Mother’s Day gifts don’t have to be expensive to be impactful. These inclusive ideas will warm the heart of your mum and mother figures in your life.

Share the Love

If words of affirmation are a mum’s love language, putting thoughts on paper is priceless. ‘Love Jars’ are a cost effective gift that little kids will love – upcycle an empty jam jar, cut up paper strips and encourage children to write down or draw things they love about their mother, grandmother or caregiver. After you give the jar as a gift, your family can continue to fill it with things they’re grateful for or happy memories. The online design tool, Canva has free templates, you can fill in and print out – just log onto the website and search their templates for ‘things I love about you.’ 

canva.com.au

Say Their Name

The first Sunday of May is known as Bereaved Mother’s Day – a day that honours mothers who have experienced pregnancy and infant loss. But Mother’s Day on 12 May is also for these mums too. Meagan Donaldson is the author of the book, Still a Mum, having experienced infant loss with her first child, Violet and third child, Remy. 

“You can help include a bereaved mum simply by just remembering them as a mum,” she told The Bugle. “Saying their baby’s name is something most bereaved mums love to hear. A text message as simple as, ‘Violet is so lucky to have you as her mum’ means the world.”

Embrace their Hobby

On 12 May, how can the whole family get behind a mother’s passions and interests? This could mean joining a mum for their morning ocean swim – with minimal complaining about the cold water. Or, putting the kids on their scooters and bikes, so the adults can go for a run together. The annual fun-run, the Women in Super Mother’s Day Classic, will be held again in Wollongong this year, with money raised for breast cancer and ovarian cancer charities. You can even download a free ‘tribute bib’ to showcase the person you’re running to remember. 

mothersdayclassic.com.au

Celebrate your ‘Bonus Mums’

In addition to celebrating the woman who gave birth to you, Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate and thank the mother figures in your life. Although the term ‘bonus mum’ is commonly used to describe a step-mother, its origins are much wider – 

any woman who offers the love and support of a mother. 

Thanks to the diversity of modern families, you can buy ‘Bonus Mums’ cards, including e-cards, which can be text or emailed – just search Google, and celebrate your ‘other mothers’ too.