This is your friendly reminder that Mother’s Day is coming up, so yes, it is time to start thinking of some fun Mother’s Day gift ideas!

Mothers are not all the same, but all are incredibly important people in our lives, whether they’re family by blood or not. I’ve been fortunate enough to have several women “adopt” me and treat me as a daughter while my own mother lives halfway across the country.

Sometimes, I struggle coming up with unique mother’s day gift ideas, especially since these special women are all very different. But now as a mother myself, I’ve learned that it really is less about the gift itself, and more about the thought behind it. It makes me feel incredibly special when my 5-year old will bring home a little piece of candy or a picture she drew at school – just because she was thinking about me.

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Mother’s Day Gift Idea Guide

Ok, so to help guide our gift idea brainstorming session, I’ve divided up the categories into 4 different “types” of moms.

Of course, some of these will overlap and your perfect Mother’s Day gift idea may be a combination of some below and some from your own imagination!

Gift Ideas for the Sentimental Mom

When I think of a sentimental mom, I imagine someone who loves keepsakes. They may hold on to every drawing, school project, and award their child receives. They love to take pictures and treasure up memories in their heart.

For every mom, but especially the sentimental mom, a meaningful Mother’s Day gift idea will come from the heart.

Homemade from the Heart

If your mom is the sentimental type, anything homemade and from your heart will mean a lot to her! She’ll appreciate the thought, time, and effort you put into designing something just for her. You may want to paint, write, stitch, or cook/bake things that are significant to her.

I’ve painted and cross-stitched several things for both my mom and my mother-in-law. It makes me feel proud when they display them in their homes. So that being said, take your time with this project and give it your best effort. Your sentimental mom will love it!

Photo Album

I know that traditional photo albums are less of a thing now, but for the sentimental mom, a photo album may be the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Yes, hard-backed albums still exist! I know I still enjoy printing out pictures and placing them carefully in the pockets of an album. Your mom may also enjoy a digital album you’ve designed online with some of your favorite memories (you can also have these printed and shipped!).

You may also want to consider a digital photo frame. A digital photo frame is a great way for her to display their favorite family photos without the bulkiness of a traditional album.

Journal

Journaling seems to be going through a revival lately, and I love it! Journals are a great way to write down funny kid quotes, important memories, and special moments to be remembered in the future.

To go along with your journaling Mother’s Day gift, you may also choose to include some nice pens or markers.

You can check out my favorite handmade journal here.

Personalized Jewelry

Moms love things with their kids names on them. Just check out Etsy! The listings for these types of items are endless. It’s possible to get nearly anything personalized it seems, but some popular options are necklaces, rings, and bracelets.

When choosing personalized jewelry, choose something that still stays true to who she is. If she loves hearts, make them a part of the design. If she favors silver over gold, take that into consideration as well.

Mother’s Day Gifts for the Sporty Mom

The sporty mom is on the go – either for her own workout or on her way to yours. I’m thinking soccer-mom style and always up for an adventure.

Massage

Now listen, just about anyone loves a massage, but I had to group these somehow, haha. A massage gives your Mother’s Day gift a feeling of luxury.

If you choose a massage for your Mother’s Day gift idea, you can purchase a gift certificate, or go ahead and make the appointment for her! One of my friends just had her son surprise her with a massage for her birthday. To say that she was touched by the effort he went through to make the appointment for her is an understatement!

Told ya, sometimes mom just wants the effort.

Float Therapy Session

Ok, so float therapy may or may not be familiar to you. If it’s not, check out this ultimate guide on what to expect at your first float therapy experience. The first time I tried it, I told my preschooler that I was going to “relax in a salty bathtub.” So obviously that’s not exactly what it is, but it got my point across, haha.

Float therapy gives moms a chance to be still, quiet, and relax by themselves. Moms of young children especially need some time away to not be touched or talked to in order to refresh and feel like themselves again.

Combine float therapy with a massage for an extra relaxing experience!

