A shopping editor shares the Mother’s Day gifts she’s buying her mom

Mother’s Day is still one of the year’s rare spending moments where sentiment and budget rise together. NRF says 84% of U.S. adults plan to celebrate, the average shopper expects to spend a record $284.25, and total spending should reach $38 billion. Jewelry leads at $7.5 billion, followed by special outings at $6.4 billion, electronics at $4.4 billion, flowers at $3.2 billion and greeting cards at $1.3 billion, while flowers and greeting cards remain two of the most commonly purchased categories. NRF has tracked the holiday since 2003, which is part of why these numbers feel less like hype and more like a long-running American habit.

Hallmark places the holiday on the second Sunday in May, which makes this year’s date Sunday, May 10, 2026. It also credits Anna M. Jarvis, born in Webster, West Virginia, as the force behind Mother’s Day and says Hallmark began creating and producing Mother’s Day cards in the early 1920s. That history is exactly why I never think of the card as filler. It is the first place the gift becomes personal.

My actual cart for my mom

The pajamas that solve the “I’ll buy myself nothing nice” problem

The piece I keep coming back to is Eberjey’s Gisele TENCEL Modal Long PJ Set, which is $158 and made from soft TENCEL Modal with a touch of elastane. It feels polished enough to read as a gift, but not so precious that it becomes closet decoration, and that is exactly why I chose it over trendier satin sets that look good in photos and can feel fussy at bedtime. If I wanted a lower-stakes version of the same idea, Eberjey’s shorter sets start at $138 and sleep shirts begin at $128.

A frame that turns family photos into a daily habit

For moms who love seeing family pictures but never quite get around to printing them, I like Aura’s Carver frame. The 10-inch model starts at $149 and comes with a landscape display, built-in speaker and free unlimited cloud storage, so photos keep changing without any real upkeep on her part. In practice, that makes it a better gift than another decorative frame: multiple people can keep adding pictures from their phones, which means the present stays alive long after Mother’s Day morning.

Jewelry that feels sentimental without trying too hard

If I want something with a little more permanence, I go straight to Blue Nile’s Opal Rope Pendant in Sterling Silver. It is priced at $189, down from $270, and the 18-inch cable chain with rope detailing gives it enough character to feel considered without sliding into statement-jewelry territory. I like it because it reads as everyday fine jewelry, not occasion-only sparkle, which is usually the sweet spot for a mother’s gift.

The surprisingly practical gift that feels like a small luxury

The most practical thing in my cart is also the one that feels the most indulgent: Ember Mug 2. The 10-ounce version is $84.47 on sale, down from $129.95, and Ember says it can hold a drink at your chosen temperature for up to 1.5 hours. That makes it a very grown-up gift for the mom who forgets her coffee between the first sip and the next meeting, and it beats a prettier mug because it fixes a real daily annoyance.

The low-cost pieces that make the whole thing feel finished

A card still matters here, especially when Hallmark says Mother’s Day is the second most popular gift-giving holiday in the United States and the third-largest card-sending holiday overall. Hallmark’s current lineup includes custom options at $4.99 and simple cards for mom at $3.99, which is proof that a thoughtful message can do a lot of the heavy lifting. If I am sending only one extra thing with the gift, it is usually the card.

When I want a jewelry swap that keeps the sentiment but lowers the price, I look at Ana Luisa’s Mama Necklace, which is $75, or $63.75 for members. It is the cleaner, easier choice if Blue Nile feels like a splurge, and it works because the message is obvious before she even opens the box. That kind of clarity matters on a holiday where NRF says 54% of celebrants are buying for their mother or stepmother.

NRF also says special outings are projected to make up $6.4 billion in Mother’s Day spending this year, and that category earns its place because experiences turn a gift into a memory. A brunch reservation, spa appointment or dinner booked ahead of time gives the whole day shape, which is why I like pairing one physical present with one plan on the calendar. The best Mother’s Day cart does not chase trends; it solves a small problem, says something true and gives her a reason to slow down.