Mother’s Day takes place on Sunday, May 12, this year. Have you already decided how you’re celebrating the moms in your life?
This holiday has been in observance since 1908, when Anna Jarvis organized a service in memory of her own mother and to recognize all mothers. She intended it as a day to honor the sacrifices mothers make for their children, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
While a lot has changed since 1914, the core of Mother’s Day has not. It’s still a day to show appreciation for moms and mothers of all kinds, usually with simple gifts and messages of thanks. On that note, let’s take a deep dive into crafting the perfect Mother’s Day thank-you.
What to give or send your mom
Mother’s Day gifts aren’t reserved only for moms. You can use this special day to celebrate all of the mother figures who guide, encourage, support, and love you. This may include grandmothers, aunts, teachers, mentors, friends, and so many more people.
Mother’s Day gifts can take many forms. Flowers are a classic option. For younger children, making a handmade card or keepsake item is often the way to go. For others, a lovely email, phone call, or even text message may do the trick.
Last, but definitely not least, there’s the timeless gift of a Mother’s Day card with a heartfelt message. No matter who you’re celebrating this Mother’s Day, here are some tips to craft the perfect thank-you note for the mother figures in your life.
What to write in a Mother’s Day card
We know you’re already an expert on showing love and appreciation to your mom, but perhaps you need some inspiration and advice on how to get your feelings about her down on paper. That’s where we come in. When you’re writing your card or letter for Mom, be sure to include the following:
Date & name
Greet your mom or mother figure with the title you use to refer to them in real life. Adding the date to a card or letter for your mom may feel ultra formal, but hear us out. Your mom is definitely going to save this, and when she pulls that old letter out of the keepsake box in a few years, it will be fun to be able to look at the date and see exactly when she received it.
Clear statement of thanks
The point of this letter is to show your appreciation, so do it right from the start. Don’t let the purpose of your letter get lost in the mix. Make sure your letter begins with a clear statement of thanks, and then use that sentence as a jumping off point to complete the rest of the letter.
Supporting details
Provide concrete examples of things you’re grateful your mom has done for you, things you admire about the mother figure you’re writing to, and/or ways your mom has helped you grow into the person you are today. Choosing three strong examples to highlight is usually enough. Use this as an opportunity to say the meaningful things you don’t always get a chance to say in everyday life.
Sweet memories
Share a favorite memory from the past year or a memory from your childhood that has been foundational for you. We all remember our own histories in different ways. Moms and mother figures will appreciate hearing the moments in your relationship that have made an impact on you.
The sign-off
Close your letter by restating your initial message of thanks in a different way, and then add a personalized sign off. Need some examples? Let’s look at a few.
Example of a Mother’s Day card
When you put all of the elements together, you should end up with a card that is honest, sincere, and captures all the loving things you want to say to the mom in your life. Younger kids may end up with something much simpler, and if you’re an adult, you may find that your letter becomes even deeper and more meaningful. Here’s what our template might look like coming from a tween or teen:
May 14, 2023
Dear Mom,
This Mother’s Day, I want to say thank you for everything you’ve done for me this past year, and I want you to know how lucky I feel that you’re my mom.
It really meant a lot to me that you worked so hard to make this school year fun. I loved that we had special movie nights in the living room, learned how to bake bread together, and that you organized a way for me to see my friends on my birthday.
I probably don’t tell you this enough, but you’re the best mom, and I’m really glad to be your daughter.
Love,
Whitney
Mother’s Day card template
If you’re working with younger kids to craft a special note for their mom, aunt, grandmother, teacher, or any other mother figure in their life, try a little fill-in-the-blank. Here’s our template with convenient spaces to fill in the right words or choose the synonym that feels right for them. Copy and paste it into a new document, then make the changes, and print it out to paste into a card or onto a sweet handmade drawing. Perfect!
Dear (Title / Name),
Happy Mother’s Day! I want to say thank you for being a (special / memorable / unique / extraordinary) person in my life.
As a mother you are (inspiring / encouraging / motivating), (caring / nurturing / loving), and (fun / joyful / happy). My favorite memory with you is (Memory).
Thank you for being a great mom to me!
(Love / Warmly / Sincerely),
(Your Name)
Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate all of the moms and mother figures in your life. A heartfelt message of thanks is a classic, lasting way to make each of them feel special, and to make sure they know just how much they mean to you.
