• Ask Dr. Kim
  • Seminars & Workshops
  • Retail Therapy
  • Parent Coaching + Therapeutic Services
  • Media + Videos

The Parentologist

Dr. Kim

  • The Parentologist
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Collaborations
  • Travel
  • Contact

Let’s Talk About: A Valentine’s Day Gift Guide – What Moms Really Want

As much as I love to peruse the red and pink aisles at Target this time of year, I could personally do without the candles, stuffed animals, flowers, candy, and balloons on Valentine’s Day. I do like hand written cards on holidays, anniversaries and birthdays, but honestly, cards are so expensive these days, that I would be just as happy with a hand written note or handmade drawing on my daughter’s construction paper. Which, reminds me, dads, please do not forget to get a card, bought or handmade, for mom from each of your children!!!!!

 

Now that you have the card covered, still can’t think of what to get that special lady in your life? You may ask, what do moms really want? Gifts can be hard to shop for, especially if you have been with your significant other for quite some time, and you may feel like you’ve gotten her everything you can think of. Coming up with creative and unique ideas can be challenging and everyone’s budget is a little different, so I came up with my TOP 10 gift ideas that range in price that you haven’t thought of before for moms – including the mom-to-be!

 

1. Let’s face it, a mom’s car gets dirty pretty quickly when it’s filled with kids’ clothing items, toys, snacks, etc! There are crumbs on the floor, milk stains on the seats from the bottle or sippy cup being thrown unexpectedly, and wrappers, socks, and random stuffed animals scattered about! So, get that mama a detailed car wash from the inside and out! Get that dust off the interior, vacuum those carpets, and shine the exterior for a quick way to her heart!

 

2. Ask, “how can I help?” This four word question can go a looong way to a mom! If she’s like me, she will want to take care of everything, because she’s almost not sure about how to spend her time if she isn’t doing it all or she may think she will do it better, so she prefers to take care of it herself. Either way, opening the door to a brief stint of relief by asking this question will earn you a lot of brownie points, trust me! She may not actually want the help, but just asking the question is a gift in itself. And, it’s free! It just takes a little effort!

3. What do moms love more than proudly showing the world that she’s a mom by literally wearing it on her person or even twinning with their babes? You could go the sentimental route and get her a locket with her babies’ photos inside with their birthdays engraved, or even get her jewelry with your children’s birthstones, but may I also suggest, getting her a MAMA themed hat that fits her personality and style or a matching set of hats for the whole family (including you dad) from Tiny Trucker Co! There are 100’s of designs to choose from for babies as young as 6 months old to adulthood! She’ll want to wear it for fun and for functionality on those days when doing anything with her hair is her last priority! And you can use DRKIM10 for 10% off your entire hat purchase! Click here to order https://tinytruckerco.com

4. Surprise her by initiating taking care of the kids, doing the dishes or the laundry, or even by cooking a special meal, but don’t expect anything in return. A selfless act of kindness is what she needs to feel loved and appreciated. If you expect her to swoon over all of the work you did that day, it may leave her feeling hurt or resentful that she may do the majority of that work everyday and isn’t recognized for it as much as she should be. Remember, this is a present for her and she should be able to just sit back and enjoy the effort without necessarily making one herself! Even if she doesn’t say anything, she is surely appreciative and grateful!

5. Moms want to take care of their skin but buying skin care products isn’t something she will always think of to buy for herself. So I recommend buying her a bundle of natural skin care products from the Tubby Todd MAMA collection! This bundle comes with 4 essential products to nourish and support her body through every season of motherhood. If she is already a seasoned mama, you can get items a la carte like shampoo and body wash, lotion, bubble bath, and more! To shop the MAMA collection, click here https://tubbytodd.com/collections/mama To shop all products, click here https://tubbytodd.com/collections/all-1

6. A simple yet meaningful present is to help support her self-care. Helping your special mama relax and get pampered will be beneficial for her mental, emotional, physical and spiritual state of mind! Drawing a bath at home will do, but she will benefit more by being out of the house in order to fully relax. So, I recommend a pedicure and or massage! These can range in price and length of time depending on if you send her down the street to a local salon or buy her a day pass to a local spa!

