Heart

If your mom is more crafty than she is tech-friendly, she'd probably appreciate a homemade gift. A cross-stitched or knitted item says a lot about how you feel. Flex your creative muscles to make something great for mom.

Being creative doesn't have to be tough; some pictures of your family in a nice frame would be plenty to brighten Mom's day.

"Any mom will tell you, there's nothing we love more than gifts made for us by a family member or close friend," said Lisa Bearnson, founding editor of Creating Keepsakes magazine and author of "Moms' Little Book of Photo Tips." "Pictures tend to say the most and are a great way to show Mom how much you care."

In a news release from Kodak, Bearnson suggests the following simple gift ideas that use personal photographs:

Scrapbook Honoring "Mom's Unique Qualities." Organize a series of photos in a short album or album page that depict the unique and wonderful personality traits and interests of your mother. Mom will love that you recognize and appreciate the individual qualities that make her your one-of-a-kind mom.
Picture Poem To Mom. Sometimes tender memories with Mom deserve special words. Collect four to six pictures that represent your favorite moments with Mom. Add a word to the bottom of each picture that, when put in a series, creates a short saying (i.e., Forever Mother, Forever Friend).
Personalized Mother's Day Card. Take the time to make your own Mother's Day photo card. Use a favorite photograph and decorate around the card with fun materials (stickers, lace, buttons, glitter, etc.). Compose your own touching message to your mother. You can even frame this piece of art.
Keepsake Box. Make a beautiful keepsake box for mom by decorating a small wooden or cardboard box. You pick the fun size and shape of the container along with the fabric that will cover the box. Just mount your favorite photograph on the lid, and you've created a personal, stylish present that's within your budget.
Personalized Mouse Pad. There are a plethora of Web sites and photo joints that will help you build a personalized mouse pad for Mom. You can even buy mouse pads with a hole cut out for a picture. It might seem cheesy, but most computer-savvy moms will love it.

Thinking Outside The Box

OK, so maybe Mom doesn't need a box to unwrap or an envelope to open. Here are a few creative ideas that will show Mom you care:

Kidnap Mom For The Day. Show up one morning (on a day you know she's free) and take Mom to a museum, a play, the zoo, or someplace she used to take you when you were a kid. Reminisce about the good old days and catch up on the things that are going on in both of your lives now.
Clean Mom's House. Yeah, you read that right. What mom wouldn't be surprised to come home and find her house clean? (You might have to coordinate with Dad on this one.)
Plan A Movie Night. Whether you go out or stay in, see a movie you'd both enjoy. It can be a new release or something that brings back memories for you both. Don't forget the popcorn!
Go On A Walk With Mom. OK, it might not be the most exciting idea, but a good long walk on a nice day will give you plenty of opportunity to catch up and talk about things that really matter. As a bonus, you'll burn a few extra calories.
Volunteer With Mom. Spend time together while doing good for others. Volunteer at a church, a local homeless shelter, a soup kitchen, a school or elsewhere.
Plan A Surprise Lunch (Or Dinner). Get the relatives or friends together -- or better yet, some out-of-towners she'd never expect -- and surprise Mom when she arrives at the restaurant.
Cook For Mom. Have Mom over to your place for a meal. Or, if you're still at home, take charge of the kitchen for the day. Even if it's not gourmet, Mom will appreciate the effort.
Join Mom On A Spa Day. OK, this might not work for you sons out there, but daughters, you might consider joining your mom for a spa day. What fun is it for Mom to go alone? After your massages, don't forget the manicures, pedicures and hair styles. Persuade Mom to try a bold color of nail polish or a new 'do.