What Dear Media Hosts Really Want This Mother’s Day

It’s Mother’s Day, and if you’re frantically reading this while considering a last-minute dash to the flower shop—take a deep breath. We’ve got emergency inspiration straight from people who know motherhood intimately. Our hosts are sharing what they’re gifting their own mothers today and—perhaps more usefully—what they’re hoping to receive themselves. Whether you need immediate gift ideas or just want to better understand what the mother in your life might actually appreciate right now, consider this your eleventh-hour guide. Motherhood is a rollercoaster of sublime highs and exhausting lows, but our hosts have some timely wisdom. One timeless tip: flowers paired with a handwritten note never fails. (Though diamonds are still acceptable—this statement written by someone who knows.)

We’ve also collected parenting wisdom from these hosts who’ve amassed considerable maternal knowledge. Whether you need immediate gift inspiration, reassurance on this emotional day, or just a knowing laugh from someone who gets it, this Mother’s Day cheat sheet has you covered.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas From Dear Media Hosts

Several hosts are sticking with classic gifts this year. Madi Murphy of The Bad Broadcast is giving her mom flowers complemented by fresh bread and homemade jam.

Mary Alice Haney from SHE MD and Katie Lee Biegel, host of All on the Table, are both sending floral arrangements. As Biegel notes: “Always send my mom a bouquet of flowers. She doesn’t like to spend money on flowers, so I like sending her something I know she will not buy for herself.”

For a more creative option, consider Cameron Rogers’s Quiet Your Mind & Busy Your Hands journal and adult coloring affirmation book. The Conversations with Cam host admits, “I’m obviously biased, but I think this is such a great Mother’s Day gift for any mom in your life because we are all busy and in need of some self-care.”

Need something practical? Take Carlene Higgins’s advice from Breaking Beauty: “We of the ‘sandwich generation’ are gifting our senior mums something that helps make their days just a little bit easier, which is why I bought her a Teakhaus F.S.C. Certified Teak Wood Bench from Costco. She can sit down without falling in the shower. Every Queen deserves her throne.

For something glamorous, Jen Hayes Lee, co-host of No Guide for This, is gifting all her mom friends pieces from her jewelry line, Bestow Collection: “They know how hoop-obsessed I am, so I made it my business to make the perfect pair of gold hoops. Every mama deserves a little shine!”

What moms are actually requesting

Perhaps unsurprisingly, what mothers want most is TLC—not things. They’re asking for fundamentals: rest, massage, quality time, and the perpetually undervalued peace and quiet.

Mothers shouldn’t feel guilty about wanting alone time. For Not Skinny But Not Fat‘s Amanda Hirsch, the ultimate gift is simple: “A day to myself! After my kids give me a hug and kiss goodbye. This won’t happen, but a woman can dream.”

Hayes yearns for physical touch—specifically, a foot massage: “I’m getting more serious about skincare, so I’d love a good facial and a foot rub. But honestly, foot rubs are my love language. It’s a supreme gift any day of the week.”

Whitney Port from With Whit wants “time to do literally whatever I want.” Rather than material gifts, she prefers experiences or trips over anything gift-wrapped.

Murphy agrees about the value of solitude: For Mother’s Day, she wants “peace, quiet, and nobody touching me for 24 hours (unless you’re a professional massage therapist).”

Memories worth keeping

Motherhood may be challenging, but it’s full of beautiful moments. Bria Jones, host of Because I Love You, who welcomed her first baby in March, says she’ll cherish even the sleepless nights: “I’m currently in the newborn trenches as a first-time mom. Yes, I’m losing my mind, but I’m also so thankful for this chaos. I know it’s not going to last forever. I just remind myself that when me and my baby and I are crying together at 3 a.m.”

Dr. Thais Aliabadi (aka Dr. A) from SHE MD treasures watching her children become friends: “One of the most special moments in motherhood has been witnessing the transition of my three eldest daughters—from being my little girls to becoming my best friends. That bond, and watching it evolve, is something I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.”

For Lucy Fink, host of The Real Stuff and mother of two little ones, a standout memory was “the moment of introducing our daughter to our son and seeing them together was so cute.”

Hard-earned wisdom

Each week, Dear Media’s mom hosts share the highs and lows of motherhood with one consistent message: you’re not alone. In the chaos and beauty of raising children, these women are right there with you. Some Mother’s Day reminders from our hosts:

“Children are resilient, and it’s unconditional love. Be kind to yourself, as a parent, because we are all doing the best we can,” says Caroline Stanbury from Uncut and Uncensored.

“Everything is out of your control, and who you really are, at your core, is how you handle it,” offers Everything is The Best host Pia Baroncini.

Port adds a comforting perspective: “Everything is a phase. The hard stuff always ends. Then, something new pops up to challenge you in a totally different way. But these little hurdles add up to big wins. They remind you that you’re growing right alongside your child.”

“There’s no such thing as a perfect parent. We’re all trying our best, and that’s what matters,” Rogers reminds us.

Hirsch agrees about not beating yourself up as a mom and distills parenting wisdom into valuable advice: “Celebrate the wins and get over the losses quickly.” A universal lesson we could all apply more often—whether you’re a mother or not.