Did you know Mother’s Day is the third most popular holiday in the world, behind only Easter and Christmas? According to the Pew Research Center, more calls are made on Mother’s Day than on any other day of the year.
The History of Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a heartwarming celebration that honors the incredible women who shaped our lives. Did you know that this holiday has ancient roots? The earliest Mother’s Day can be traced back to ancient Greek and Roman festivals that celebrated mother goddesses. In the United States, Anna Jarvis is credited as the person who spearheaded the modern Mother’s Day movement in the early 20th century, though before that, Mother’s Day started as an anti-war movement.
Jarvis initially wanted a day to honor her beloved mother and the sacrifices mothers in general make for their children. Soon after its creation, the holiday became very commercial, with florists and card and candy industries cashing in on Mother’s Day. In addition, public interest groups began to use the holiday to make political statements. Jarvis railed against the exploitation of a day intended to be a special, reverential day for families. However, Mother’s Day continued to grow and today, it is celebrated all around the world. Children use it as an occasion to express gratitude and love for the incredible women who nurtured and supported them throughout their lives.
Wonderful Gift Ideas for Older Women
If you need unique gift ideas for the special moms in your life, whether your mom, mother-in-law, grandmother, daughter, daughter-in-law, or friend, below is a curated list of recommended items! Let us know if you have others to add! These gift ideas for senior women are great to consider for any occasion!
BloomsyBox
Of course, you can’t go wrong with fresh flowers, so we’ll start there. These beautiful bouquets from Bloomsybox are handpicked from sustainable farms from around the globe. What a great way to say “I love you”! Monthly subscription boxes are also available – how fun is that? Take a look at some of the bouquets we love.
Iron Flask Sports Water Bottle – 24 Oz, with 3 Lids (Straw Lid)
We love this double-walled insulated sports water bottle! The narrow mouth double wall insulation makes the Iron Flask sweat-free! It keeps your drink COLD for up to 24 hours, and HOT for up to 12 hours. And it comes with three (yes, three!) lids that are 100% leakproof (the patented straw lip, flip lid, and a handle lid!) This elegant flask is made from 100% BPA-free and non-toxic premium stainless steel and comes in a variety of great colors. This highly-rated water bottle is as good, if not better than the more expensive brands! Help mom stay hydrated on the go! Comes in a beautiful box ready for gifting.
Apple Watch SE
Is Mom ready for her first Apple Watch? This is a fabulous Mother’s Day gift and the best Apple Watch for first-time smartwatch users. It provides all the basics to help her monitor her fitness, keep connected, track her health, and stay safe. It’s also easily customizable…Available in a range of sizes with dozens of bands and watch faces! Swimproof, this Apple Watch is water resistant to 50 meters. It’s compatible with all Apple devices and services and is so stylish! Mom will love it!
Apple AirTag
Another fabulous Apple product Mom will appreciate more than you know! This inexpensive little item helps people to keep track of and find their important items. The simple one-tap setup instantly connects AirTag with phones and iPads and plays a sound on the built-in speaker to help find your things. Track your keys, pet, luggage whatever! Incredibly simple to use and all communication is anonymous and encrypted for privacy.
Personalized Hand-Painted Watercolor Notecards With Envelopes
Personalized stationery makes a very thoughtful Mother’s Day gift for any mom in your life! Beautiful options for both men and women! These notecards make a very special gift and are always a big hit! Beautifully painted on high-quality paper are two of the reasons we order all our stationery from Darlene Flood! This handpainted stationery is another of our favorite gift ideas for senior women – always a big hit!
Premium Pickleball Tote Bag for Women
Is Mom a pickleball lover? This gorgeous pickleball bag, made of 600D Oxford nylon cloth outer and 210D nylon interior, is exceptionally durable and soft! A great compact handbag for pickleball games, the design boasts gliding smooth zippers. Two paddles fit easily in the designated paddle holder, and the bag has plenty of room for all your additional supplies. Eight great vintage flower patterns are available! This bag is the perfect Mother’s Day gift for the pickleball player.
Manduka PRO-Lite Yoga Mat
Does mom enjoy yoga, stretching, or pilates? She may already have a mat, but here’s an opportunity to upgrade her to the MANDUKA PRO Lite Yoga mat – she probably won’t buy it herself, but will love it! This mat is one of the best around thanks to its grippy surface and premium non-toxic material. Maduka mats are designed by actual yoga instructors and are head and shoulders above the rest!
Anker 622 Magnetic Battery (MagGo)
For the Mom on the go! Unlike a standard power bank that connects to your smartphone with a cord, this one magnetically secures to the back of the phone for wireless charging. The foldable sleek and thin magnet is super-strong snaps into place easily for an efficient charge, and can provide nearly a complete charge while also providing a helpful kickstand. Another bonus – it can serve as a power bank for additional devices via USB-C.
