One of the greatest failings of any gift giving event, like Mother's Day, is to not accurately grasp what the person receiving the gift really wants.

Mother's Day can be particularly hard because not giving an appropriate gift can reinforce the notion that the role of Mom is not only under appreciated but misunderstood completely.

So to help clear the way to the perfect Mother's Day gift The Royal Gazette polled a variety of mothers, some in the streets and others via email and Facebook, to find out exactly "What a girl wants".

Admittedly our poll falls well short of scientific standards and we should not be held accountable for providing custom solutions to every Mother's Day puzzle, but it does provide some valuable insight.

It seems mothers fall quite neatly into two categories. First is the "Calgon take me away" group, who want nothing more than a day (or week) away from the regular duty that is Mom. For these women a day at the spa features heavily on the ideal ways to spend Mother's Day. But it is important to know your girl. One mother unexpectedly said she just craved: "A round of golf and a hubby who lets me take off for five hours to really enjoy it. Failing that, a facial."

While another said: "My ideal Mother's Day present would be... a full day of sports, any, many or just one, followed by a deep massage and some good food and wine!"

So the spa still sneaks in there but in sometimes surprising ways.

Intrinsic in the answers of these women was not just the notion of getting away but of understanding the need for time to herself or with her friends.

The second group could be called the "We are family" girls. These ladies want a day with the whole family together doing something fun and away from the house. Sounds easy right, but there's just one catch. They don't want to have to organise, make or clean-up anything. Fair enough too, because this is what many mothers do all the time.

So for this plan to work it will take some planning and effort. One mother sought: "a picnic with the kids and husband, all pre-arranged, executed and cleaned up by someone other than myself, where I just get to sit back and enjoy watching my family."

Again the underlying theme of appreciation for what she does everyday.

Of course you can't go wrong with pampering: Make a special dinner or run a bath, complete with candles and a basket of new soaps and lotions.

Another option would be to participate in something she loves by joining her in the garden for some planting or going to the linen store to pick out some new drapes.

It seems that mothers really want our attention and appreciation. If you are not sure what that means for the mother in your life you could always just... ask.

Failing that, try this advice:

"I think my ideal gift would be breakfast in bed, no housework, lunch with the family, quiet time to read a book and finishing off with a quiet dinner and no struggles at bedtime! Then a big glass of wine with my husband. That is a full Mother's Day gift there!"