Let’s talk Mother’s Day for a second. Specifically what happens when, despite all of your best intentions, you don’t actually get your act together and find yourself scrambling for a last-minute gift. Don’t worry, you aren’t alone in this and it does not make you a bad kid. But since you still don’t want to show up empty-handed, I’ve rounded up a few fantastic last-minute gift ideas for mom.
- Something handmade: Pinterest is filled with tons of cute DIY projects, and if she loved your crafts from pre-school, she’ll love something that you make once you’ve mastered those fine motor skills. I really like this picture letter and it would work for moms and grandmothers!
- A day off: Find me someone who works harder than a mom! Between 9-5’s and taking care of every.single.thing their children need, moms run non-stop. So wouldn’t it be nice for her to take a day off? Make it happen on Mother’s Day by taking care of any cleaning, cooking and random needs during the day.
- A new family photo: My mom loves photos of my little family and has them up all over her house. So maybe the perfect gift for your mom is a photo of everyone in the family or a photo of all the generations in the family (those are always so sweet). You could even get something like a personalized photo necklace that would let her keep her most cherished photo(s) close to her heart at all times. This one might require a bit of prior planning, though.
- Flowers: Call me cliche, but I love flowers. Always have. Always will. So while a nice bouquet of fresh flowers seems kind of standard, I still think it’s a totally viable option. But if you’re looking to take it the extra step, you can arrange them yourself, deliver them in person or even make them out of paper!
- Cook a meal for (or with!) her: I think breakfast in bed is kind of a Mother’s Day staple, but making a big fancy dinner could be a nice way to mix things up. A great idea for little kids would be to cook a meal with mom or maybe even adults cooking a meal with grandma. The key here is to make it as simple as possible so mom doesn’t have to do too much, while still bonding in the kitchen.
- Plan her favorite activity for the day: Think about what your mom loves to do in her spare time. Is she a museum buff? A sports fanatic? Or maybe she just likes to read quietly in a bubblebath? Whatever it is, plan ample time for her to enjoy it that day. The bonus here is if you find a way to do it with her, but sometimes alone time is just what a person needs.
- Re-create a childhood photo: Oh the possibilities with this one are endless and it’s the perfect gift if you’re looking for something a little more lighthearted. You could then frame it and give it to her on Sunday.
- Write her a song or a poem: Full confession here, I don’t have the talent to do either of these, but I know so many people who do and it would be so beautiful!
- Help her cross an item off her bucket list: Granted, this may take a little bit of planning, but I’m sure there’s something she’s always wanted to do, but hasn’t had the time yet. Make it happen! Buy her a dance lesson, plan a trip, take her bungee jumping if that’s her jam. She spent your entire life making your dreams happen and now it’s time to return the favor!
- Saying “thank you”: Having someone tell me how much they appreciate everything I do is one the fastest ways to make me feel loved. Do the same thing for mom on Mother’s Day! Bonus points if you give her a nice long, handwritten letter telling her how much she’s done for you throughout your life. I guarantee you that she’ll keep that forever and reading it will always be a bright spot in her day.
Do you have any big plans for celebrating your mom this weekend?