7. Is your special lady a mom-to-be or a new mom? Then may I suggest something for all of you to get a better night’s sleep? My number one baby recommended item that you know will be a great investment for the both of you and your baby’s wellbeing, is a DockATot! I have to say it is the most used and beloved baby item we have used with our son since birth and chances are this item is already on her baby registry or wish list whether she is pregnant, has an infant, or a toddler! Trust me, in addition to our son’s use of the Deluxe dock, our Grand dock has helped us with our daughter, especially when she sneaks into our bed in the middle of the night. Let’s just say she is a restless sleeper and our dock has saved us from lots of kicks, tumbles, and rumbles in the middle of the night! And here’s a tip – sign up for their newsletter and receive $10 off your purchase!! To shop their Deluxe docks for babies 0-8 months or 5-22 pounds click Deluxe To shop their Grand docks for infants and toddlers 9-36 months or 22-40 pounds click here Grand You can even get the cutest handmade and washable heart shaped cushions from Lorena Canals for mom or toddler to use as a pillow to read books or rest on while in the dock! We have the fuchsia heart and you can buy it here Heart Pillow

8. Exercise, mindfulness, and clarity will make that special lady in your life feel renewed so she can spend more time focused and dedicated to you! There are many ways to help her achieve wellness in her life, but I find one of the best ways to get multiple benefits in the least amount of time is by practicing yoga. Therefore, I say splurge and get her a yoga membership to a local studio. Even if she just does a one hour class once a week, it will have added benefits for both of you and your children!

 

9. If you have a Fashionista in your household, what better than to get her matching mommy and me sunglasses from DIFF Eyewear! For every pair of sunglasses purchased they give a pair of glasses to someone in need. Use KIMDIFF for 25% off! To shop all styles click here https://www.diffeyewear.com and to shop the LIL DIFF collection click here https://www.diffeyewear.com/collections/lil-diff

10. Let her sleep in! Luckily for you, moms typically want sleep more than anything and it’s free!!! All you have to do is help orchestrate it! Make sure you are awake to take the kids before they wake up and spend your time outside, downstairs, or as far as possible away from the bedroom until mom awakes! Shut the door but leave a fan on as white noise. Make sure the blinds and or curtains are closed tight and don’t check on her until she wakes up! Bonus points for a hot coffee or breakfast waiting for her when she finally gets out of bed, or better yet, to lazily enjoy in bed!

 

11. Plan a day date! The date itself doesn’t have to take place on Valentine’s Day itself, but bonus points if you are able to take the day off or get an extended lunch break! If the day itself doesn’t work, you can schedule a few hours over the weekend instead! Sometimes going out in the evening can be more stressful, more expensive, and busier but if you go out during the day, you will have less crowds and lines and cheaper food prices during lunch! Plus the babysitter is more likely to be available during the day this time of year and there isn’t as much pressure to dress up or spend as much money on food, drinks, and entertainment. Go on a hike together, grab brunch, or go see a matinee!

«
»

Baby, Children, Family, Gift Guide, Gifts, Holidays, Lifestyle, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Parenting Products, Self-Care, Toddlers 0

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children.

Follow Along!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Get the Inside Scoop

TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

About Dr. Kim

Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children. Read More…

My Instagram

🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had t 🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had today! 🇺🇸

As soon as we woke up I started educating my children, specifically my daughter, on what the inauguration meant and why today was such a special day in history. We both were glued to the television as we watched @kamalaharris be sworn in as the first Black South Asian woman Vice President and @joebiden be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. We also were powerfully moved hearing @amandascgorman - the youngest inaugural poet in history recite “The Hill We Climb.” 

My daughter was so excited to participate and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the rest of the county and she was so proud to see and be a part of history in the making. I haven’t been to Washington D.C. in about 8 years but I promised I would take her one day when the pandemic is over. 

