What Should I Get My Mom for Mother's Day

One press picks a Mother's Day idea for your mom, with a line on doing it well.

A call at a set hour with everyone on itAgree the time with your brothers and sisters, so she gets one long call.

Next step Draw another thing to do with her Gift ideas for her at Christmas

How it works

Asking yourself what should I get my mom for Mother's Day? Press the button for an idea. Most are things you do for her that Sunday, each with a line on doing it well.

Read the full guide

Things to do beat things to wrap

After your first press, a list under the button narrows the draw. On the day holds what you do for her that Sunday, from breakfast on a tray to dinner cleared without her. Made by you and Flowers and plants hold the rest.

Far away, or helping the children

From far away holds ideas that work by phone or by mail. From young children holds things small hands can do with a little help. For a new mother is for her first year with a baby.

Tips

In the United States, Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May, so the date moves each year. Check it before you book anything.

Questions and answers

When is Mother's Day?

In the United States and Canada it falls on the second Sunday of May, so the date changes every year. Check a calendar before you plan.

What is the flower for Mother's Day?

The carnation. Anna Jarvis, who founded the holiday in the United States, chose it as the emblem because it was her mother's favorite flower. A bunch of carnations is on the list.

What can I do for my mom on Mother's Day that costs nothing?

Take over her Sunday jobs, carry breakfast up on a tray, bring down the old photo albums or plan a walk somewhere she loves. The On the day group holds ideas like these.

What do I get my mom for Mother's Day if I live far away?

Set one call at a fixed hour with everyone on it, mail a letter that arrives on the Saturday, or order flowers from a florist in her town. From far away holds more.

What do you give a new mom for her first Mother's Day?

Time and a spare pair of hands: a hot meal she eats with both hands, two hours out of the house on her own, or a framed picture of her holding the baby.

All 61 ideas

On the day 37

A bedtime story read to her, for once The children choose the book and tuck her in.
A bouquet gathered on a walk Grasses, leaves and whatever is in flower along the path, never from a garden.
A breakfast menu the children drew Two choices are plenty; she ticks a box and the kitchen gets to work.
A brunch booked so she does not have to choose Reserve the table well ahead and tell her only what time to be ready.
A cake in her favorite flavor, baked by you Ask what she had as a child and make that one.
A call at a set hour with everyone on it Agree the time with your brothers and sisters, so she gets one long call.
A crown and a sash for the day Paper, glue and glitter; she wears them to breakfast.
A drive along roads she grew up on She gives the directions and tells the stories; you just steer.
A garden afternoon doing what she points at She directs and you dig; bring gloves and do not argue about where things go.

Show all 61 ideas (52 more)

On the day, continued

A hanging basket planted together Buy the plants on Saturday and fill the basket with her on Sunday.
A hot meal she eats with both hands Hold the baby until her plate is empty.
A morning with no alarm and no questions Keep the house quiet until she appears; the day starts when she says so.
A night of unbroken sleep, covered by you You take every wake-up that night; she takes the quiet room.
A show put on in the living room A song, a dance or a puppet play; sell her a ticket first.
A song learned in secret Practice in the car all week and perform it at breakfast.
A surprise visit, arranged with someone at her end Ask a neighbor or a relative to make sure she is home.
A toast to her at the lunch table Each person says one thing she did for them this year; keep it short.
A tree or shrub planted in her name Dig the hole together on the Sunday and take a photo beside it every May.
A visit to her own mother, with you driving It is her mother's day too; take flowers for both.
A walk somewhere she loves, at her pace Her choice of path, and nobody asks how far it is.
A walk together with the stroller and a coffee Her pick of route; you push on the hills.
An afternoon nap with the door shut You are on duty; a sign on the door says so.
An afternoon picnic you packed Her favorite sandwich and a blanket; she finds out where on the way.
An hour with the old photo albums Ask her who everyone is and write the names on the back.
Breakfast carried up on a tray Her usual order, a flower in a glass, and the kitchen clean before she comes down.
Breakfast delivered to her door Order from a bakery near her and time it for when she gets up.
The children's tidy-up hour, before she is up Toys away and shoes paired; she comes down to a clear floor.
Dinner cooked and cleared without her She sits down when it is served; the dishes are yours.
Garden flowers the children picked that morning Tie the stems with twine and stand them in water by her plate.
Her favorite takeout, ordered and fetched No cooking for anyone; lay the table properly anyway.
Her signature recipe, cooked for her for once Ask for the recipe a week ahead and say it is for a friend.
Her Sunday jobs done by everyone else List what she normally does on a Sunday and share it out the night before.
One photo of everyone, her included If she takes the pictures she is missing from them; set a timer and print the best.
One whole day where she picks everything The meals, the music and the film are hers to choose, and nobody argues.
The same film, watched at the same time Start together with the phones on, and talk through the dull parts.
Seeds she chose, sown with her that afternoon Label each row with her handwriting and yours.
Two hours out of the house on her own Wherever she likes; you have the baby and you do not phone.

Flowers and plants 6

A bunch of carnations, the holiday's own flower The founder of Mother's Day chose the carnation: it was her mother's favorite.
A flower pot the children painted Plant something in it together that afternoon.
A pot of flowers for the front step Plant it up the day before and put it where she will see it first.
A tomato plant watered by the children They water it; she gets the first tomato.
Flowers ordered from a florist in her town Call a shop near her and ask what is good that week.
Window boxes filled for the summer Fill the boxes she already has; ask which colors before you buy.

Made by you 15

A book of things mom says Collect her sayings from everyone and write one to a page.
A drawing of the family with her in the middle Write what each child says about it on the back, word for word.
A first Mother's Day card from the baby A footprint in washable paint and the date; she will keep it.
A framed picture of her holding the baby She has taken hundreds of the baby; make sure one has her in it.
A handprint flower painting Each child's hand is a bloom; write the year in the corner.
A letter listing what she taught you Small things count: how to fold a sheet, how to say sorry.
A letter that arrives on the Saturday Mail it early in the week; a real envelope beats a message on the day.
A notebook of the baby's firsts, started for her Fill in the ones so far with dates and leave the other pages blank.
A one-minute film of this year's family clips Stitch phone clips together and send it so it arrives that morning.
A photo of you holding a sign for her Stand somewhere she would know and write the sign big.
A poem, however bad Four lines with her name in them, read aloud at breakfast.
An interview about mom, answers written down Ask each child how old she is and what she is best at; change nothing.
Every child at the same age, in one frame Pick one age, such as five, and line the photos up in birth order.
Her first year as a mother, written down and sealed Write what you saw her do this year; she opens it next May.
Twelve photos, one for each month since last May Print them small and clip them to a line across a wall.

From far away 3

A box of small things from where you live A local paper, something from the bakery, a postcard of your street.
A date set for your next visit Book the ticket first, then tell her on the call.
A good-morning video from the grandchildren Send it early in her time zone, so it is the first thing she sees.

How this list was compiled: Own list of Mother's Day ideas for a mom, written 2026-10-01. Checked 2026-09-30 on English Wikipedia, Mother's Day (United States), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Day_(United_States): the holiday falls on the second Sunday in May in the United States and Canada, and Anna Jarvis, who founded it, chose the carnation as its emblem because it was her mother's favorite flower. No other flower is given a meaning. Ideas only: no brands, shops or prices. No idea title is shared with the site's other gift and list pages (checked by script). The groups are our own. Licence: own work