Simplehuman 8″ Round Sensor Makeup Mirror
Look your best wherever you go with the lightweight Simplehuman 8” makeup mirror. It comes with all the bells and whistles! The lights range from 100 to 800 lux to simulate sunlight and 5Z magnification to show every detail! It is also built with a sensor that turns on when it detects your face approaching – then turns back off when you walk away. Charge the mirror once a month and you are good to go for weeks! You won’t ever have to change a bulb. We recommend this product for everyday use in addition to travel. It is expensive, but worth every penny…and will be the last mirror she will ever need!
Joyamo Customized and Personalized Jewelry
High-quality and stylish jewelry from Joyamo is designed and handcrafted by expert artisans. So many designs from which to choose and in a variety of metals! This is a very special personalized gift loved by all.
Smart WiFi Wireless Essential Oil Aromatherapy Ultrasonic Diffuser & Humidifier
Wow – Intelligent aromatherapy – what will they think of next? You can use it like a normal diffuser or download the companion app to control features like LED color, mist intensity, timer settings, scheduling, and more directly from your phone. This smart diffuser works by creating 360° ultrasonic frequencies that instantly atomize water and oil molecules in the air. The result is a much healthier alternative than older-style heat diffusers that can damage essential oils during the heat diffusion process. These great gadgets for seniors are also Alexa and Google Home compatible and can be used with echo/tap/dot to control simply by using your voice. A large 400ml water tank allows for up to 12 hours of continuous mist!
Advanced 3D Pen with OLED Display
For the creative mom…Watch her imagination come to life with the Professional 3D Pen! Its adjustable feed lets you regulate speed & flow for optimal control of material while drawing and the large, OLED display lets you monitor the temperature of the material to help achieve a wide variety of effects. Kit includes 3 colors of ABS plastic filament A/C adapter and slim, ergonomic touch pen. This is one of the best gadgets for seniors, but so fun you will want one for yourself!
Rechargeable 4X Magnifying Glass to Read Small Print
This rechargeable magnifier is as great for me at age 55 as for the 80-year-old for whom I purchased it. If you have more difficulty reading as your eyes age (and most of us do!), this gadget is very helpful and convenient to have around. The magnifier covers a good-sized area, the anti-glare feature reduces eyestrain, and the crystal clear acrylic lens is scratch-resistant and shatterproof! This handy item also provides an evenly lit viewing area and is fully dimmable. With ten ultrabright LEDs, it boasts an extended 100,000-hour lifespan.
Bohemian Apron
Cozy Self-Care Gift Set
This cozy gift box makes any day cozy and warm! Share your love and care with friends, family or coworkers! This fabulous box includes a handmade soap( with a heavenly scent of your choice), a beautiful Pine Forest wax sachet, 1 pair of cozy knit socks (wool/cotton and the color varies), a beautifully scented 100% soy wax candle, and a vintage journal made from vegan leather. Moms universally LOVE this gift!
Custom Personalized Backgammon Set
For the Mom who loves games, in this case, backgammon…this is a favorite gift! A beautiful quality custom set engraved with the recipient’s name is a present that will be treasured and used for years to come.
Super Mom Personalized Book
Perfect for Moms of all ages! Celebrate her special day with a uniquely personalized softcover book that includes her name, photo, skin tone, hair color, and the option to wear glasses if she’s a bespectacled super mom! You can also include the names of up to 6 people who love mom. This high-quality gift is sure to delight!
Inspiring Mother’s Day Quotes for Mom or Grandma
HAVE OTHER GIFT IDEAS FOR SENIOR WOMEN? WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR THEM! ADD THEM IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW.
Mothers are so important to many of us. Here are some of our favorite inspiring Mother’s Day quotes from famous people.
- I remember my mother’s prayers, and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” —Abraham Lincoln
- “Acceptance, tolerance, bravery, compassion. These are the things my mom taught me.” —Lady Gaga
- “My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind.” —Michael Jordan
- “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” —Oprah Winfrey
- “As is the mother, so is her daughter.” —Ezekiel 16:4
- “Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” —Lin Yutang
- “That’s the wonderful thing about mothers: You can because you must, and you just do.” —Kate Winslet
- “My mom is my hero. [She] inspired me to dream when I was a kid, so anytime anyone inspires you to dream, that’s gotta be your hero.” —Tim McGraw
- “Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary—it’s an act of infinite optimism.” —Gilda Radner
- “I think, as mothers, we are all just trying our best.” —Gisele Bundchen
- “I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is.” —Oprah Winfrey
- The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” —Mike Wallace
- “When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” —Sophia Loren
- “Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring and integrity, they think of you.” —H. Jackson Brown Jr
Leslie Farin is the Publisher and Founder of 50PlusToday. She is an experienced communications and marketing professional passionate about working with older adults and their families. She works with a team of writers to provide essential and cutting-edge information related to the 50Plus community.
