Gifts for Moms 'Mommy Friends'

Is one of the moms doing more than her fair share? Has she covered your duties as classroom volunteer or picked up your child to host play dates at her home with regularity? 

A busy mom appreciates the other mothers who step up, fill in and don't seem to keep score. A token of appreciation from you would probably be appreciated, and few mothers would take offense at receiving an herb garden in a planter. You can give a living herb garden, or make up a kit if you have a friend with a green thumb.

There are a lot of attractive herb garden containers to choose from. A plain container in a basket, a personally decorated planter (especially if it can be decorated by grandkids), or my favorite, the strawberry planter, all make good container gardens for herbs.

If you’re making an herb garden kit, be sure to add enough sterile potting soil mix to fill the container. Put it in a plastic baggie and wrap it up in burlap. To make the soil look all earthy and natural, decorate it by tying it off with raffia.

Add packets of quality seeds, and don’t forget a marker for each kind of herb included. Darling markers can be purchased at most dollar stores if you don’t want to make your own.

Add enough gravel to cover the bottom of the planting container. Wrap it up in burlap and tie with raffia like you did with the potting soil. Make sure you mark what it is. Tuck the gravel kit into a small watering can and stick it in the container.

To finish off the herb garden kit, add a soil scoop, snipers, fertilizer and gloves.

If you’re planning to meet your helpful mom friend, go ahead and plant the seeds now so you can present mom with a living herb garden as a gift. You might want to make two. Use one for a gift and keep one for your own kitchen. Use it as a quick and easy source for cooking herbs and teas, scented greenery for the window sill, or with a little creativity with plant container decoration, the tiny herb garden will make a beautiful centerpiece for the kitchen table.

Natural Ways to Ease Colic Pain

I usually don't like to recommend herbal remedies for children. It has nothing to do with the safety of the herb. I hesitate because I don't want my suggestion of a remedy to cause a parent to diagnose the condition and possibly mask symptoms that prevent the child from receiving professional care. 

I only offer the following information because Pediatrics reviewed 15 clinical trials on infantile colic and recently released the results of the study. They have determined what we already knew. Herbs can help ease the symptoms of colic.

Fennel extract seems to be the most effective herbal remedy for the baby showing symptoms of colic. Fennel seeds are a natural aid to digestion. They help to expel gas as they relax the muscle lining of the digestive tract.

German chamomile and lemon balm also showed effectiveness is the clinical trials. These herbs are often recommended for teas to give a calming effect to the drinker.

A tea made with a combination of fennel, balm mint, licorice and chamomile was also studied for their effects on infants and found effective.

After a sleepless night spent trying to sooth a crying baby, both mom and her child could benefit from the soothing tea. Mom can brew a double batch and enjoy her cup, diluting some and letting it cool before letting the baby join her relaxing tea moment.

There were no recommendations made during the study of the strength of the concoction for the colicky infant. Like all herbal remedies, introduce the new herbal remedy in small doses to make sure that the substance is well tolerated.

Let the herbal tea cool before giving it the baby.

Herbal remedies are never meant to substitute for medical care or treatments that are suggested by your health team. They are offered as a temporary way to ease the occasional problem. If the problem persists, call the doctor.

All written content ©2011 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.