The Cheapest Mother’s Day Gift Might Be the One You Don’t Buy

Over time I’ve come to believe that the best Mother’s Day gift is often the one you don’t buy.

Sometimes the most thoughtful gift is simply this: making the day easier for the person who usually makes everything easier for everyone else! Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

Mother’s Day has become one of those occasions that comes with a lot of expectation—and a lot of suggestions about what you’re supposed to buy.

There are reminders everywhere—emails, store displays, last-minute “gift ideas” that guarantee to make the day special if you just click, buy, and wrap in time. The message is clear: Don’t miss it, don’t forget it, and whatever you do, don’t show up empty-handed.