In the meantime, I have a fun fact for you! Did you know that President Joe Biden and I both graduated from the same university? Yep! We both went to @syracuseu 🍊 And in fact, @joebiden is the first @syracuseu alumnus to become President of the United States! 

📸: @chrissywphoto #inauguration #inagurationday #inaguration2021 #joebiden #kamalaharris #presidentbiden #syracuseuniversity #syracuse #syracuseu #historyismade #madamvicepresident #mommyandme #46thpresident #sandiego #sandiegoblogger #momblogger #parentingblogger #motherhood
This time of year is notorious for dry air, allerg This time of year is notorious for dry air, allergies, and sinus trouble. #ad 

And since I work from home, it can get quite noisy and distracting with my husband and two children here, so sometimes I get my best work done in the comfort of my own bed. And the best part is that I can have my new @crane_usa “4 in 1” cool mist humidifier on at all times with essential oils to help with overall wellness and since it comes with a sound machine I can block out the other noises in the house! 

And at night, it helps my sinuses as I sleep, especially when the dry air of the heater is on, and it has a nightlight so my kids can see where they are going in the middle of the night when they inevitably need water or a hug! 

This is our 6th #cranehumidifier style and it’s my favorite one yet! Check out my stories for a closer look! 👀 #happyhealthyhumidity 

#humidifier #coldandflu #humidifiers #peaceandquiet #workingfromhome #workingmom #working #coldandfluseason #coldandflurelief #winter #winterstyle #wintertime #wintervibes #winter2021 #wahm #wahmlife #wahmlifestyle #workfromhomemom #workfromhomelife #workfromhome #workathomemom #workathome #workathomelife #newmom #babyshowergift #sinusrelief
{New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude {New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude” 🌱✨🌸

Throwing it back to one of the first mommy and me photos I ever posted on my feed because I’ve been teaching my daughter about gratitude since she was this little, possibly even younger (she is two here for reference)! 

Gratitude is such an important virtue and must have trait to build a child’s character. It also shows therapeutic benefits when you show gratitude to others, so why wouldn’t you want to make it a priority to teach and instill in your children? 

In this blog, I have suggestions for how to teach children gratitude broken down by ages and stages from infancy to teenage years, while also including some conversation prompts, and links to my favorite gratitude journals for busy families that we use here at home! 

Find the direct link to read in my bio and stories! I also published similar articles on @todayparents and @redtricycle if you follow me there! #drkimblog
DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️ I am DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️

I am that mom who wants to do it all and when I get overwhelmed or start suffering from a major case of burnout, I feel guilty if I take a break instead of giving my body and mind permission to slow down or even stop. 

As moms we often feel guilty if we take a break or believe we are perceived as weak if we ask for help. I have learned that the more I ask for help and the more time I take for myself, the better I am for my children. 

Guilt is an emotional response to something you perceived you did wrong, but when you experience unnecessary guilt, it’s counterproductive to healing and helping you with what you need most. So give it a try and let me know how you are going to take a break and not feel guilty about it this week below in the comments! ⤵️ #drkimparentingtips #theparentologist #drkimparentingadvice
DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when yo DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when you were little - and still do! 🙋🏼‍♀️🐱#ad

I am so excited to have all of these new items from the @erincondren Hello Kitty collection that launched today to keep work fun, playful, and reminiscent of childhood - something all adults need a little more of, am I right? 

The collection is all about organization, kindness, and friendship. My favorite piece of the collection is the “Daily Kindness and Joy Journal” that boldly says BE KIND, BE NICE, REPEAT on the front cover but I am also pretty obsessed with the Hello Kitty x Erin Condren Pencil Case and Vegan Leather Padfolio! 

