Mother’s Day is a great opportunity to spoil the mums who once spoiled you. But before making a beeline for the usual section at the shops, why not try something different this year and find out what they actually want? Our new study has revealed that half of Aussie mothers have either re-gifted or pretended to like a Mother’s Day gift. Some gifts are classics for a reason, but what are mums secretly wishing for? Let’s explore what mums value, their attitudes towards gifting and the presents you’ll want to avoid altogether.
To get their point of view, we asked 1,002 mums from all over Australia in March 2025 — bringing you the VistaPrint Mother’s Day Report.
What do Aussie mums look forward to the most on Mother’s Day?
Here’s a quick cheat sheet for your Mother’s Day plans. Generally, Australian mothers value quality time with family the most, being favoured by 47% of participants.
Getting recognition and appreciation is also a runner-up, followed by a special meal, handmade gifts or something as simple as a break.
This suggests that mums significantly favour something heartfelt over extravagant material gifts like gadgets or luxury apparel.
Mother’s Day expectations vs reality: are Aussie mums happy with what they get?
Considering the act of gift-giving alone, most mothers feel that their families are either good (43%) or great (33%) at it. However, when factoring in the actual presents they get, it’s a different story. 66% of our participants are happy with what they receive, but there’s also a significant 33% who have gotten gifts they didn’t like. Of these mums who have previously received unwanted gifts, 19% re-gifted them while 29% have just pretended to like them.
There’s a popular saying, “It’s the thought that counts.” While this may ring true for some mothers, the reality that they’ve had to re-gift or pretend to love gifts suggests that there’s room for us to be more conscious of their interests and preferences when choosing a present.
Mother’s Day gifts: The good, the bad and the underrated
There’s a reason why we order bouquets ahead of time — flowers (29%) fly off the shelves during Mother’s Day, along with chocolates (27%) and gift cards (26%). While these are typical Mother’s Day gifts, mums love them all the same. Next in line are personalised gifts and experiences, each being favoured by 23% of participants. Meaning, you can treat her to a spa day, cook a fancy dinner for her or bring her to that event she’s been talking about for ages. Jewellery is also a popular pick at 16%, as it’s a symbol of appreciation that she can wear wherever.
Speaking of gifts to avoid, the worst gifts mothers have received in the past have been impersonal items like cleaning products (19%) and weight loss gifts (9%). Though they may be practical or well-intentioned, it would be best to steer clear of presents that could have backhanded implications about gender stereotypes or their body image. Low-effort options such as re-gifted items (7%) and last-minute gifts (6%) are also notable picks for gifts to avoid if you want to make your mum happy.
You heard it here first — handmade or personalised gifts are still a surefire way to melt mum’s heart, with 31% of participants favouring them. It doesn’t take much to elevate the annual “#1 Mum” mug, cushions or wall art. Just add her favourite photos, a quote from her go-to sitcom or artwork based on her unique personality to make it undeniably hers. Or, treat her to a weekend getaway (chosen by 19% of participants) so she can let down her hair and forget about her responsibilities for once. And while the classic blooms and box of chocolates may not apply to everyone, gift cards are a safe option that any mum can make use of.
Create a personalised Mother’s Day gift, all in a few clicks
VistaPrint believes in turning moments into memories with our range of personalised gifts for the home, office desks and more.
While each mum has unique preferences, today is all about showing your appreciation in a way that resonates with them. And what better way than giving them a keepsake made just for them? So whether you start with a simple, easy-to-edit template or create a unique, intricate design for your Mother’s Day gift, we’ve got you covered.
So, what are you waiting for? The data is clear: a heartfelt gift can go a long way to make your mum happy. Start creating yours today!
