With Mother’s Day just around the corner we can’t help but be reminded of how our own mums are nothing short of super heroes. Mums deserve the world and it’s great that we have one special Sunday dedicated to all of their amazingness. With so many wonderful gift guides out there, like this one, we thought why not focus on a gift guide that supports Mums who might need a little extra love and support this year.

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Fortunately, there are so many wonderful organisations working hard to give kids and mums a safe space to grow and thrive, and they can always use financial contributions and volunteers to continue the awesome work they do. Here are three of our favourites.

Kids Xpress

Raising children is the most important and rewarding endeavor most of us will ever embark upon, but it is difficult even under the best of circumstances. Add in difficulties like caring for a child with special needs, trauma or even homelessness, the challenges with child rearing can grow to a whole new level of hopelessness.

That’s where the work of KidsXpress comes in. By offering 10 week programs, coinciding with the school calendar, KidsXpress gives children the opportunity to be immersed in programs like Group, Co-led and Expressive therapy.

Combining each of these therapies together ensures a well-rounded approach to success. Expressive therapy is unique but incredibly beneficial to children who have been subjected to trauma or deal with issues related to social function, like those symptoms associated with Autism and Aspergers. Expressive therapy enables sensory engagement when traditional verbal and cognitive therapies are less effective or not an option.

The work of KidsXpress ensures that these challenges are not insurmountable and even helps to build bridges within the community that prevents parents from being in constant “panic mode” while actually helping them and their children to thrive in a network of folks who find themselves in similar circumstances searching for similar solutions.

How you can give: Because their services are in such high demand, there is a long list of families eager to join. Donate to KidsXpress here. Every little bit helps bring those struggling most closer to the support they need, and your contribution is tax deductible!

Habitat for Humanity Australia

Here at Designbx the old adage, “Think global, act local” rings true. That’s why we love Habitat for Humanity Australia. We all know how important it is to be able to dwell with dignity, and their work does exactly that for those most in need.

Single mums make up 84-88% of lone parent homes in Australia, and up to 23% of lone-parents are living below the poverty line. This is a crucial problem that is only growing as housing affordability reaches crisis level across the country.  

Habitat for Humanity Australia puts homeownership within reach for those struggling to put a roof over their family’s heads. It is a long-term solution to the quicksand of poverty, a problem that impacts each and every one of us, whether we know it or not.

So how does it work? Here is an excerpt from the Habitat for Humanity Australia website:

“Families partner with Habitat for Humanity in the construction of their home. Each partner family receives an interest free, 20 year loan based on 95 percent of the market value of the completed home.

Partner families contribute 500 hours of their own time in the planning and construction phases – this is called ‘sweat equity’ and is recognised in the 5 percent discount on market value that we return to them. For example, if a home is valued at $300,000, the partner family will have accumulated effectively $15,000 in equity, from their own efforts, on the day they move in.”

Whether it’s building homes right here in Australia, helping those in developing countries or areas devastated by a natural disaster, you know that your financial and on-the-ground volunteering contributions are going to great use.

If you love the idea of building something with your bare hands, then Habitat for Humanity is an excellent way to give back. Additionally, you can help by making a financial contribution, or by potentially organising a team building effort with your work colleagues. There are so many great ways to get engaged!

Here in Australia, the program is run differently state-by-state. So please check the website to see how to best participate in your community.

One Girl

What a difference an education can make. Everything about One Girl is empowering and hopeful, which is no small feat given the problems they tackle are oh-so-big. This organisation is in the business of educating 1 million girls in some of the most impoverished parts of Africa. One Girl’s work is helping to decrease rates of everything from child brides to infant mortality and the payoffs have been far reaching.

For instance, did you know that the rate of infant mortality REDUCES a staggering 5-10% for every year a girl stays in school? Additionally, educated mothers are much more likely to pass on their education to their children, and are more than twice as likely to send their children to school.  

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It’s easy to feel completely overwhelmed by the devastating problems the One Girl organisation handles, that we sometimes end up giving up before we even begin. Thankfully for us, One Girl has broken down the solutions to an achievable level and it’s easy for all of us to make a difference.

Whether you decide to make a monthly $25 contribution to send a girl to school, or do a fundraiser yourself, your ROI will bolster not just mums, but children, families and entire communities. That’s something to celebrate this Mother’s Day and all year long.

