For many people, Mother’s Day 2020 will be different than it has in years past. Here are some ideas for how you can still show her you care.

Social Distancing Ideas

1. Play a board game over video call

If you and your mom own the same board game, you can play the game virtually. Just mirror the game pieces on your board.

2. Have brunch together virtually

Mother’s Day Brunch is a staple for many families. Instead of doing it in person this year, why not do it virtually? If you live driving distance from your loved one you could even drop off the ingredients on their doorstep so you’re eating the same thing.

3. Drop off a present at her door

Whether you live in driving distance from your mom or not, you could deliver or have delivered a present to her doorstep. Then do a video call when she opens it.

4. Do an “outside the window” call

We’ve seen many images floating around social media lately of family members going to their relative’s homes and don’t calls outside the window. While it’s not ideal, it’s a great way to be as close to face to face as possible in this time of social distancing.

Sleuthy Ideas

In the day and age that we live in, where we’re all doing a lot of online shopping, it’s easier than ever to figure out exactly what mom would want for Mother’s Day. Here are four methods you can use to figure it out.

5. Check out her “recently viewed items” or “wish list” on Amazon

Ask her for access to her phone or laptop. Go to amazon.com and review “recently viewed items”, her cart, or her wish list. If you see something there that isn’t toilet paper or something else practical like that, she may be interested in it just hasn’t pulled the trigger on buying it for herself.

6. Visit one of her favorite online retailers

Do the same thing for an online retailer she really likes. Often, on sites that sell things online, you can “save for later” or “like” items you want to buy but aren’t ready to.

7. Check out her Pinterest to see what she recently pinned

Pinterest is another platform where you can get an idea of what your mom (or wife) might like. You wouldn’t even need to take her computer to check it out, as long as you have a free profile.

8. Print out family photos that she had taken from her phone

If you borrow her phone, you can either email or text the photos to yourself, delete the evidence, then surprise her by printing them off and putting them in a frame, scrap book, or photo album.

Completely Free Ideas

9. Make her a coupon book

This is not a new idea, but it never gets old. Create a coupon book for her that includes things you can do for her like “breakfast in bed”, “honey-do of your choice”, “deep clean the bathroom” or whatever else you want to throw in there.

10. Cook her favorite dinner

Whether the world is being ravaged by a pandemic or not, we still have to eat. Show her you care by cooking her something she loves.

11. Make it a movie night

Dinner and a movie? Find a movie she loves and watch it with her.

12. Family game night

Moms love it when their family is together and getting along. A family game night is a great and special way to spend time together.

13. Draw her a bath

While Moms love time with their family, they also love to relax. Draw her a bath, pour her a glass of wine, and grab her a good book and teller to take her time.

14. Detail her car

Grab the vacuum, some wipes, and the Windex and clean her car from top to bottom. Who doesn’t love a clean car?

15. Bake something for her

Baking makes the house smell great, baked goods are delicious, and baking isn’t something most people don’t do all the time. Plus, as we have all stockpiled dry goods, you likely have the ingredients for something great in your cupboard already.

16. Give her a facial and scalp massage

While this one might be strange for your mother, this might be a great option if you’re trying to show your wife that you appreciate her being the mother of your child or children. If you don’t know the first thing about doing facials, take a look at a YouTube video and don’t worry about winging it. I’m sure your wife isn’t expecting spa quality and will simply be happy that you tried.

17. Hand massage

Same thing. Probably weird for your mom, much less weird for your wife.

18. Breakfast in bed

Breakfast in bed is awesome. Get up early, make something delicious and encourage her to take her time and enjoy it. Make sure to pick a little bouquet of flowers to put on the tray.

19. Grab her a coffee from a local coffee shop

Ok, this one isn’t free, but it goes pretty well with breakfast in bed. Pair homemade breakfast with her favorite coffee from a coffee shop, and that’s a winning combination.

20. Give her a manicure

Grab some nail clippers, a nail buffer and a few nail polish options and give her the spa treatment.

21. Give her a pedicure

You have some massive brownie points coming your way if you go this route. Check out a YouTube video for tips on how to do a make-shift pedicure at home.

22. Give her a massage

23. Repair a few things you’d been putting off around the house

Been neglecting to fix the fence, change that light bulb or tend to the leaky faucet? These little demonstrations of effort could go a long way.

24. Create a scavenger hunt around town

Just for fun, create a coronavirus safe scavenger hunt around town. You could make it especially meaningful if you and the kids hide personal affirmation notes at each stop.

25. Bed n’ Book Voucher

Similar to the coupon book idea, create some “ben n’ book” vouchers. These vouchers entitle her to redeem them and spend as much time in bed reading or watching TV as she wants.

26. Picnic in the park

Pull out a blanket, grab a picnic basket and pack a special lunch for your whole family to enjoy outdoors. Let’s cross our fingers it’s nice on Sunday!

27. I love you jar

Grab a big mason jar and fill it with small one line notes to your wife/ mom that tell her how much you like her and appreciate her. Things like, “I love your smile. It brightens my day”. She can then pick out little affirmations anytime she needs a pick-me-up.

Inexpensive Ideas

28. New picture of her children or grandchildren

Print out a picture of her and her children or grandchildren, grab a frame, and wrap it up. Done!

29. Candle

30. Bubble bath

31. Lotion

32. Soap

Not ivory soap. Get her something that smells amazing and comes in a cute package!

33. Bouquet of flowers

Support our local florists by grabbing a beautiful bouquet.

34. Homemade chocolate dipped strawberries

Make a trip to the grocery store, grab some Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels or Ghirardelli Chocolate Melting Wafers, melt them down, dip some strawberries, and present on a cute platter for her to enjoy.

35. Homemade magnet
This is a great one to get kids involved with. Have them make her custom “I love you Mom” magnets for the fridge for a constant reminder that she is cared for.

36. A sunflower grow kit

There are a ton of grow kits you can find online, as Mother’s Day is a spring holiday, lots of moms have planting and growing on the mind and this thoughtful gift would certainly would satisfy her green thumb. Here’s one idea.

37. Create a personalized jewelry dish

A jewelry dish is a small plate that goes on a dresser where you put your earrings, rings or something else at the end of the day. If you’re feeling craftsy, make a custom jewelry dish for your mom. Watch a YouTube video to figure out how.

38. Buy her an adult coloring book

Adult coloring books, if you haven’t heard of them, are exactly what they sound like. Coloring books for adults. Who doesn’t like coloring?

39. Get her a slice of cake from Pure Bliss

Support our wonderful local dessert shop, Pure Bliss. If you haven’t had it, it’s amazing and she’ll love it. Delivery available through Viking Food.

40. Surprise her with some gardening, landscaping or mowing work

She’ll love your help in getting the yard and garden looking awesome.

41. Create a memory book for her filled with notes from her kids, photos, and affirmations

This will take some time, but she will absolutely love this. Here’s a YouTube video that shows you how to scrapbook.

42. Create a hobby gift basket

Out of her hobbies is there anything she uses that might be outdated or could use an upgrade? Go to the store, throw it in a basket, purchase some crinkle paper and Voila!

43. Stock up her tea supply

Go to the store, grab a few different teas, throw it in a basket and she’ll love having a new selection of teas to choose from.