Give the Mothers What They Want! (A Few Really Good Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day)

This post is for the husbands of young moms. This one is highly specific, but one that I feel that I can speak to because I am a young mom and my friends are too. And because I asked them all what they wanted for Mother’s Day this year. When 20 different women are all basically saying the same thing, there might be some universal truths exposed. (If this list resonates with you, feel free to forward this post on to the men in your life.)

Mother’s Day is May 8, 2022

First things first, did you know that Mother’s Day is THIS weekend? For some reason I was thinking that we had an extra week. But we don’t. We are here, this is today. If you’re a man or a woman who has a mom, this is your reminder to buy a gift, print some photos, send a card, make a reservation, order the flowers. Whatever what you need to do, make a plan and don’t put it off any longer!

I think for a lot of us moms, Mother’s Day is exhausting. We have to buy/mail/plan gifts for our own mothers and mothers-in-law, and it’s on a Sunday so there’s church and the craziness of getting out the door. If we’re the one cooking and hosting lunch, that’s a whole lot of work. Then theres the mess of the house from the kids “making breakfast” and we have to prep for Monday morning and the week to come. We want to celebrate and enjoy our families and our day but we’re tired.

In the end, are we grateful for any and everything we receive on Mother’s Day, yes. We moms are doing what we love but a little extra appreciation goes so far in getting us through the long and hard days.

If you’re looking for a few ideas of how to make this mother’s day a really good one, read on!

WHAT THE MOTHERS REALLY WANT:

The Ethereal Stuff:

EVERY. SINGLE. MOM. said in her own special way “I want to feel loved and appreciated. AND I want to be given the time and permission to rest in the ways that make me feel most recharged.”

To sum this up. Give Mom A Break.

Practical Gift Ideas:

• Ask her! Some women have very specific wish lists and they know what they want. Lucky you! I am not that person (instead of just asking for what I want, I’m writing a 800 word blog post… To each her own.)
• Do you know her love language? A gift and a card are always a good idea, but figuring out someone’s love language can be even more meaningful. If she doesn’t like flowers or jewelry (gifts) instead try giving a gift such as a deep cleaning house service (acts of service) or a massage (physical touch).
• Take care of EVERYTHING for one day. Let her sleep in (lock the door to keep the little ones out) and ask her what time she would like her coffee and breakfast delivered. No asking where little socks are or messing up the kitchen. From morning to night, take care of the details for her. She does this everyday and I promise you, she will feel like a queen!
• Food! Pick up her favorite bagels or pastry and a hot drink for breakfast. Make a lunch/dinner reservation at her favorite restaurant (don’t nag her about where she wants to eat, just pick the one that she’s always talking about or her default choice. Anything that isn’t chick-fil-a will probably be a hit!)
• Check her Amazon wish list and order a few things for her that she wouldn’t buy for herself. You can’t beat the two-day shipping!
• At the end of the day, handle bedtime. Start to finish. Let her take a bath or read or watch tv all by herself. Give her a moment to recharge and reflect on the day

BONUS POINTS:

Are you ready for the most luxurious gift idea I’ve ever heard? Book a night a local hotel and give the gift of peace and quiet. And sleep! If you really want to splurge, choose a hotel with a spa and room service. But even something simple and nearby would be glorious and appreciated by almost every mom I know. (I’ve been using Hopper App almost exclusively the past few months and have found the best hotel deals!)