7 Care Packages to Send (with Love) for Mother's Day

Honestly, a thoughtfully assembled care package is the perfect gift—especially when you can’t see your loved ones in person. Select some items related to one of your mom’s interests, pack them up nicely with a heartfelt card, and have your mom open the gift over FaceTime or Zoom so you can enjoy at least a little part of the day together. Here are some places to start:

If the household pet is now actually your mom’s favorite child...what can I say, you’re not alone. If she’s reached the level of making home-cooked meals for the dog, the Nordic Ware dog treat pan is a logical next step. You can also elevate her pup’s home dining experience with a chic elevated slow feeder, with a customized pet bowl mat underneath to catch any drips. Don’t forget a treat jar for the countertops—and a little treat ball just for fun.

Veteran breadmakers no doubt have their own process (and all the specialized tools and ingredients they need, thanks) but some gifts for a beginner bread baker will get them on the right track. An Emile Henry covered vented loaf baker is chic and functional—for showing off bread photos in the family group text (and throw in some fancy accoutrements, like Farmstand Fruit Spread). A bread-specific cookbook, like the Super Sourdough Cookbook will give her plenty of recipes to work through. Round out the basket with some helpful tools, like a stainless steel dough scraper and bread rising baskets.

Cutting down on food waste and single-use plastic is something we could all be doing, tbh. If your mom in particular has expressed an interest in adopting some greener practices, help make that as easy as possible with reusable items to replace everyday plastic and trash. Toss in Bee's Wrap reusable food wraps, reusable silicone storage bags, Baggu shopping bags and some reusable produce bags. The Zero Waste Cookbook is also a nice idea.

The little joys in life are more important than ever these days. If you know your mom cherishes her morning coffee time, think about some gifts that can make that extra fancy for her—a vintage French stoneware creamer, a dual speed frother, an Aero coffee spoon. Throw in some new beans for her to try, like the Sightglass whole bean blend, and a collapsible coffee press to use on the go.

Trust me, vegetable gardeners are very selective about seeds and seedlings, so maybe don’t go there. Instead, try a gift basket of nice tools and other adjacent things, like walnut-handled garden scissors and the Hori Hori Garden Tool. Comfort is key, so an organic workshop apron and kneeler pad are thoughtful additions. And if your mom’s gardening gloves look a bit worn out, send her some colorful, breathable ones to replace them.

Is your mom’s homemade pasta recipe a fiercely guarded family secret? Cool, send her some pasta things. If she’s open to trying new things, send over some artisanal pesto and a cookbook like the Williams Sonoma Test Kitchen Pasta Cookbook. For moms set in their ways, think tools—a solid wood pasta cutter, stainless steel handheld cheese grater, or an olivewood pasta spoon.

If happy hour at home is a pretty regular part of your mom’s life, you really can’t go wrong with a bottle of her favorite beverage along with some fun bar additions. Bloody Mary salt and natural liquor infusion kit are things she might not buy for herself, but could find fun to try. You also can’t go wrong with bitters, like this five-flavor bitters set for a cocktail aficionado. And if your mom can’t get enough of bar accessories, these fun polka dot cocktail napkins and bar spoon and muddler set will be sure to please.

Which care package most aligns with your mom, and what are your gifting plans this year? Let us know below!

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This article was updated in March 2021 to add even more care package ideas.