Planned Activity/Adventure

If you’re like me, it seems like as the mom, I am always the one to make the decisions – where to eat, where to go, what to do, etc. Sometimes I tell my husband I don’t care what he picks, I just don’t want to have to decide!

For a fun Mother’s Day gift idea, choose a family activity…and then make all the arrangements yourself! Make sure the date is free, but go ahead and make the reservations and work out all the details. Let mom enjoy just getting to experience the adventure. You can tell her where you’re headed…but you don’t have to!

Streaming Service (Music/Movies)

Mama needs her tunes! Most everyone has some sort of streaming service, but if your mom hasn’t gotten one yet, make that her Mother’s Day gift! If your mom enjoys working out, she may love putting together her own motivating exercise playlist or watching her favorite movie while walking on the treadmill.

If you’re not sure which streaming service to pick, check out these 11 binge-worthy TV shows for moms to get a better idea!

Audiobook Subscription

Sporty moms (just like most) spend a lot of time in the car. If your mom enjoys reading, but can’t seem to find the time, an audiobook subscription is a great option! She can listen to all her favorite books in the car and never run out of new authors to try.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for the Spotless Mom

Confession: I think I am mostly the Spotless mom. I love to have a clean house. No, I don’t enjoy cleaning (like my husband says I do) but I crave the result and order that comes from it.

Professional House Cleaning

What a dream world to have my house be clean without me doing the work! I’ve seriously mentioned this as a Mother’s Day gift idea to my family before – and I am totally serious! Depending on your budget, you could set a couple of different times to have the house cleaned, or one “fresh start.”

Your mom may enjoy having just a few of the chores hired out either on a one-time or regular basis such as window washing, ceiling fan dusting, decluttering…things like that that are on her “to do” list, but less often than some of the more pressing matters.

Car Detail

My dad used to tease that we could “grow corn in the floormats” of our vehicles growing up. I guess that just kinda stuck with me because I love to have a clean car. But with young kids, it’s a lot of work! Your Spotless mom may love a professional car detail, or even a homemade one you do yourself in the driveway.

Give her wheels some new life!

Coupons

Coupons are a great gift for anyone – spouses, parents, kids, and friends! A homemade book of coupons is a way of listing extra things you would love to do for that person, and gives them a way to ask for that favor without feeling like they are imposing. You can be as creative with these as you’d like. Choose actions or activities that will be meaningful and helpful for a personalized Mother’s Day gift.

Gift Ideas for the Selfless Mom

All moms are selfless – that’s just what moms do. They put their family’s needs and wants many times above their own. So for Mother’s Day, choose a gift that is all about her!

Free Day or “Momcation”

A whole day (or more) to do whatever I want?! Yes please! To pull this off, you may need to recruit some extra help if childcare will be involved, but it will be well worth it!

A “momcation” is just what it sounds – a vacation for moms (without the kiddos!). Let me just say, they’re amazing and very much needed! For some tips on how to plan a budget-friendly momcation, check out this post from Flawlessly Fitish.

Subscription Box

I’m new to the subscription box craze, but I’m a pretty big fan! There are all kinds of boxes with products to try – makeup, clean-living household products, athletic wear, and even coffee! Chances are you can find a subscription box to match your mom’s interests and she’ll be able to sample all kinds of different products and maybe find some new faves.

Mani/Pedi

A fresh coat of nail polish can make a mom feel like a million bucks. For this Mother’s Day gift idea, send her for a few hours of uninterrupted pampering. Bonus points if you send her off with her favorite beverage to sip and enjoy!

“Sleep In” Days

Ah yes, the magical days of “sleeping in.” Let her relive some of those moments by making arrangements for her to sleep in as late as she’d like. Again, might need some help with kiddos, but this is one Mother’s Day gift idea that costs nothing that means a lot!

The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift Ideas to Try This Year!

I hope this list has been helpful to you. As I wrap it up, remember that the perfect Mother’s Day gift idea is one that comes from your heart. It’s not about the price tag or how social media is shareable it is, but about showing the women in your life that you appreciate and love them.

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