If you still aren’t sure what to get your mum/wife/partner/best friend for Mother’s Day, how about helping a new mum in need in their honour?

Airbnb hosts who want to give back can now donate a portion — or all — of their profits to help people affected by disasters, conflict or critical illness.

For those who celebrate Christmas, I’ve come to realise that everyone handles Santa a little differently. In our home, Santa fills the stocking and brings 2-3 gifts. The rest of the gifts come from me and my husband.

We decided to do it this way early on so that we could explain to our son why it was still important to donate and help others in need at Christmastime.

My son asked me last night what I was going to be writing about today. I’d just been reading this piece in the New York Times about how parents can raise empathetic children, and it had struck a chord with me. As a parent, I desperately want to raise my son to be the sort of person who steps up when others are in need, but is that something I can truly influence?

It started with a Christmas gift for my sister-in-law (or “Auntie,” as she’s called) several years ago: In trying to choose gifts for all the members of our large family, I was running out of creative ideas. I asked my then four-year-old son what he wanted to give Auntie.

We all have that one person in our life that buys everything they want on their own. They don't ask for anything and they say they don't need anything, but you still want to get them something to show your love, respect or appreciation. Here's what you can do.