Mother’s Day is upon us! While you may be thinking, “crrraappp, I’m way too late for any gift ideas”…think again my friend.
Originally, this post was going to be filled with 50 + ideas of Mother’s Day gift ideas ready to be shared with you 2-3 weeks before Mother’s Day weekend. Well, in an all too familiar “life happens” scenario, ¾ of our family came down with colds and my daughter fell from a playground slide and fractured her humerus. So we shift, adjust, modify and prevail! In going with the theme of this post, I’m sharing some last minute (yet still thoughtful and meaningful) ideas in true last minute fashion. All of these ideas can either be ordered online with next day delivery, immediately delivered to you virtually, or can be picked up from local big box stores near you!
And…while I wrote this post for dads in search of gifts for their baby momma, these gifts can easily translate for grandmothers, mom friends or any other caregiver you’d like to acknowledge for Mom’s Day.
What Do Moms Want for Mother’s Day?
It’s actually pretty simple. I took a little survey and the top 3 answers were:
- Rest/sleep
- No cooking
- A house cleaner
Really, none of these require spending money! Just another kind soul/family member with some elbow grease and a willing heart. But, if you want to go the extra mile and give her a tangible treat, here are some great ideas, especially if you are pressed for time!
15 Last Minute but Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Mom
- Charcuterie book & board
It’s a hot trend in modern day hosting. I mean c’mon…who doesn’t love a good charcuterie board?! Girls night, date night, family movie
night…there’s no wrong reason to make and partake in one. It truly is an art! Whether sweet, savory or a mix of the two, there are so many deliciously fun ideas when it comes to charcuterie. So, grab a virtual charcuterie recipe book like this one or grab the hardcover version with fast delivery here. Present it to her with a pre-made charcuterie board using one of the recipes from the book and a glass of chilled sauvignon blanc or mocktail on the side. - Wine chiller
My mother-in-law has one of these and it’s amazing. It’s convenient, light weight and perfect for keeping your wine chilled while sitting outside on your deck or porch or to bring on a picnic. - French Press
I know your mind immediately goes to coffee, but a press is great for tea lovers as well! A French press like this one, is perfect for making herbal tea infusions as well as fancy coffee! Just add some of your favorite loose herbs and/or tea leaves in lieu of coffee grinds and voila! - Tea Gift Basket
Along the lines of the previously mentioned gift, you can create a tea themed gift basket! You can fill it with her favorite bagged or loose leaf teas, a new tea mug and a steeping ball or tea filter bags for the loose leaves. This is one of my favorite tea brands. They have loose tea leaves and herbs bundled into pre-made nylon sachets so it’s the convenience of a tea bag but the potency and refinement of loose leaves. They even sell tea cups with built-in infusers! - Coffee Gift Basket
If I’m going to elaborate on a tea basket gift, of course I’m going to share the coffee basket idea! Similarly to the tea gift basket, create a gift basket with her favorite coffee grounds/pods, a cute new mug and her favorite creamer and/or syrup flavor. Some grocery stores (like Wegman’s for example) allow you to purchase beans and also grind them right there at the store! You can also opt for a new fancy, organically grown coffee that you think she might like to try! Did you know that coffee beans are one of the most highly sprayed and chemically treated crops in the world? I really like both this brand and this brand of organic coffee because they’re smooth, delicious and grown with strict organic standards. - Smart Mug
Imagine…drinking a cup of coffee or tea that is always the perfect temperature. Never cold, nor too hot. You’re welcome. Check it out here. - Permission Slips
A super easy, non time consuming, DIY gift that is guaranteed to bring a smile to any mom’s face and heart. Get a couple pieces of card stock, cut out a few squares, and write down a few things that you think she would value or enjoy doing ALONE or in peace and quiet. Now be careful… you’re not telling her that YOU give HER permission to do any of these things. Rather you’re saying, “it’s ok for you to give yourself permission to do any of these things AND not feel guilty about it AND I’ve got your back in doing so.” See the difference? Regardless of the memes and self help quotes that are out there, I’m here to tell you that mom guilt is real and it sneaks up during the most unsuspecting times. Here are a few examples:-I give myself permission to take a walk alone-I give myself permission to take a nap-I give myself permission to go out to dinner/drinks with a friend-I give myself permission to read for 30 minutes uninterrupted-I give myself permission to not cook and let everyone eat what they choose
- Sleep in with breakfast in bed
When surveyed, one of the top 3 things that moms say they would love to receive on Mother’s Day is a peaceful morning sleep-in (along with not cooking and house cleaning). I added the breakfast in bed part. My husband and kids did this for me on Mother’s Day a couple years in a row and it was the sweetest thing ever! They even picked some wild raspberries as a topping for my pancakes. Sweet, thoughtful, meaningful, restorative and easy to throw together last minute! - House cleaning
