Understatement of the century: Finding the best Mother’s Day gift, whether for your own mom, your partner, or another mother figure in your life, can be tough. Flowers and cards are nice, but what gift can possibly repay her for all the boo-boos she’s kissed and all the times she’s been there when you needed someone?
I’m a mom of three, and while every year I swear that I don’t need anything for Mother’s Day (and it’s true), it’s still nice to be surprised with something I would never splurge on for myself. Let’s not forget that any mom who currently has little ones at home right now is pulling triple duty as home school teacher, personal chef, and housekeeper — and that’s on top of her day job. Now more than ever, moms deserve a thoughtful something special to show just how much they are appreciated.
Of course, every mom is unique and has her own interests. Some love to spend their free time in the garden, while others would be more happy curling up with a good book. For some moms, a luxury accessory or high-end beauty product could be the perfect way to make her feel pampered. Others might prefer a practical gift they can put to good use while spending so much time at home right now.
With that in mind, here are over a dozen great ideas for Mother’s Day gifts to give this year, no matter what kind of mom you’re shopping for.
A Cozy Robe
Comfort is key these days, and this super-soft cotton robe from luxury linen brand Parachute has it in spades. Available in five spring-friendly colors, this best-selling robe is made from 100% long-staple Turkish cotton, and features two hidden side pockets, so Mom can tote whatever she needs to lounge in style. It’s also durable and machine-washable, meaning she can keep this in constant rotation without worrying about it getting worn out.
A Premium French Pot
A great gift for anyone who loves spending time in the kitchen, this sturdy traditional French vessel is perfect for stews, soups, casseroles, roasts, and braises. The specialty pot is made of enameled cast iron, which helps distribute and retain heat. They’re ideal for everyone’s new favorite quarantine hobby, baking rustic loaves of sourdough bread — and you know your mom would love to wow the family with that skill.
An At-Home Shopping Experience
The Stitch Fix concept is pretty simple: Your mom fills out a questionnaire about her style, body type, and preferences, and she’ll be sent a curated box of five items to choose from. She can choose to keep one, or all of them — and put the gift card towards those purchases. (You can choose how much to put on the gift card, from $20 to $1000.) Stitch Fix makes online shopping fun, and it’s a tailored approach to shopping for new clothes. Since your mom can’t exactly get out to the stores these days, it’s perfect for anyone going into shopping withdrawal.
A Chic Leather Purse
Mom might not be headed out of the house anytime soon, but she’ll look forward to using this of-the-moment crossbody bag as soon as she can. Made from buttery pebbled Italian leather, the purse features an exterior pocket and full zip closure. San Francisco-based Cuyana is also a great place to shop for smaller leather goods like wallets, cute pouches, and travel cases if you like the look but don’t want to splurge.
An Upgraded Floral Arrangement
Fact: You can’t go wrong with flowers. One-up last year’s bouquet with this lush arrangement of from Bouqs, featuring unexpected but gorgeous spring blooms like lisianthus, snapdragons and solidago. And if you’re really looking to score some brownie points, hook your mom up with a monthly flower subscription to save 30% on each bouquet.
Sleek Wireless Headphones
Whether she likes to listen to her podcasts in peace, or just wants to tune out your dad every once in a while, these wireless noise-canceling headphones from Bose will do the trick, and then some. They have intuitive touch controls, a high-quality microphone system, and the option of turning the noise-canceling feature up or down. And the fact that they look so good doesn’t hurt, either.
An Extra-Cushy Yoga Mat
Help your mom keep up — or start! — a regular yoga practice with this natural rubber and polyurethane mat. Designed to be extra easy on joints, this mat is an impressive five millimeters thick, a fact that mom’s knees, hips, and hands will appreciate. Available in four colors, it’s reversible with a different hue on each side, and a textured grip on both to help prevent slipping (even when things get sweaty).
A High-End Face Mask
This face mask set from luxury Japanese beauty brand SK-II is the next best thing to treating Mom to a facial (which is clearly not an option in most parts of the country right now). Each treatment contains pitera, a bio-ingredient rich in vitamins, organic acids, minerals, and amino acids that claim to enhance skin cell renewal. The pack contains six masks, so your mom can pamper herself more than once.
A Monogram Notebook
Make sure your mom has new pages to fill with this colorful journal from hip accessories designer Clare V. for Anthropologie. Emblazoned with her initial and a two tone stripe in contrasting colors, the notebook will look chic on her desk or bedside table. She’ll think of you every time she cracks it open, whether that’s to journal about her day or jot down a grocery list.
A Top-of-the-Line E-Reader
One can only watch so much Netflix, so your mom is probably leaning more into books these days than usual. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to get to a bookstore or library right now, which is where the Kindle comes in. This e-reader has plenty of storage — eight gigabytes, to be exact — so she can download plenty of books to enjoy. The battery lasts for up to six weeks of use and has a backlit touch display, which means it’s easy to read clearly in both dark rooms and direct sunlight. Include a card with suggestions for a few of your favorite downloadable reads for a personal touch.
Spruced-Up Garden Essentials
May is prime time for gardening, and any green thumb would appreciate a new set of tools to dig into. This sturdy and stain-resistant tote features tons of pockets for storing all her gardening go-tos. Even better, it comes stocked with three new tools: two trowels — one for digging, and one for planting — and a cultivator for mixing and aerating soil.
An Aesthetically Pleasing Aromatherapy Diffuser
Everyone could use a little help in the relaxation department these days. This Vitruvi diffuser has a cool, upscale pottery look to it, and settings that allow it to run for 3.5 or seven intermittent hours. Pair the diffuser with calming essential oils like lavender for an incredibly relaxing gift (and think about snagging one for yourself while you’re at it).
A Pretty Stationary Set
If your mom loves to keep in touch the old fashioned way, she’ll appreciate this bright and sunny stationary by Kate Spade. The set includes 10 notecards and 10 envelopes, so your mom can write in style to people she loves, or just keep a few handy for the next time she wants to share a sweet note. Each envelope also has a pink lining for a fun pop of color.
A Mother’s Day Beauty Gift Set
If your mom loves to try new beauty products, she’ll be thrilled with this gorgeous gift set featuring 10 premium samples from cool brands like Indie Lee, Grown Alchemist, and Sunday Riley. Products range from perfume to lip tint to face treatments, and the set also includes wild flower seed packets for your mom to plant in her garden. Bonus: The packaging, which features lovely floral illustrations from Emily Taylor, is pretty enough to save and repurpose for stashing keepsakes.
Not finding what you’re looking for? Check out even more Mother’s Day gift ideas below.
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