Aside from having my bills paid and a day off, there’s not much I want for Mother’s Day this year. Sure, Supernatural on DVD or the latest Rick Riordan novel would be nice, but we don’t really have the funds to waste on that sort of stuff—and it’s all stuff I could either borrow or find online anyway. What I’d really like is some meaning, and I know many other moms would, too. How do you give your mom some meaning? Here are a few ideas.

Give her something handmade or hand-written. This doesn’t go out of style. I don’t care if you’re forty and you haven’t made your mom something since a bumpy pencil holder back in first grade; it’s still much better than anything you could buy. Written things are the best, especially if they come from the heart. My husband doesn’t usually help our daughter out with making something, but now that she is five I’m hoping he’ll do something with her this year.

Spend the day with her. Time is precious to moms. Spend the day with her—cook some lunch or go out to eat (just don’t make her cook or do dishes, even if she insists, and you know she might), watch movies, paint each other’s toenails, read together, whatever. Do what mom likes with her (in my mom’s case, it’s karaoke; in my case, it’s reading chapters out loud of whatever I’m reading at the moment) and it will be the most memorable Mother’s Day ever.

Embarrass yourself for mom. Get over all of the times you say she embarrassed you and go out on a limb for her. Wear an “I Love My Mom” shirt, or temporarily tattoo one of those mom tattoos somewhere conspicuous on your body (get a permanent one if you prefer!). Serenade her at work—that should be a real hit! Get all of your siblings together to do a mom flash mob at the mall to her favorite song. I could just picture my mom’s face if we came down the escalator bobbing to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.”

Give something in her name. If someone had $20 and wanted to spend it on me, I’d much rather they funneled it into a fund for mothers less fortunate than I am. Fifteen dollars will give a woman without resources prenatal vitamins for a month or clean childbirth kits to women in Lesser Developed Nations, while $58 will supply women in Guyana with health exams. What mother wouldn’t rather have $15 spent helping other mothers and their children than get a bouquet of flowers?

Sure, some mothers may really want some flowers or chocolate this Sunday; I know my mom is probably looking forward to the annual mani/pedi I give her (and may be disappointed, since I’ll probably only be able to treat her to one). But if your mom is like me, she’s probably wanting a little more depth for her day. So instead of giving dollars (or things purchased with them), give some thought instead. You’ll be glad you did.