Mother’s Day
Never miss Mother’s Day again
Mother’s Day is the date most guys miss, and it’s not your fault: it moves every year. Here’s how to stop it sneaking up on you, who to send a card to, and what to write.
Why Mother’s Day sneaks up on you
In the US, Mother’s Day is the second Sunday of May. That means the date changes every year, so you can’t just remember “May whatever.” A birthday you can memorize. A floating Sunday you can’t. Add the fact that it lands on a weekend, when you’re not looking at your work calendar, and it’s easy to wake up that morning and realize you’ve got nothing.
The fix is to stop tracking the date yourself. Handled works out the date each year and sends free reminders well ahead of it, when there’s still time to get a card in the mail.
Who to send a card to
Mom comes first. But Mother’s Day is a good excuse to tell a few more people they matter.
- Your mom. Obviously.
- Your grandmothers. A card in the mail will likely be the highlight of their week.
- Your mother-in-law. Few things earn more goodwill for less effort.
- The mother of your kids. If your kids are little, the card is from them too, so help them sign it.
- A stepmom, an aunt, a godmother, or anyone who stepped in and did the job.
- A friend who’s a new mom this year. Her first Mother’s Day is a big one.
When to plan
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Early spring | Make sure every mom on your list has an up-to-date address |
| About two weeks before | Send the cards, plan brunch or a call |
| A few days before | Last check: flowers, plans, kids’ handmade card |
| The day | Call her. The card should already be there |
What to write
Moms don’t need a speech. They want to know you noticed. Pick one specific memory or thing she does, thank her for it, and tell her you love her. That’s the whole formula.
To Mom
“Happy Mother’s Day. I don’t say it enough, but everything good in me started with you. Love you, Mom.”
To Mom, with humor
“Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who survived my teenage years and still answers my calls. You deserve a medal.”
To Grandma
“Happy Mother’s Day, Grandma. Your kitchen is still my favorite place in the world. Thinking of you.”
To your mother-in-law
“Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for welcoming me into the family and for the best Sunday dinners around.”
To your wife, from the kids
“Happy Mother’s Day to the best mom we know. We’re making breakfast. Please act surprised. Love, the crew.”
To a new mom
“Happy first Mother’s Day. You’re already a natural, and that little one has no idea how lucky they are.”
To a stepmom
“Happy Mother’s Day. You didn’t have to show up for me the way you did, and I’ve never forgotten it.”
Let autopilot handle it
Switch on autopilot for Mother’s Day and, if you haven’t sent a card yourself, Handled writes a personal one for each mom on your list from a detail or two you gave. About ten days before it’s mailed, you get a heads-up email with “Looks good,” “Edit message” and “Skip this one.” Each card is written with a real pen, stamped, and mailed to arrive around the day. Your saved card is charged only for the cards actually sent. Learn more in how automatic cards work.
While you’re at it, add her birthday and your parents’ anniversary. The birthday guide and the anniversary guide walk through both.
Make it about her, not the card
The card is the part that proves you were thinking about her ahead of time. The rest is simple: call her, and actually listen. If you live close, show up with coffee. If you’re on the road, set a time for a video call so she isn’t left wondering. If your kids are old enough, get them to add a line or a drawing to the card for their mom or grandma. Moms tend to keep those.
And if Mother’s Day is a hard day for someone you know, because they lost their mom or are missing a child, a quiet card that says “thinking of you today” can mean more than anything else they receive. Add them to your list too.
Don’t forget Father’s Day
Father’s Day moves too: in the US it’s the third Sunday of June. Add it for your dad, your grandfathers, your father-in-law and the friends who just became dads. Same reminders, same backup.
Questions
- When is Mother’s Day?
- In the US it’s the second Sunday of May, so the date changes every year. Handled works it out for you and reminds you ahead of time.
- Is it free?
- Reminders are free. Cards are pay-per-card, with the stamp included, and there’s no subscription.
- Can I send cards to several moms at once?
- Yes. Add each person with their address, and switch on reminders or autopilot for each one.
- Will the card arrive on Mother’s Day?
- Cards are mailed to arrive around the day. Since it falls on a Sunday and mail times vary, plan on it arriving in the days before, and treat the date as an estimate.