A card, flowers, and brunch are the go-to gifts for the woman who raised you, but are they that thoughtful? What does a modern mom really want on the official salute-your-mom day of the year? Stop clinging to the cliché and give her a day she can brag about.
Arrange adventure
Your mom probably doesn’t want to sit around in a rocking chair all day, says Kate Lombardi, author of The Mama’s Boy Myth. “Moms want to have fun and hang out,” she says. So, go for a hike—pack a few beers—listen to live music, hit the bar, or pass the afternoon taking in America’s pastime. You can even suggest a last-minute weekend getaway to the beach or somewhere close by that she’s always wanted to go, says psychologist Peggy Drexler, Ph.D. Think outside of activities you typically do with your mom, and consider arranging something neither of you have done. “To spend time with their sons, moms would definitely try something new,” says Lombardi. You’ll both have a new shared experience and a great story to tell.