Swipe to see my business attire on top and activewear on the bottom work style! 😉 And head to my stories to see it all up close and for your convenience I have everything linked for you http://liketk.it/35XZC and make sure to follow me at THEPARENTOLOGIST @liketoknow.it  for more of my favorites!!! #liketkit #erincondren
{New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and {New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and Role Play Ideas for Children with Autism” 🧩 🧸 🚂 ⚽️ 
.
.
For the last 3 years I have spent my career therapeutically helping families and children of all ages on the Autism Spectrum. Play has been a fundamental way for many of my clients to communicate if they are non-verbal. And some of my clients have had to be taught how to play with a toy or another person. The play ideas listed on the blog can be used with children with or without special needs. Play is a universal way a child can explore their world in a way that makes sense to them and cultivate imagination, creativity, and fun! As a Registered Play Therapist, I love the work I do and couldn’t be prouder of the progress my clients have made with play over the years! #drkimblog
.
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismfamily #autismspectrum #autismcommunity #autismparent #autismlife #autismparents #autismparenting #autistickids #autisticchildren #autistictoddler #autismresources #playtherapy #playtherapist #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #activitiesforkids #activitiesfortoddlers #activitiesforchildren #sensoryplay #sensoryplayideas #sensoryprocessingdisorder #sensoryactivities #momswhoblog #ontheblog #newblogpost #parentingblogger #momblogger
{New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control {New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control of Your Eczema” #ad 
.
.
These winter months have been so dry and my eczema has been flaring up. Can anyone relate? For decades I have used a variety of treatment options from over-the-counter ointments and lotions to doctor prescribed steroid medication. In today’s blog, I am partnering with @mediqcme to share more of my story and struggles with atopic dermatitis as well as some new treatment options! If you or a loved one suffer from eczema or atopic dermatitis it’s a must read! 
.
.
Plus there is a survey at the end of the blog you can fill out and opt in to be entered to win 1 of 10 VISA gift cards! 🙌🏻 Link in bio and in stories! #itchyskinhelp #drkimblog
.
.
.
.
#eczema #eczemarelief #eczemahealing #eczematreatment #eczemaproblems #eczemawarrior #atopicdermatitis #itchyskin #itchyskinrelief #atopicskin #atopicdermatitistreatment #atopicdermatitismanagement #eczemamanagement #winterskincare #winterskin #winterskincareroutine #winterskincaretips #newblogpost #momswhoblog #ontheblog #wellnessblogger #wellnesstips #wellnessexpert
{New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get {New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get Your Kids to Do What You Want” 
.
.
As a Registered Play Therapist, play is the foundation to the way I help children conceptualize and conquer the world. Play is second nature to children and the way they respond to many of life’s obstacles. Sometimes as parents, it is easy to get into a power match with your children, especially when you want your children to comply with a request and they won’t budge. When this happens, we need to change the way our adult mind thinks and switch it to the way a child thinks. Instead of giving them a punitive consequence, try these play recommendations that can be used with children as young as toddlerhood all the way to adolescents! #drkimblog 
.
.
.
.
#playtherapy #playtherapist #therapistsofinstagram #playoutsidethebox #learningthruplay #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #learningisfun #parenting #parentingtips #parenting101 #parentingteens #parentingtweens #parentingtoddlers #parentingadvice #parentingexpert #parentingblogger #parentingblog #newblogpost #ontheblog #momswhoblog #parenthood #toddlerproblems #toddlermom #behaviortherapist #behaviortherapy #positiveparentingsolutions #positiveparentingtips #positiveparenting
{New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effect {New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effectively in 2021” ✨ 
.
.
It’s is usually around this time that I start thinking of the goals I want to accomplish for the year. And whether you believe in making resolutions, affirmations, or goals, it is time to be proactive!! On the blog, I outlined an organizational system I use year after year to help me accomplish my goals. And I hope they work for you!! 
.
.
What are some of your goals you want to accomplish this year? 
.
.
.
.
#2021 #2021goals #goals #goalsetting #goalgetter #goalsettingtips #goalsetter #goalsetting2021 #goalcrusher #momhustle #snowday #snowman #newgoals #newgoals2021 #mommyandme #letthembelittle #letthembekids #letthemplay #playoutside #playoutdoors #playoutsidethebox #familyday #familyfun #familysnowday
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Get the Inside Scoop

Copyright © 2025 · Darling theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2025 · Darling Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in