A Simple Guide for Mother’s Day

Whether it’s your first year putting something together for your mom, your fifth, your twentieth, or the first time you get to honor your wife in such a way, getting gifts for mothers can be difficult. That’s why we’re here to help!

Mother’s Day can be difficult for a multitude of reasons, but one of the most common issues children face on such a day is simply what to do or gift. Sure, we spent a good chunk of our lives with the woman this day honors, but it’s as we get older that we realize we may not know her as well as we thought, nor do we know how to properly show our appreciation. Fear not, for here I have put together a selection of crafts, outings, and simple gifts you can use for your own mom, or at least spark your own creativity.

Creative Mother’s Day Gifts

There is a truth universally acknowledged among preschools and elementary schools: mothers love things their children have made. And yet for some reason, we believe that changes as we get older! Well, let me tell you, it doesn’t. Here are some ideas for the artists and creatives this Mother’s Day!

• Knit or crochet a hair kerchief! The go to is often a pot holder, but why not create something your mom can wear through the rest of spring and even into summer. I’ve made multiple and they only take 2-3 days to finish, so if you haven’t got anything yet, you can absolutely finish this in time! Here are some designs for knitters, and here are some for crocheters to start you off.
• For the more visual artists, why not create a portrait? It could be just of your mom, or you and her, or you, her, and all your siblings! Go as simple as you’d like–who doesn’t love a classy pencil sketch?–or go detailed, making an ode to not only your mother but all her interests and even some favorite memories!
• Collage a card or a wall art. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve hardly found a mom who doesn’t love scrapbooking and collage. Put together a card or even something on a canvas as a personal ode to her, with clippings and maybe even some old photos (or at least, copies of old photos). She’s sure to love this simple, personal touch!

Outings for Mother’s Day

I hear you–your mother isn’t much of a gift lady, but more of an adventurer, or maybe someone who just wants to spend time with her beloved family. Well, here are some tried-and-true Mother’s Day outings you can give a whirl!

• Escape Rooms. If your mom loves mysteries and puzzles, escape rooms are some of the most immersive puzzles you’ll find. You can gather your family and spend an hour laughing, yelling, and rushing to solve a mystery and free yourselves. Two of my favorites in Minnesota are near the cities, Zero Hour and The Lodge of Lazarus Crowe!
• Winery Trip. My best friend took her mom to a winery one year, and she absolutely loved it. It was a beautiful time of connection, good drinks and food, and a relaxing time spent in nature (most wineries are in gorgeous areas with either gardens or natural views). Some of my favorites are North Shore Winery in Lutsen, and Chankaska Creek in Kasota!
• Go On a Hike. So your mom’s more outdoorsy? No problem! Purchase a park pass, pack snacks enough for a day, and be her personal chauffeur to a woodland getaway. And remember–you’re the one carrying the pack this time!
• Shopping Trip. I did this with my mom one year and she said it was one of her all-time favorite Mother’s Day gifts. Choose a store she likes (my trip was to a local bookstore), give her a dollar amount, and let her run wild! Not only does it let her have control over her gifts so she knows she’ll use them, but there’s something so special about someone indulging in your interests with you.
• Book a Getaway. Does your mom constantly complain about how much she hates the city? Book a weekend away for her at a lodge or resort! Mom life can be stressful, so give her a getaway she can’t refuse. It doesn’t even have to be over Mother’s Day. If you’re looking for places in Central MN, check our availability!
• Spa Day. Perhaps the most classic Mother’s Day experience is the spa day. Most spas have a voucher, or if you know her schedule and preferences, book the treatments yourself! There’s nothing that says “you deserve this” like being given a free pass for massages, facials, and pampering.

Unique, Easy Gifts

Lastly, we have gift ideas. If you’re not creative, or don’t trust your creative ability, and your mom isn’t an experience gal, then this section is for you.

• Jewelry commemorating her children. A quick search on Etsy will have you flooded with birth stone rings and necklaces, birth flowers, and so forth. One thing I’ve been seeing more often is a ring or a pendant with one birth stone for each of her children. After all, she wouldn’t be able to celebrate such a wonderful day without you all!
• Daily devotions or a prayer book. If your mom is religious, chances are her prayer was a big component of comfort in your childhood. Support her faith with a new devotional or prayer book. Here’s one for Catholic moms, Evangelical moms, Jewish moms, and Muslim moms!
• A new blanket. Maybe it’s just my mom, but one of the easiest gifts for her is a new, soft blanket. Whether she’s curling up to read, study, watch her show, or even do accounting for her small business, she’s always got a blanket wrapped around her. Plus, in many cultures, gifting a blanket is a show of respect, care, and comfort. It gives you a way to return what she’s given you all your life.

Hopefully these gave you some jumping off points, if not giving you an exact idea to bless your mother with this year. Mother’s Day is such a wonderful holiday, and gives us a chance to pamper, care for, and fully show our love for the woman who got us to where we are, or for the woman who is bringing your own family into being. Happy Mother’s Day to all moms–new, old, and expecting!