For every kind of mum — and every kind of love
Mother’s Day falls on 10 May this year, which means the window for thoughtful gifting is shorter than you think. Whether you’re shopping for a new mum, a grandmother, a stepmother, or the friend who mothers everyone around her, we’ve rounded up the most inspired picks of the season — from the indulgent to the practical, the sentimental to the surprising.
THE LUXE TREAT
For the mum who deserves a moment to herself
There are mothers who spend all year putting everyone else first. This is the year you put them first. A stay at a boutique spa hotel — somewhere with a long breakfast menu, a pool, and absolutely no school-run logistics — is the kind of gift that lands differently. If an overnight escape isn’t in the budget, a curated hamper from a premium grocer, loaded with her favourite cheeses, a bottle of something celebratory, and a really good chocolate, makes a beautiful alternative. The key is specificity: don’t buy the generic hamper. Build it around her.
Also consider: A bespoke perfume consultation, a cashmere throw in her favourite colour, or a coffee table book on a subject she loves obsessively.
THE EXPERIENCE
For the mum who has everything
When the drawers are full and the shelves are stacked, the answer is almost always an experience. Cooking classes, floristry workshops, life drawing evenings, wine tastings, pottery afternoons — the market for adult creative experiences has never been richer. Book something she’s mentioned in passing but never quite got around to for herself. Pair it with a printed card that explains exactly why you chose it for her, and you’ve elevated a booking confirmation into a genuinely moving gift.
Also consider: Theatre tickets, a guided walking tour of a city she loves, a foraging walk, or a private tour of a gallery or museum.
THE BEAUTIFUL EVERYDAY
For the mum who notices quality
Some of the best gifts are the ones that transform an ordinary Tuesday. A really exceptional mug. A candle that makes the whole room feel different. A silk pillowcase. A bread knife that finally works properly. A subscription to an independent magazine that matches her interests. These are the gifts that get used, and thought of, and quietly appreciated for months — sometimes years. They say: I know how you live, and I want it to be lovely.
Also consider: A monogrammed leather notebook, a beautiful olive oil, quality loose-leaf tea with a proper infuser, or an indoor plant chosen for her light levels and lifestyle.
THE SENTIMENTAL
For the mum who keeps everything
Sentiment never goes out of style. A piece of jewellery with the birthstones of her children or grandchildren. A custom illustration of the family home. A photo book put together with real care — chronological, captioned, printed on decent paper — rather than dashed off at midnight the night before. A letter. An actual, handwritten letter, sealed in an envelope, that says the things that usually go unsaid. Nothing expensive has ever beaten a letter written from the heart.
Also consider: A framed print of a meaningful map, a recorded message turned into a keepsake, or a recipe book assembled from the family’s favourite dishes.
THE PRACTICAL INDULGENCE
For the mum who always says “don’t fuss”
She’ll tell you she doesn’t want anything. She’ll mean it, too — and yet she’ll be touched when you pay attention anyway. The trick with this one is to buy her the version she’d never buy herself. The really good hand cream, not the supermarket one she’s been topping up for years. The weighted blanket she mentioned once and forgot she’d mentioned. The noise-cancelling headphones. The robotic vacuum. The ergonomic pillow. Practical doesn’t have to mean thoughtless — it can mean: I listen to you, and I want your life to be easier.
Also consider: A meal delivery subscription for a month, a same-day laundry service, or a cleaner booked for a day so she can simply rest.
FOR THE NEW MUM
For the woman who has just changed completely
She is exhausted in ways she didn’t know were possible and more in love than she expected. She doesn’t need another baby product — she needs something that’s just for her. A long, uninterrupted bath. A restaurant meal she doesn’t have to cook or clear up. Snacks that don’t require two hands. A gorgeous nursing-friendly outfit that makes her feel like herself. And time — if you can give her an afternoon of childcare so she can sleep, eat, or simply stare at the ceiling, that is, without question, the best gift on this list.
Also consider: A beautiful journal for recording those early blurry weeks, a postpartum massage, a subscription to an audiobook service, or a meal train organised with her close friends and family.
THE SUSTAINABLE CHOICE
For the mum who shops with her conscience
Sustainability and luxury are no longer in opposition. An heirloom-quality piece of clothing from a brand that publishes its supply chain. A hand-thrown ceramic from a local maker. Seeds and tools for a kitchen garden. A donation made in her name to a cause she cares about, paired with a heartfelt explanation of why. Shopping consciously doesn’t mean spending less thought — it means spending more.
Also consider: A refillable perfume, beeswax wraps and sustainable kitchen goods, a membership to a community garden, or vouchers for a local independent bookshop.
A NOTE ON THE CARD
Whatever you buy, don’t underestimate the card. It is, frequently, the thing that is kept longest. Write something real in it. Put down a specific memory, a quality you admire, something she taught you without realising she was teaching you. The gift will be enjoyed; the words will be saved.
Mother’s Day: Sunday 10 May. Don’t leave it until Saturday. Shop at Pacific Place.