Last minute ideas your mum will adore

Linley Wilkie
Updated May 3 2024 - 11:09am, first published April 27 2024 - 3:00am
Last minute ideas your mum will adore
Last minute ideas your mum will adore

One of the most memorable Mother's Day presents I've ever received was bought with a fiver, many years ago at a primary school stall.

You know the kind, where the school orders in bulk from a distribution company, for students to then buy during recess the week prior.

They're usually all stamped with the same sort of slogans: World's Greatest Mum, or in the case of my mini tool kit, Super Mum.

There's a few pieces missing from inside the lolly pink casing now, but every week the pliers or tiny screwdriver are used to fix random things around the house.

With Mother's Day just around the corner (May 12, if you needed a nudge), time has probably escaped you to organise anything too elaborate or (depending on where you live) requires time to allow for postage.

If school Mother's Day stall days are also behind you that's ok - the range of gift options remains endless.

Villeroy & Boch's Rose Garden collection is ideal for a mum who's been using the same chipped cup for too long. Picture supplied
Villeroy & Boch's Rose Garden collection is ideal for a mum who's been using the same chipped cup for too long. Picture supplied

For last minute ideas, a helpful tip is to look around the house for inspiration.

If you want to give Mum a practical gift for Mother's Day, such as something for the kitchen or bathroom, up the ante with bright colour or a bold design.

Perhaps you can identify something she loves which needs replacing with a new version, such as decorative cushions that have lost their shape, or a much-loved cup that has chipped over time.

Buying a voucher so she can indulge in a pastime is an easy undertaking, such as Spotify so she can listen to John Farnham's back catalogue (sans CD player), or BritBox so she can binge her favourite murder mysteries.

Lego sunflowers allow mums and kids to spend time together creating a unique posy.
Lego sunflowers allow mums and kids to spend time together creating a unique posy.

Most mums will tell you (without a hint of sarcasm) what she really wants is time spent with her kids.

So what does that look like for your family? For older offspring, maybe it's cooking dinner and enjoying each other's company for the evening.

If it's brunch or afternoon tea, why not present it on a new platter? Or buy her flowers, but in a vase you've also bought to replace the one she's used for decades.

Consider helping younger kids out with gifting a jigsaw or something fun to build, with the intention of it being an activity enjoyed together.

Linley Wilkie

Linley Wilkie

Senior journalist, group features and special publications

I've been a lifestyle and features writer for 23 years, covering everything from fashion and beauty, to homes, parenting and travel. Having worked for Text Media, Fairfax Media and now Australian Community Media, these days I attend more kids sports games than fashion parades.