My mum is an alcoholic and its her birthday this weekend
 

Okay, so my mum lives in a assisted homeless shelter for people getting out of homelessness. She is there because she is an alcoholic, or a so called recovering alcoholic.

It is her 50th birthday this weekend and I have not seen her for a year. I am going to see her on Sunday and am looking into getting a hotel so I can stay the night to make the price of the train tickets worthwhile.

I don't know what to get her.. I have not got her a Christmas, Mothers Day or a birthday present as I have not seen her. However, as I am at university at the minute - money is a bit of a problem!

What do I get which makes up for all the presents I have missed, the fact that it is her 50th and takes in her situation?

Help!

Your spending time with her is more precious than any material gift could ever be. As an alcoholic in recovery myself, today I cherish the moments I get to spend sober with my family members. They don't know it of course, but I log each and every day in my fond memories. :)

Can you call the place where she lives and ask them?
I'm imagining she's probably lacking for basic things like soap, clothes, shampoo, etc?
And maybe you could make her a nice little basket with a nice card and a bunch of stuff that she needs -- maybe go a little overboard on things like a lipstick, perfume, something she wouldn't get otherwise, stuff that shows her that you're still thinking of her as a worthy human being?