Why You Can Trust CNET Best Mother's Day Gifts for When You Can't Be There in Person
Don't let distance deter you from celebrating your mom on Mother's Day. Here are some of the best gifts to give your mom when you live far away.
- Desiree's previous work has appeared in various print and online publications including Search Engine Land, PCWorld, Wired magazine and PBS MediaShift.
Mother's Day is the one day of the year that's fully dedicated to the woman who's devoted all her time to you, so you know you don't want to miss out on celebrating her this year, even if you're oceans away. If you don't live close enough to Mom to be there in person for Mother's Day this year, there are still many thoughtful gifts at your disposal to make your mom feel special. It might not be the same as physically being there, but it goes a long way towards letting your mom (or Grandma) know how much she means to you.
Sure, there are the old standbys like cards and flowers, but how about a sweet gift for the sentimental mom, or something practical that will make your mom's life easier? To help you find just the right gift for your long-distance mom, we've created a list of the best Mother's Day gifts for when you can't be there in person. These unique and thoughtful gifts will show your love can truly go the distance.
Read more: 10 Affordable Mother's Day Gift Ideas
If your mom is a coffee or tea fanatic, this sweet mug will be sure to make her smile. It has a beautiful garden motif -- perfect for spring. And every time she takes a sip of her favorite beverage, she'll think of you. This charming cup sells out quickly, so grab it while it lasts.
Start her Mother's Day off the right way with delicious pastries straight from the oven. This affordable pastry assortment comes with seven plain croissants and eight chocolate croissants. They arrive frozen, so all Mom has to do is let them rise overnight and then pop them in the oven the next morning. And voila! -- she'll have a bounty of tasty treats that will transport her straight to Paris.
If your mother loves Disney but hasn't tried Disney Plus yet, give her the gift that keeps on giving: all the Disney she can watch. Your mom can watch popular shows like The Mandalorian and finally see what all the fuss is about with Baby Yoda. We rated Disney Plus as the best streaming service for kids at heart, so if your mom loves nostalgia and wants to stay on top of the latest releases, she'll love Disney Plus. A gift subscription for Disney Plus' ad-free Premium service costs $110 and will give her access for an entire year.
When you can't be with your mother in person, a personalized photo book of all of your moments with her can fill in the gap. Mixbook, one of CNET's favorite photo book services for 2023, allows you to create the ultimate gift by uploading photographs from your phone, computer or social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, and from there build your book, calendar and more with just a few steps.
The Sill is a plant marketplace with a wide variety of fantastic plant choices for plant parents of all kinds. The Easy Care bundle is the best present for a mom who enjoys plants, but prefers a low-maintenance option. In this bundle, she'll get the pet-friendly peperomia obtusifolia and a parlor palm, known for its resilience and air-purifying qualities. What's more, as one of CNET's best places to buy plants online, your mother will adore this present's quality.
The Kindle Paperwhite is our best all-around ebook reader for a reason. It features warm light settings, a longer battery life and is completely waterproof. For a better viewing experience, this edition of the Kindle Paperwhite sports a 6.8-inch display, perfect for a virtual book club.
If you have a mother who adores her pets, consider getting her a plush animal to provide a constant reminder of her affection. You begin the Cuddle Clones process with the pet's name, then you follow up with the type of pet and finally the breed. After that, you go through a sequence of simple questions and picture uploads, and voila your mom will have a fuzzy version of her pet in eight weeks.
This ArtPix 3D Photo Crystal is another cool way to preserve a special picture, but in 3D. This is accomplished through the use of laser engraving that brings any photograph to life. You can fully customize this gift by font, size, background and more. And this present can be enhanced even further by including a base and LED lights, but the crystal itself is plenty to convey your affection.
There are a variety of ways to express gratitude to your mother, but a candle (together with a handwritten letter) is a wonderful touch. This candle is 13.75 ounces and will burn for around 60 to 80 hours. Created with a natural soy wax blend that includes notes of bergamot, lavender, sage, jasmine and other fragrant aromas this candle will brighten her day.
Does your mom love jewelry and keep all your old handwritten papers from childhood? Why not combine her two loves with this customizable, handmade bracelet made from gold, rose gold or silver. Once you decide how you want it engraved, you can write the message and choose an image matching the way you want it to look.
If you want to let your mom know you're thinking of her in real time, this is the gift for her. No matter where you are, this lamp will work like a charm by lighting up and transmitting a colorful glow to her when you touch it.
The Eufy RoboVac 25C is rated CNET's best affordable robot vacuum. It has a powerful suction that is effective on both hardwood and carpeted floors. Pet hair and other little dust piles are easily picked up by it. And while it isn't the most advanced robot vacuum, it is more than enough to allow your mother to relax while something else cleans up the mess.
Making coffee should be as simple as possible, but to accomplish it properly, you'll need the perfect coffee maker. The Editors' Choice winner, the Oxo Brew eight-cup coffee maker, is our favorite drip brewer. This machine will make your mother a cup that will rival any coffee shop. The Oxo Brew has a single-cup filter basket, precision settings for better water temperature, a double-wall vacuum and it's small enough to fit on your mother's kitchen counter.
Show your mom how much you love her with a box of long-lasting roses. These real roses can last for up to three years! Although they can be pricey, these beautiful flowers are well worth the money. They come in a variety of colors and bouquet sizes.
Give your mom the gift of America's favorite pastime -- that's right, a custom pickleball set. On Holiday's custom pickleball set is great for any active mom or mom looking for a new hobby. For $144, you can pick two paddles, a set of balls and a bag. All of the paddles have unique designs, so you can pick the one that best suits your mom's personality.