Mother’s Day hits differently depending on the season of life you’re in. Some years it’s brunch and flowers. Others, it’s a lacrosse tournament and cold coffee on the sidelines.

I’m usually at a kid’s sporting event on Mother’s Day, which is great, but I miss putting on a dress and sipping a mimosa. This year, I’m thinking about hosting a weekday lunch with the gals who’ve been on my motherhood journey — the ones who’ve shown up for school drop-offs, shared the sidelines, and talked me off ledges.

Mother’s Day shouldn’t just be about your mom or being celebrated by your kids — it should also be a celebration of the women who helped you survive motherhood in the first place.

So whether you’re hosting or being hosted, enjoy the celebration! Motherhood deserves the royal treatment, whether you’re spoiling your own mom or your kids are pampering you. Consider this your permission slip to do what makes you happy.

If You’re Hosting

Brunch doesn’t have to be a production — just thoughtful, pretty, and something that feels a little more special than your usual Tuesday lunch.

• Choose one wow salad — something fresh, seasonal, and full of flavor. Top it with a protein for the guys at the table who feel salad is not sufficient for a meal (cough, GC).
• Skip complicated sides and serve a fruit platter, a crusty baguette, or something sweet to round things out
• Set the table with something floral or colorful — it’s spring, after all
• Add handwritten place cards if you want to feel fancy with minimal effort

Bonus: My Spring Hosting Essentials list is full of pretty things that make your table look styled without trying too hard.

Want to elevate the brunch even more? Set up a DIY champagne bar and let guests build their own bubbly moment.

If You’re Being Hosted

Let them do it. Really. Just know — what that looks like can vary wildly depending on how old your kids are. Toddlers might bring you breakfast in bed (with a side of chaos), teenagers may need a little nudging, and grown kids might actually surprise you.

But if you want to subtly guide your people:

• Send them your Mother’s Day Wishlist with no shame (candles, robes, cookbooks, earrings, or just an uninterrupted nap)
• Wear something you love. Even if you’re just moving from the kitchen to the patio.
• If your kids are older and hosting… offer to bring one small dish — not to help, but because you know your taste is better. (Kidding. Kind of.)

Host Your Mom Friends

We celebrate our families every day — this is your sign to celebrate your squad.

Host a midweek brunch while the kids are at school. Make it pretty.

• Break out the real napkins and the champagne coupes
• Serve something light, something sweet, and something bubbly
• Add printed photos from old school events or baby playdates for a sentimental twist

This isn’t about proving anything — it’s about saying thank you. To the women who made motherhood feel like a team sport.

Gift Ideas That Don’t Scream “Last Minute”

Here are a few gift ideas for moms, mother-in-laws, grandmothers, and moms who say “I don’t need anything” but actually deserve everything.

A few other ideas to consider:

• A beautiful coffee table book + a handwritten note
• Pretty tea towels and her favorite baked good
• A digital frame preloaded with family photos — it hits every time
• A set of soft pajamas, a robe, or fun slippers she wouldn’t buy herself
• A beach bag packed with summer essentials — sunscreen, a good read, and a pair of oversized sunnies

Need a Reset After Hosting?

If you recently hosted a spring gathering or Easter weekend, don’t miss this. Grab my free Review & Refine Checklist. I filled mine out already, and yes — the forgotten salad and unthawed hens made the list. This is a must after every single party, especially annual ones.