I've gotten away from giving many presents the last couple years, to my mother or anyone else.
But that's largely because I tend to want the holidays done and past as soon as possible.
For most of my life I wouldn't have been able to imagine not buying something for my mom and, before he died, my father.
I have no idea what is normal today.
But I wouldn't be surprised if there were a lot of teenagers out there who couldn't be bothered. Especially so-called "middle class" kids. We like to talk about pampered athletes, but this is third-generation of pampering that has gone far beyond just the stars and "beautiful people."
I'm not saying this is you and your wife, longtimefan. Because I've met a lot of parents out there who "brought their kids up right", who haven't been helicopter parents building their kids' sense of entitlement.
But there are so many kids out there who have that sense of entitlement, I sometimes think good parents have no chance of fighting peer pressure on this one. "Everyone does it" (or, in this case, "no one does it") has always been a big persuader for adolescents; but because there are so many others out there enabling other adolescents to MeMeMe everything, the few who don't have a bigger uphill battle than ever.
Frankly, the idea that a kid "can't be bothered" to get a gift for their mother is an argument that they no longer get Christmas gifts from their parents.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)