What kind of gifts do moms really want for Mother's Day? It might come as a surprise that not all of us are keen on all the lotions and potions, kitchen accoutrements, and lovey dovey jewelry. One mom on TikTok hilariously showed everything she really doesn’t want for Mother's Day in a now-viral video, and largely – we agree.
The mom, Emily Vondy, who goes by @thevondyfam on TikTok, shows everyone the typical Mother's Day gifts that advertisers bombard us with every May. That includes items such as heart necklaces, Bath & Body Works gift sets, and "fierce as a mama bear" items. At the end of her video, Vondy listed some items she actually does want along with the request almost every mother has for Mother's Day — a break!
The video has received more than 5 million views and over 5,000 comments. Many mothers shared their own similar requests on Vondy’s video and offered to tag her husband in the comments so he would catch the hint.
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She shared everything she doesn’t want for Mother's Day, and it's very relatable.
Vondy’s video seemed to voice what countless moms have no doubt silently thought about for years. She posted her video with this caption, “If all else fails, access my phone, open my tabs, look at one of the numerous shopping carts I have open and take your pick,” which is honestly a great idea.
She started her video by saying, “This is what I don’t want for Mother's Day.” She proceeds to show several heart-shaped necklaces from Walmart and says, “No. False.”
Then she shows a cherry blossom lotion and body wash set and says, “absolutely not.” Next up was a "fierce as a mama bear" candle to which Vondy says, “Although I am as fierce as a mother bear, I do not want anything that says it.”
This is what she does want for Mother's Day, and honestly ... same.
“This is what I do want,” she says while sitting in a bathrobe in her car. “I want this beach tote bag that I can put all my crap in and it has a built-in cooler at the bottom for my treats.”
She continues, “And I really like the peach print, it makes me happy. Filled with the following things, I will take a candle, but I want this one, the salted coconut mahogany scent.”
Next up was a Strawberry Vanilla Olipop soda. “I want at least five of these in there because although I am pregnant this summer I will be enjoying a nice beveragino and these ones are my favorite,” Vondy says.
Last but not least, she shares, “I want a new thrilling book that I will read over the next 6 to 7 months. I’ve already read this one but I want you to research books similar to that and then buy me what the closest match is.”
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Bottom line: Be thoughtful. Moms don't need another day to plan things out, especially a day meant for celebrating them.
She ends her video saying, “I want you to present me with this tote bag and then send me on my way to wherever I want without my kids.”
The main takeaway from Vondy’s video seems to be for men, husbands, and partners to be thoughtful — to give gifts that are not generic, that a mom will actually enjoy and use, and the greatest gift might be some time alone.
Countless studies have shown how tired and overwhelmed moms are and how many more hours each week or day they spend on household tasks, even moms working outside the home. A study called Exploring the Exhaustion Gap by Berlin Cameron showed that 64% of women wished they could devote more time to their physical health and 53% wished they could invest more time in their interests.
Additionally, the study showed that 66% had felt burnout in the past seven days and only 50% asked for help if they felt it, per the study.
Although all these statistics can’t be solved in one day, letting a mom sleep in and have time to herself on Mother's Day and whenever she needs it is a good start.
Other moms commiserated and shared their own Mother's Day desires.
Many mothers shared their own Mother's Day wish lists in the comment section of Vondy’s video, and there were some wonderful ideas.
“I want to sleep in, play video games, and hubby takes boys to the park and brings home take out,” one person wrote.
Another user wrote, “I booked a weekend away from my kids and husband! Going with my sisters and I couldn’t be more excited.”
More ideas came pouring in, but they all pointed to a common theme: time and peace and quiet. As one mom wrote, “I want a nap and alone. Ahhhhhhh. And a nice bath.”
“I want to stay in bed until 10am and for the house to be super quiet outside my bedroom door. I want to feel like I’m home alone ,” another mom wrote.
