30 Meaningful Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Hey all–and Happy May Day! Mother’s Day is almost here–and if you are like me, you haven’t given your husband ideas yet…or gotten you own mom’s gift purchased and in the mail just yet. Don’t worry. I’ve got 30+ meaningful Mother’s Day gift ideas for you. There’s something here for every mama–or at least hopefully this will inspire a great gift this year.

Mom Swag

This is my favorite category of Mother’s Day gifts. In my heart, Mother’s Day is a holiday for me to celebrate the gift of being a mom. It’s the perfect time for me to get showered with clothes and accessories that declare to the world I. Am. A. Mom. (And I don’t care who knows.)

1. Simple, modern jewelry makes great mom swag. I love this bar necklace from Toozy Studio. See other ideas here.
2. Mom shirts are my favorite. I love this one from Top Tee Shirts, but there are lots more here.
3. I love these mom (or grandma) key chains from Metal Expressions. See more here.
4. Anyone could buy a coffee cup, but a “mom” water bottle? Now you’re getting creative. I love this one from Sweet Water Decor.

Family Fun

Sometimes the most meaningful Mother’s Day gifts are things that allow the whole family to be together. Or…create easy fun for the kiddos so Mom can have a cup of (hot) coffee.

1. Arrange for new family photos to be taken. This is something mom usually arranges, and is often like pulling teeth. Coordinating with a photographer and willingness is a great gift for any mom, grandma, or mother-in-law.
2. Get photos printed! Turn them into a book, canvas, or just get a few framed. Tangible photos are such a treat, and often something that’s pushed to the back of the to-do list.
3. A game the whole family can enjoy is a meaningful gift. Check out my list of 25 great games for ideas.
4. Easy, low-work fun for the family is a great gift for a busy mom with littles. Consider getting her season passes to the local zoo, a botanical garden or pool. All ways for her to turn a cranky-kid-day into a great afternoon.
5. Buy her something that will let her enjoy a favorite activity with the kids in tow. A kids’ bike seat, a hiking back pack, or baking kit (see this post for a few places offering it locally) are just a few ideas. (I love having a kids bike seat for Gideon on my bike. It’s one of our favorite ways to spend time together!)

Around the House

These gift ideas will make life around the house a little easier. Maybe even a little more fun.

1. A tripod to hold the phone is a great gift–so mom can also be in the photos. Bonus gift–no complaining when she wants to take a photo.
2. Give her the gift of quick dinners with an Instapot.
3. If she’s a coffee drinker who loves to go out, get her a fancy coffee maker for the kitchen. (A little spendy, but it’ll eventually pay for itself.) If the maker is out of the budget, get her some nice coffee making syrups and supplies.
4. Meal help. A meal services is a great choice, but an equally great gift is putting the time and effort into preparing some meals yourself. Here are 10 easy freezer marinades from Taming Twins. Having these ready to go in the freezer would be a real treat!

Homemade

The most meaningful Mother’s Day gifts are often homemade. This is especially true because often Mom is the one coming up with the project and helping the littles carry it out. To have someone else do the prep so she can be surprised by a handcrafted gift is truly special. Here five of my favorite ideas for homemade gifts.

1. I love the look of custom silhouettes. There are lots of tutorials. Here is one for cutting your silhouette (as pictured above from Design Dazzle), here is one for making a silhouette in PhotoShop.
2. Add a homemade twist to a potted plant. This is a terra cotta pot I spray painted white, scribbled on with sharpies and spritzed with rubbing alcohol. To finish I sprayed it with a clear, protective coating. Easy and the kids can do the scribbling!
3. Turn a piece of your child’s art into something wall-worthy by adding a quote on top. You could do this with any abstract piece, but It’s Always Autumn has a really good tutorial for this water color background–and free printable quotes to boot!
4. Make a fingerprint keychain with the tutorial from Girl and a Glue Gun.
5. Create a fun, succulent garden or planted container. Pocket Full of Posies (in Minot) offers kids kits (pictured), here are terrarium kits on Etsy. Or just go to your local greenhouse and create a pretty container of your own.

Experiences

Some of my favorite gifts have been experiences. Experience gifts can be shared with the whole family, or something just for Mom. Either way, an experience is the gift of breaking out of routine, and having someone else do the prep work–things all moms appreciate.

1. Tickets to a live event (if events are open and happening this summer.) Think summer theater, a concert, play, or even museum exhibit. This can be for grown ups only, or the whole family.
2. Sign her up (or investigate) for a class she’d like to take. Derek surprised me with a wheel-thrown pottery class for my birthday and it was great! I learned, had some time to myself and got to let out some creativity.
3. Get her a DIY kit so she can make something with all supplies and instructions at the ready. Kits are great because she can do them when she has time, right at home. See this post for some offered locally in Minot.
4. Get her a gym membership or a punch card at a local fitness/yoga studio. Just be sure you aren’t implying she needs to work out.
5. Pay next year’s dues for a local moms’ group like MOPS. This gift keeps on giving as its a gift of community, activity and fun all rolled into one.

Self Care

Self care gifts always seem to come to mind for Mother’s Day. Is it because we moms always look so worn out? Self care gifts are always great, but instead of picking up (another) bottle of lotion, get inspired by these ideas instead.

1. Get her some really nice hair-care products. This texture spray from Navy Hair Care is universally great, but you can also ask her stylist for specific tips.
2. New, nice make up is always a treat. Get her a gift card to a business like Beauty Counter, so she can pick her own, or ask a friend to help you.
3. Instead of a single bouquet, get her a monthly bouquet. Check your local florist or grocer for availability.
4. Treat her to a nice pair of shoes this summer to spare her hard working feet from $1 flip flops. I love my Naots, but check with your locally owned shoe shop for more ideas.
5. The best thing she can do for self care is take time to be alone with God. Look into a new book or Bible for her. I love my Cultural Study Bible and also Praying God’s Word.

Coming Up With Your Own Meaningful Mother’s Day Gifts

If nothing on this list seems just right for the mom on your list here are some things to consider. Hopefully this mini-list will inspire something perfect for the mama you love so much.

• What part of her day is most difficult? What would make it easier?
• What part of her day is most enjoyable? What would enhance it?
• What household tasks does she dislike most? What would ease the burden?
• Are there things she’d like to do, but keep getting pushed to the back?
• What are her giftings, how can you support her in those?
• What does she love to do that’s hard with littles in tow?
• Has she complained about something recently? What would resolve the complaint?
• What does she like to do that you like to avoid?
• Moms often do all of the planning and arranging. What could you plan or arrange for her? (It doesn’t need to be extravagant to be meaningful.)

Happiest giving, friends. Remember, the most important part of meaningful Mother’s Day gifts is to let her know she is seen, loved and appreciated. If your gift does that, you’re doing great.