Sixty-one percent of American mothers said the best gift for Mother's Day is spending time with their children, according to a 2025 YouGov poll released ahead of the holiday on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The survey measured a range of preferences for how mothers in the United States want to mark the day.
According to the poll, 38% of American mothers said they would like to be treated to dining out and drinks, while 35% said they would prefer to stay home. Another 33% said they would rather spend the day with their own mothers and extended family.
Smaller shares of respondents pointed to time for themselves or activities outside the home. The poll found that 19% of mothers wanted a beauty or wellness treatment, 18% wanted to get out of the house, 16% wanted to be alone, and 13% said they would like to do nothing at all. Nine percent said they would like to spend the day with friends, and 7% said they would like to spend time away from their children.
The findings align with how a number of families have marked the holiday in recent years. Jennifer West's sons, ages three and four, helped prepare and present raspberry and hazelnut crepes for breakfast in bed and wished her a happy Mother's Day. Alice Bayerl's two adult sons made brunch that included a vegan pot pie decorated with pastry spelling "MOM," which her sons noted also spells "WOW" when viewed from the other side.
Trish Morchower's daughter Bari drove from her college on Long Island and surprised her at the door with a balloon and a card at 7:40 a.m. on Mother's Day. Liz Taylor and another mother were invited on a canyoneering weekend by their sons, Cole and Jackson, that included camping, meals, and planned routes. Jules Hathaway's adult children attended her master's degree ceremony last year, which she completed after recovering from a stroke.