That's Fit

My absolute favorite gift for Mother's Day is time -- time alone for fitness. My kids hang with me all day long. If I'm not running them around town, I'm running to the grocery store in anticipation of cooking dinner. Yes, I am a stay-at-home mom and one element seriously lacking in my life is a sizable chunk of alone time so I can read the paper, paint my toenails, head to the gym, seriously stretch and take a luxurious hot shower without having to squeeze it in between preschool runs, blogging, graduate school and a part-time evening job.

If your mom digs the gym, purchasing a fitness-themed gift for Mother's Day is certainly a good idea. Maybe she needs an at-home barbell set or how about a cool new yoga shirt? I bet she'd be delighted with a fitness and diet book off the NY Times Bestseller list. Just make sure to include a block of Mom Alone Time, too. Solo time so she can actually crack open that new fitness book, slip on the yoga shirt for a Mountain Pose or simply stick her toenails on top of those new barbells for two coats of shiny red polish.

If your mom needs a fitness jumpstart, guide her toward AOL Body's food tips and strategies to Energize Your Workouts. Dads and older kids -- offering to prepare three healthy dinners for mom the week after Mother's Day will recharge her batteries for fitness and provide three workout slots, too.