I couldn’t agree more. As I mentioned before, this was a common answer when surveying moms. There’s a couple ways you can go with this one. Get her a gift card or just make a hand-written voucher that’s good for a deep clean from a hired company. You can schedule the cleaning ahead of time for her (although I would make sure to schedule at least 1 week out…us moms need time to prepare for this stuff), or gather your family and commit to a day of cleaning for mom. This last option may not result in the same top notch cleaning as a professional service, but you’d be amazed the amount of joy you can bring to mom from a good bathroom wipe down, dusting, vacuum, making of beds and cleanly folded (and put away) load of laundry! - Silk pillowcases
These are all the rage right now in the self-care/health and beauty world. They help to cut down on hair breakage and are gentler on your skin than a typical cotton pillowcase. The smooth surface cuts down on the friction against your skin, creating less “sleep creasing” and decrease in morning wrinkles (which can become permanent wrinkles). They also absorb less moisture, allowing your skin to stay more hydrated. A great gift by itself, or paired with a silk sleep mask and a couple calming essential oils like lavender, chamomile or clary sage. - Homemade Kids Craft
Never underestimate the power of a homemade craft from your kids. While this would technically be a gift from the children, it goes without saying that it’s a gift from all of you. A couple of my favorite, easy crafts are canvas paintings and jewelry (see #11). A little more substantial than a card and can be put into use as a desk or wall decoration. Just grab a couple of these small canvases, some finger or acrylic paint and paint brushes and let them go to town! - Homemade Jewelry
A favorite of my oldest daughter, homemade jewelry is such a sweet gift. I rock the rubber band bracelet she made me a couple years ago pretty regularly! I have a spot in my jewelry armoire where I keep most of the pieces my kids have
made for me. They range from necklaces with painted noodles to more intricate beaded pieces and I love how it reminds me of different ages and phases of their childhood. For this idea, noodles and yarn are an easy way to get toddler hands involved. You can paint them and use a variety of noodle shapes and sizes! For the older kids, just grab some elastic string (doesn’t require precise measuring of mom’s wrist or neck) and some fun stringing beads. They’ll handle the rest. - Uncommon Virtual Learning Experience
This one is pretty darn cool and I may have already been dropping hints for my hubby. Uncommon goods offers a wide variety of virtual learning classes that would be a perfect gift for mom to do alone, with a friend or even as a date night activity for both mom and dad! She can learn how to mix some fun cocktails in a mixology class, how to create beautiful floral arrangements, make pasta sauce from scratch, plan a veggie garden or paint a watercolor portrait of your pet(s)! There are so many fun choices to choose from and delivery of this gift is immediate since it’s all done virtually. You can learn how to sign up here. - Rocksbox Jewelry Subscription
Subscription gifts…the gifts that keep on giving…or at least for as long as you’re willing to pay, lol! If she’s a lover of trendy jewelry, this idea allows her to sample and wear a variety of new jewelry month to month without having to pay full price for each item. Some of the designers include Kendra Scott, Kate Space and Aster. If you’re a new subscriber, the first month is $5 and then $21 for each month following. You’re sent 3 new pieces of jewelry at a time and you can even choose a metal preference (gold, silver or rose gold). If she falls in love with an item and wants to keep it for herself, she can choose to purchase the piece using the $21 monthly credit. Choose your subscription and learn more about this here. - Havenly Interior Design Consult
This is another fun virtual gift that doesn’t require waiting on shipping times. If like me, the mom in your life
is easily overwhelmed or frustrated when it comes to filling blank walls, arranging furniture or figuring out the perfect size area rug, this is a great idea! You are asked a number of questions regarding your style, budget, room(s) you’re focusing on, etc…so it may be best to involve mom in booking the actual consult. Your consult will vary depending on the tier you choose, but the gist is, you are set up with a designer that has expertise in the general style you are looking for, are given a 1:1 consult with him/her and given several ideas for how to design and decorate your space. They also provide you with specific design items/products you can shop from if you choose to do so. Schedule your consult here.
In conclusion, mom doesn’t need gifts or anything fancy to know she is loved. These are just some fun extras to add an extra layer of brightness to her day. Most importantly, tell her you love her, appreciate her. Let her know the specific things about her that make you happy and bring you joy. Fill her in on the different ways she has changed your life. These are the things that will lift her spirit, make Mother’s Day memorable and bring value to motherhood. And for the love…get a picture of her with her kids! 🙂
Leave a Reply