Do you support a great organisation and want to share it with us? Add it to the comments section to keep the conversation going.

Other fantastic Mum blogs to check out this Mother’s Day. If at heart you’re a gift giver, then here are some ones close to our heart- Great Mother’s Day gifts. 

The post An Alternative Guide to Gift Giving this Mother’s Day appeared first on Designbx.

It’s the time of year when the woman who suffered agony to bring you into this world becomes a selfless martyr and begs you not to spoil her on Mothers Day. She doesn’t want you to fork out loads of cash or go to too much trouble. She’ll be happy with a card and a call. We’ve been around long enough to see how this will play out, and let’s face it; unless she made you wear Crocs beyond the age of twelve or still tries to remove dirt from your face with tissues and saliva, she deserves the best!

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 When she begs us not to spend too much money, what she’s trying to say is she wants a Mothers Day Hamper from Bockers & Pony. You can safely put the violin away and get to the arduous task of choosing which hamper will pay for those hours of child labour. We all know it’s a debt that can’t be repaid but makeup, chocolates, luggage and Moet will definitely be a step in the right direction.

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Let’s not forget how many sleepless nights she spent while she was worried sick about you, especially during your troubling teenage years. Perhaps you’re still depriving the poor woman of winks. If so, at least let her burn the midnight oil in style. Masini & Chern have a beautiful range of robes and PJs that will make sure Mum is fashionably concerned.

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Flowers are always welcome but getting a single arrangement delivered is so five years ago. Besides, as the flowers wilt they become a reminder that you haven’t called her. Bloombox Co. offers nifty subscriptions that ensure your mother sees your relationship as loving, colourful and perennial.

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This is a particularly effective option for the problem child in the family. Amazingly, Designbx has gift vouchers that could buy your mum a complete online interior design solution for less than a subscription for flowers. She might express her personality by creating a bedroom boudoir, or next time you see her she could be wearing an exotic scarf and sipping Moroccan coffee in her Boho Chic living room. It’s probably the most fun present you’ll ever give her although you may find yourself sitting in her beautiful new kitchen wondering why you didn’t just buy a voucher for yourself. A Designbx voucher definitely wins the prize for the most unique Mothers Day gift.

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Do you have one of those modern mums who’s always on the go? You know the type: they know more about art, politics and technology than you. Don’t worry; you don’t have to slow her down by dropping a sedative in her Chardonnay while she’s focussed on her salad nicoise. A subscription to Collective Hub magazine via the MagShop may be a more ethical distraction, but of course there is the likelihood she’ll end up being even more knowledgeable.

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If you want mum to fawn over you, jewellery is a pretty safe option. In the mum world it wins status points. She’ll be at lunch with one of her mates and lean back so the necklace catches the sunlight, and then be forced to explain how you bought it for her as a Mothers Day gift. Her unfortunate friend, who only got a card due to overuse of tissues and saliva, will be green with envy. Dogeared has a great range of stunning and elegant necklaces hand-picked for mums. You can always think laterally thanks to Kikki-k’s happiness journal. It’s perfect for mums who like to keep track of events. It’s not just a blank journal. It features inspirational and organisational notes to help your mum live a more enriched life. Chances are, the first entry will be an account of receiving the journal from you as a gift. Great brownie points!

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For a mother with class, there’s The Daily Edited’s selection of Mothers Day gift packs. Personally monogrammed purses, wallets and cases come in a range of subtle colours, and packs come with make-up, flowers or sweets. If you’re waging war against your siblings to win Mum’s favour, you’ll be hard to beat. We don’t want to know too much about Mum’s love life, but if she’s going to strut her stuff, she may as well make us proud (oh wow, that already sounds wrong). It’ll be tough for her to escape the keen eyes of all those foxes out there (silver or otherwise) when she’s wearing something tantalising from the Shoes of Prey collection.

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Regardless of which choice you make, get online to make sure you order early enough, and chase up the gift with a call or visit on Sunday.Forgetting Mothers Day can result in the silent treatment, detailed stories of pregnancy and childbirth, or becoming the runt of the litter. But above all, make an effort on her special day because you love her.

Designbx  |  “Becoming the favourite child: Mothers Day gifts that will win mum’s heart”  | designbx.com

The post Becoming the favourite child: Mothers Day gifts that will win Mum’s heart appeared first on Designbx.