19 Classic Mother's Day Traditions You Can Start This Year

Serve Breakfast in Bed

Serving breakfast in bed is truly a Mother's Day classic, whether or not it's a true breakfast or more of a Mother's Day brunch. Go the extra mile for your mom by putting those overnight oats or homemade waffles on a painted Mother's Day craft: a hand-painted tray.

Take a Shopping Trip

Help Mom indulge with a little retail therapy. Equal parts pretty and comfortable, this 100% cotton Eyelet Square Neck Top ($70, Talbots) was made for celebrating the spring season. Dress it up for dinners on the patio or toss it on with denim shorts for an afternoon trip to the park. Choose from four colors including our favorite pale pink.

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Take Some Family Time

Take Mother's Day as an opportunity to spend time as a family unit with no screens, chores, or work distracting you. Mother's Day activities could mean reading together, enjoying a favorite movie or cooking a meal together. The best Mother's Day gift is the gift of quality time!

Plant a Garden

Planting a special perennial is a great way to be reminded of Mother's Day year after year. Getting in the garden with Mom is a great way to make memories and gives new meaning to Mother's Day flowers. Give her a gift card to a local greenhouse or grab a new set of gardening gloves she can wear during your gardening day.

Dish Up Some Chocolate

Whether it's in a cake or in a box, chocolate is more than welcome on Mother's Day. This chocolate-cherry stack cake—with chocolate-dipped cherries as garnish—is sure to be a favorite.

Give a Card

Mom just wants to know she's appreciated. Craft a handmade Mother's Day card like this bright and cheery paper flower card and fill the inside with thoughtful sentiments. If you need help expressing your feelings, these heartfelt Mother's Day quotes can help you get started.

Have a Spa Day

Mother's Day is a time for all moms to kick their feet up and relax. Unique Mother's Day gifts can include treating mom to a spa trip, planning at-home mani/pedis for a DIY spa day, or giving a self-care gift basket with bath bombs and other items made for relaxation.

Give Mother's Day Flowers

Give a bouquet as pretty as Mom this Mother's Day. Simple touches—like featuring flowers that are her favorite color—go a long way in showing Mom she's loved. Make your own arrangement from grocery store flowers, or order one of our favorite bouquets from small flower farms.

Make Mom Coupons

A classic Mother's Day craft for kids: A DIY coupon book! Redeemable for sweet favors like cleaning your room without being asked and free hugs that never expire, it's the gift that keeps on giving. Download the entire book, pick up some crayons and get coloring!

A New Spin on Gardening

Planting flowers in the garden is so last Mother's Day. This year, turn it up a notch with a terrarium-making sesh. Start with sand, shells, rocks, and colorful brush to create the base, then look to low-maintenance air plants to fill it up. The trendy succulents require just one quick dip under the faucet each week.

Have a Picnic

Take advantage of the springtime weather and plan an outdoor picnic party for your mom. A lovely garden setting and tasty finger foods (like a simple charcuterie board) are sure to make this Mother's Day Instagram-worthy.

Treat Mom with Alone Time

Treat Mom to some much-deserved alone time. Clear the house of kids, pets, and unwanted distractions. While the rest of the family enjoys a day out, leave mom with some peace and quiet to catch up on her DVR or her favorite books.

Wine Night Done Right

Set up a wine tasting for Mom on the patio, and offer a flight of her favorite sips and cheese pairings. Our favorite combos: Pinot Noir and Gruyere, Chardonnay and Brie, and Prosecco and Asiago.

Enjoy the Outdoors Together

Whether it's a woodland hike or just a lap around the block, take in springtime weather, together. Plan the perfect Mother's Day around your walk complete with a picnic lunch.

Peruvian Parties

Peru makes the most of Mother's Day dinners, lunches, and parties celebrating mom throughout the week. Channel the Peruvian tradition by throwing a Mother's Day celebration for all of the moms in your life during the week before Mother's Day itself. Make sure to offer a champagne toast to your mom!

Host a Celebration

Show Mom some appreciation for all she's done in the past year by throwing a Mother's Day get-together. Invite other mothers, and their kids, to enjoy a lovely afternoon with tasty snacks and pretty brunch decor.

Mother's Day in Mexico

In Mexico, it is traditional for children to treat their mothers' to a long lunch out on Mother's Day. For a unique Mother's Day gift, take a page out of that book and take mom out for a long and luxurious lunch. If you'd rather stay in, invite her over and cook a Mother's Day dinner at home.

Take a Road Trip

While you may not be comfortable with a full-on vacation just yet, a road trip to an outdoor location is a relatively safe way to travel. It doesn't matter if you take an afternoon a day, or a weekend—it's the company and quality time that makes it special. Do your research to find nearby parks, farmers markets, or other outdoor destinations to visit.