10 Easy, Inexpensive Gifts Moms Really Want for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is this weekend, and for most of us, it will be a chaotic yet lovely day full of family. And while Mother’s Day certainly isn’t about the presents, there are some gifts we’d rather receive than others.
Of course, the ultimate Mother’s Day gift is time with our children. Time for ourselves would be a close second. And while family time is frequent, quality family time is rare these days, especially with the excitement of quarantine coming to an end.
Whether you’re trying to find the perfect gift for your own mom or figuring out what you’d like for yourself, I’ve got you covered! Here are 10 gifts any mom would be happy to receive on Mother’s Day (or any day!):
1. A day with no chores
Imagine a day with no chores, but things actually still get done. The laundry is washed, folded, and put away, the dishes are done, the daily crumb cover has been removed from your floors and counters, and your bathroom sparkles. The beds are made, the toys are where they belong.
And you didn’t do any of it, your significant other and children were kind enough to take over for you!
This Mother’s Day, ask for a real day off. Not the kind of day off where you plan to relax but actually end up reorganizing your closet.
These days, doing chores is automatic. It’s hard to work through the house without picking something up or wiping something down. Make a conscious choice to ignore it all and let someone else handle it. You deserve a break!
2. A week of meals planned and prepared
There are so many jokes about how marriage is just one endless conversation about what to eat for dinner every night, but they’re all true. I don’t know about you, but I dread the daily dinner decision -and I’m not even the one who usually does the cooking!
Every mom I know is ready for a break from meal planning and cooking. Between working, taking care of their children, daily chores, and extracurricular activities, they deserve a break!
If someone could just do the grocery shopping, make a menu, and meal prep everything possible, all moms would be eternally grateful!
3. A great photo with the kids
We all have gorgeous photos of our children.
Everyone is smiling and looking at the camera. No one has spilled anything on themselves yet. The sun is shining, and the lighting is perfection.
And 99.999% of the time, we’re not in these photos. Our kids are, and sometimes our husbands are too. But we’re the ones taking the picture.
The photos we are in are more funny than frame-worthy. Someone’s eyes are closed, someone looks stoned, and someone is screaming, but at least we’re smiling, right?
To be fair, Tom is the exception to this rule. He snaps candid shots at every family gathering and even on random days. He takes tons of photos of Rae and me, and I’m so grateful.
For all the other moms out there, make sure you ask for a photo with your kids. And take them for your mom friends and family. Even if the pictures aren’t perfect, they’ll be grateful! We need to help each other on this one!
4. A Sunday with no commitments
Weekend days with absolutely no plans are all too rare. For moms of older children, and especially moms with multiples, they’re nonexistent. One mom I know has a minimum of 4 different activities on a typical weeknight and a minimum of 6 on a weekend.
Since for many of us, Mother’s Day means family gatherings, pick an upcoming Sunday and plan ahead. Cancel all plans, politely decline invitations, and get the chores done early.
When that Sunday comes, do something you and your family will really enjoy together. Make breakfast together, go for a hike, spend some time at the beach, or just play in the backyard. Enjoy the moments, and don’t forget to take some pictures to capture the memories!
5. Time to read a book for fun
Free time is a precious commodity for moms, and often, we don’t have any for weeks at a time. When we do, we’re so exhausted that we fall asleep before the sun fully sets. I actually fell asleep at 8:12 last night, which is dusk in Massachusetts.
Reading is so therapeutic and fun. Fiction can take you to another time and place, and nonfiction can help you learn so much about any topic that fascinates you. But the time to actually relax and enjoy a book is nearly impossible to find.
Since becoming a mom, most of my “reading” has been listening to audiobooks on my commute. Most moms, especially moms of young children, are the same way. While it’s better than nothing, it’s not the same as actually reading.
This Mother’s Day, take a few hours to read something just for you. Sit in the sunshine with your favorite snack and drink and read something you love!
6. A handmade card from your child
The Mother’s Day cards in stores range from hysterically funny to saccharine sweet. They often contain long, thoughtful monologues full of heartfelt sentiments. Greeting card companies seem to think this is the way to a mom’s heart.
They’re wrong.
The perfect Mother’s Day card is a folded up piece of paper. It has scribbly drawings drawn by chubby, dimpled hands and quotes written down for those too young to write. It has a poem written by an elementary school student or a handwritten note from a high schooler.
The perfect Mother’s Day card is handmade by your kid. It’s their words, their drawings, and the knowledge that they took the time to make it for you.
These are the cards we keep forever!
7. A photobook
Rae is 17 months old right now, and I have literally 22,094 photos and 1,276 videos of that time period on my phone. I’m not exaggerating.
While those numbers may be a bit higher than average, moms have so many wonderful photos of their kids living on their phones. The problem is that there’s no time to actually go through your phone and enjoy them. And we never get them developed anymore, so they just stay there.
The ultimate Mother’s Day gift would be for someone to build a gorgeous photo book full of as many pictures as possible. Shutterfly makes it so easy, and so does Google Photos. Even my iPhone offers me pre-made photo books every so often!
Shutterfly runs sales constantly, so with a little planning, this would be a reasonably priced but perfect Mother’s Day gift!
8. Real sleep
When do your children wake up every day? In my house, the answer is 5:25 AM. Rae doesn’t care if it’s a snow day, a Saturday, or the day after my 2nd Covid vaccine. 5:25 rolls around, and nothing will stop that child from enjoying every minute until naptime!
Naturally, my husband sleeps through all of this, so Rae knows to call “Mama” the second she’s awake. I wouldn’t trade the cozy early morning snuggles and her happy squeals when we have 6 AM dance parties for anything.
But just once in a while, waking up at 7 AM would be lovely!
And it’s not just waking up early with the kids. Moms stay up when their kids are sick. They wake up the second they hear any suspicious noise on the baby monitor, even if they’re in the middle of the deepest sleep. They get up early to make breakfasts, pack lunches, and make sure that everything is ready for the day.
This Mother’s Day, ask for a slow morning. Wake up after the sun rises for once, laze in bed, and get up on your own schedule.
9. A hot meal
I can’t remember the last time I sat and ate an entire meal without getting up to refill a cup, pierce some pasta with a fork, or turn on Sesame Street for a certain little someone who finished early. And I only have 1 kid!
Moms rarely get to sit and eat their dinner while it’s hot. They’re constantly moving around, serving others, and their own meal gets neglected. It reminds me of being the bride at your wedding -every single day.
When we do eat, it’s usually standing or on the run, inhaled as quickly as possible. And that’s not good for digestion or mental health!
At least once a week, make it a point to ask for help during dinner. Let your kids wait for their refills, or let your husband entertain your toddler while you take your time and finish your meal. You deserve it!
10. Validation
Moms do a lot for their kids. We do it because we love them, not for martyrdom or accolades. But every once in a while, it would be nice to have someone validate how hard we work to keep everyone happy, healthy, and safe.
That’s why I always make my students write thank you notes to their moms around Mother’s Day. It’s nice for them to reflect on the wonderful things their moms do for them, and the results are consistently heartfelt.
This goes for our own moms too, and our mothers-in-law. This year, make it a point to tell the moms in your life how grateful you are for them. Be specific in the reasons for your gratitude. They may not even realize how much their kindness still impacts you!
For fun Mother’s Day ideas, check out these 20 easy ways to celebrate Mother’s Day with your toddler.
What do you really want for Mother’s Day? Please share in the comments below!