Share story behind gifts from children

By Esme Infante Nii
Advertiser Assistant Features Editor

To the untrained eye, they look like only so much junk.

A ceramic ashtray molded by little hands lovingly, and inexplicably, for a mother who doesn't smoke.

Wobbly drawings of flowers, with "I love you, Mom" in tentative block letters that run downslope, shrinking and shrinking to near-microscopic proportions.

The finger-painting of a woman with stiffly frizzy hair, gigantic hands and knock knees — obviously not Mom, right?

The amorphous blob of Play-Doh meant to approximate a fish — or is it a cow?

But these are the trophies of motherhood.

Are you a mother who treasures something your child once created specially for you?

Admittedly, these drawings and objects crafted as school projects and rainy-day diversions almost never reach art-museum quality. Nevertheless, even if they end up as junk-drawer filler, they frequently have poignant and sweet stories behind them.

Won't you write to us about those maternal mementos?

The Advertiser will select some letters to feature in an upcoming story for Mothers Day.

Tell us: What is the story of the gift, and why is it special to you?

Here are some guidelines to consider:

• Be sure to describe the gift, how old your child was and when you received it.
• Letters should not exceed 500 words.
• You are invited also to submit a photo of the object, yourself and/or your child. Please send hard-copy photos only (no computer disks or e-mailed photos). And be sure to send a copy of the photo that you can spare because no materials can be returned.
• Send to: Motherhood Mementos, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. If you're sending a letter only, it may be e-mailed to ohana@honoluluadvertiser.com, or faxed to 535-8170. Be sure to include your city and day phone number.
• Letters and photos submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
• The deadline is a quick one, April 30, so don't procrastinate.