Guys. Guys. You’re going to buy something for Mother’s Day. Your heart is in the right place. You want to show your appreciation and love. It’s great that you want to show her your love and appreciation. It’s not going to work. You want to buy that thing for Mom? No. I know this from experience. My mother was my mom for 54 and 22 years. So learn from my mistakes and avoid the following gifts — no matter how well-intentioned — at all costs. Don’t worry, I’ve shared with you what you can get her in its place.
The vacuum cleaner is the most insulting Mother’s Day Gift #1.
Seriously? Seriously? It’s a classic Mother’s Day error to assume that mom is only there to do the cleaning (and she needs better tools). Why don’t get up and pick up a broom? This would make a great gift.
What you can get instead A robot vacuum
We are now in the conversation. The gift may not look glamorous, but it will certainly be appreciated. Do you need some help deciding? Our list of the top robot vacuums in 2023. You can also check out a model currently on sale.
Dreametech
Set it up and forget it. The D10 Plus automatically cleans the floors however often Mom wants. It can also empty 45-days worth of debris to its dock. It takes a bit more effort to mop, but the process is still much easier than using a bucket.
Amazon: $350
The second most insulting Mother’s Day Gift: A fitness tracker
We’re a little split on this issue, as it all depends on the situation. If Mom never brought up a fitness tracker, such as a Fitbit, then we won’t be around when she opens it. The implication is that she’s not perfect and needs to do more exercise. What if she? The following is a list of the most popular ways to contact us It’s fine to make a hint about wanting one. This is our list of 2023’s best fitness trackers. If this comes out of nowhere, try a different approach.
What you can get instead Track your items with this item tracker
Loss of items is more important than fitness. The frustration of losing a keychain, a wallet, a phone, or if you checked s bag at an airport. Bluetooth-powered trackers are a great way to help mom find these items and more. Check out our roundup on the best trackers to find lost items. My top pick is on sale now, as explained in the roundup.
You can also find out more about Tiles
Why would you choose a Tile instead of, say, an Apple AirTag. AirTags only work on iPhones, not Android phones. But Tiles have another feature that is equally valuable: two-way tracker. It means that Tiles can find your phone if you’ve misplaced it, and not just the opposite.
Amazon: $20 off
The most insulting Mother’s Day Gift #3: A bidet
Bidets work great. Since I first used one during the pandemic shortage of toilet paper, I haven’t turned back (or reached for it, you know what I mean?) What about as a present? For Mom? You don’t push a bidet unless someone has made hints.
What you can get instead Self-heating coffee mug
This is a great gift for moms who love coffee. The self-heating mug allows her to enjoy coffee for several hours without needing to go to the microwave. My wife, who is also the mother of my kids, uses it daily. It is a treasured possession. Check out the top heated mugs on the market today. Here’s my personal favorite:
Ember
Take advantage of the Mother’s Day sale. Ember Mug detects liquid automatically and starts heating up when it does. Ember’s app allows mom to set the exact temperature she prefers.
Amazon offers $120 off
The fourth most insulting Mother’s Day present is a new TV
It may sound a bit sexist, yet I will say it: most moms do not care about the size. It doesn’t matter if the TV has an OLED screen, or if Dolby is built in. The TV is fine, and they only want more time to watch it (or rewatch). Bridgerton. Let’s be honest: A new television would be a better gift.
What you can get instead A digital photo frame
A gift that never ends. Digital frames let Mom see the precious memories she has hidden in her phone and in those of friends and family, as well as on Facebook. The majority of digital frames can also play video clips. You can’t go wrong with this gift. See our list of the top digital photo frames in 2023 for help selecting one. This is a great pick for Mother’s Day.
AURA
Aura can be a great choice for Mom who lives far away. You can set up the Aura for her in advance, including preloading photos and setting it to work with her Wi-Fi.
Amazon.com: Buy 229 Items for $229
The 5th most offensive Mother’s Day present: a sextoy
Hey, You can also find out more about the following: didn’t come up with this idea; I have a press release right here suggesting — no, outright stating — that “Mom deserves the gift of orgasm.” Firstly, ew. If it’s your mom, just say no. No. Ew. No. If the mother in question is your spouse, then it’s… strange. The gifting of sex toy between consenting adult is fine, but on Mother’s Day? No. Seriously. Seriously.
What you can get instead An experience
I think that as a general rule, moms want less stuff and more experiences — and they especially love when you put some thought and effort into planning them. What about pickleball lessons, for instance? You get bonus points if join in. You can also give her something, like a painting class or cooking lesson. You could also give her a day trip that includes some interesting, new stops (art galleries, bakeries, etc.). You’ve researched a beautiful location and are ready to go on a hike. Unwrap your new hiking sticks before you start. You get the picture. You don’t need to spend much; just show that you care.
It’s Mom!
Original published