Whether this is mom's first Mother's Day with kids or she's a seasoned pro, it's never a bad time to add a new Mother's Day tradition to shake things up. Traditions only become traditions if we commit to repeating them year after year, and these fun activities and experiences will be the kind of thing she looks forward to all year. Some of the ideas are simple and easy even for little kids to pull off, and some may require a helping hand from dad or the grandparents. But the end result is the same: a special day for a special woman.
For any moms out there reading this, send it to the kids or partner as a helpful guide for making the day extra awesome. After all, moms everywhere deserve for Mother's Day to be something amazing this year and every year.
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Sleep In
Serving breakfast in bed is a classic Mother's Day activity, but instead of waking Mom up by probably noisily cooking in the kitchen, try letting her sleep in for a bit instead. Maybe take the kiddos on a morning walk to keep the house quiet so she can snooze in peace.
A Day Off
Some moms love spending the special day with their kids, but perhaps others would appreciate a kid-free Mother's Day instead. It would give her a chance to really relax and get some quality me-time in. Maybe Dad or Grandpa can take the children for the day to let Mom just hang by herself.
Gift Basket
Kids get Easter baskets. Moms should get Mother's Day baskets filled with all their favorite snacks and goodies. Stick some cozy socks and a nice candle in the basket along with fun treats and maybe a new book. Bonus if the basket to hold the items is actually a cute tote bag that she can reuse later.
Unique Activities
Make the day extra special by scheduling an activity that Mom ordinarily would never get to do. Maybe she's always wanted to paint pottery or learn how to make her own perfume. Check out local, interesting classes or excursions that she might be able to partake in and maybe try a new one each year.
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Handprint Keepsake
We love a sentimental gift, and these handprint paintings are a wonderful way to capture a child's growth year-over-year. Plus, they make for pretty cute decor. As the kids get older, they'll look forward to the tradition every year, so it's a great memory maker as well.
Boost a Collection
Does Mom collect records or memorabilia or figurines? A thoughtful tradition to start is to get one new item for her personal collection each Mother's Day. She'll look forward to the gift every year, and it's a nice way to build a collection over time without dropping a ton of money on every item all at once.
Make a Presentation
This lucky mom's sweet kids made her a PowerPoint presentation of why they loved her. Being a mother can be a pretty thankless job, so sitting her down and literally explaining why she's so awesome would probably melt her heart. And if the kids are too little to do this on their own, maybe Dad can help create it with them.
High Tea
There's something so special and fancy about high tea, and it's not the kind of thing we're very likely to seek out on our own. Make Mom a reservation somewhere local so she can go with her own mom or a maybe couple of friends. She'll probably love getting to enjoy such a sophisticated afternoon.
Spa Day
The spa is another place most moms are unlikely to book for themselves, so it means a lot as a Mother's Day gift. Not only is a spa day super relaxing and pampering, but it also usually means she gets a decent chunk of alone time. And moms just really need that to recharge.
Gardening
A bouquet of flowers is a nice gift, but it won't last very long. Instead, have the kids help pick out a houseplant or some perennial flowers to plant in the garden. They'll live long past Mother's Day and be a sweet reminder that she's loved and appreciated every time she looks at them.
Have a Photo Shoot
Most of the time the photographer in the family is the mom, so a lot of photos end up including the kids or the dad but not her. For Mother's Day, make sure she gets some sweet portraits of herself with her children. Make it an annual thing to take the photos in the same place so she can track the kids' growth as the years go by.
Send Kids on a Mission
This genius mom found a way to entertain her kids while getting some fun Mother's Day treats. She invented a scavenger hunt of sorts where her kids had to find a blender for her to make a fun recipe, socks she wanted to wear, and a dessert from The Cheesecake Factory. Selecting one errand out of the house got her a little alone time, and when the kids got back with their dad, she got to eat some cheesecake. Win-win.
Girls' Day
If Mom doesn't want to spend the day totally alone, she may enjoy spending it with some of her girlfriends. TikToker Lauren Pavlasek hosted an outdoor dinner party with some of her other mom friends. They got to spend quality time with each other without their kids distracting them.
Dinner in Bed
Switch up the breakfast in bed stereotype by doing dinner in bed instead. Close out the day by letting Mom cuddle up in her bed with her favorite meal and maybe a fun movie or TV show. The novelty of it being dinner instead of breakfast will also make her feel extra special.
Hotel Getaway
Turn Mother's Day into Mother's Weekend by treating her to a little local hotel getaway. Maybe she'd want to spend it with her partner or maybe with her friends like TikToker @katelindolson345 did. Either way, she'll get to wear a nice robe, take a long shower, order room service, and have someone else clean up. It's the dream.
Honor Those We've Lost
Mother's Day can be difficult for those who have lost mother figures in their lives. Taking a moment to honor any important women on this special day will mean a lot. Maybe it's getting an extra bouquet for anyone missing or playing a special song or making a toast at dinner. Whatever helps us feel connected to the mother figure we may have lost is important.
Make the Plan
Whatever ends up being planned for Mother's Day — be it simple or extravagant — just make sure she's not the one doing the planning. It's so much more fun to have the pressure taken off so she can be surprised and just truly enjoy the day. And have a plan in place for cleaning up after the day's events. That way she can just be totally in the moment as she deserves to be.
