Well if the two of you are just sending each other checks that's silly. Why not just agree to both stop?

My mom has this pattern of being the laziest gift-giver she will just kind of check and mail it to us. She is sometimes suggested we go on some kind of outing but it's always I have to do all the research. Meanwhile she expects me to give her a really elaborate presents that require a lot of work to create and customize. I'm ready to throw in the towel and just cut her a check.