Mother’s Day for the Adult Child: How to Show Up When You’re No Longer a Kid

Maheshwari Raj
May 1
2 min read

Smiling person in glasses holds large white gift with red ribbon in front of plain background. A vase with red berries on the left. — A cheerful person holds a beautifully wrapped gift with a bright red bow, standing next to a festive arrangement in a vase.

Beyond flowers and brunch—thoughtful ways to honour the woman who raised you (without making it awkward).

There comes a strange tipping point in all parent-child relationships: the moment you’re old enough to realise your mom isn’t just your mom—she’s a person. A woman with her own stories, dreams, heartbreaks, and inside jokes that have nothing to do with you.

And yet, when Mother’s Day rolls around, we often fall back on the same default gestures: flowers, lunch reservations, a WhatsApp forward. The question is—how do you honour your mom when you’re no longer the kid making glitter cards, but the adult wanting to connect, care, and show up well?

Here’s your guide to doing Mother’s Day right in 2025—the adult edition.

1. Ditch the “Thanks for Everything” Text. Ask Real Questions.

Skip the Hallmark one-liners. Instead, ask:

“What was your dream at my age?”
“What’s a memory that makes you laugh every time you think of it?”
“What’s something you wish people understood about you?

Gift: A beautiful journal where you write down her answers over time.

Art journal with doodles and "Be Happy" text, surrounded by dried roses, markers, paint palette, and photos on a light desk. Creative vibe. — Creative journaling with art supplies and dried flowers captures moments of inspiration.

2. Go Beyond the Gift. Make It About Taste.

She doesn’t need another random candle or spa kit. Curate:

A bottle of wine from the year she got married.
Coffee beans from a roastery in the city where she grew up.
A book of essays on womanhood, with your own handwritten note on the inside cover.

(Pro tip: Don’t just buy the thing—tell her why you chose it.)

Wine bottle, open book, coffee beans, and paper on wooden table. Brown tones, artistic vibes. Text on bottle label and book pages visible. — A sophisticated gift set featuring a delicately illustrated box, an elegant bottle of wine, scattered coffee beans, and an open book, creating a perfect blend of luxury and relaxation.

3. Give Her a Day Off from Being the Problem-Solver.

Instead of expecting her to plan the day (or decide the menu), do the invisible labour for once:

Pick the place.
Book the table.
Make the plan.

(Or if you're apart: order her favourite takeout with a note that says, “Today, you don’t decide. You just enjoy.”)

Hand holds a menu featuring a plated dessert with two pastries and thin sticks, on a dark background. Text reads "MENU". — A hand holding a stylish menu featuring a plated dessert with garnishes, set against a dark backdrop.

4. Share a Piece of Your Life (Not Just the Good Stuff).

Send her a playlist of songs that helped you through your last breakup. Share a poem that moved you. Forward an article you think she’d love. Invite her into your inner world—not just the Instagram-friendly parts.

5. Archive the Memories, Not Just the Day.

Print out one old photo of you two and write the story behind it on the back. Or start a shared Google Drive of family stories—each year, add one more memory.

6. One We’d Start Ourselves:

“The Story Exchange Project” — Write each other one story a month: about your lives, your pasts, your dreams. Not texts. Stories.

(Prompt idea: “Tell me about the first time you felt truly independent.”)

Because Mother’s Day isn’t about brunch plans or big gestures. It’s about the slow work of showing up, listening well, and loving the woman behind the title.