Mother’s Day 2022: Gift Picks from Our Editors

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Parenthood’s VP, Dria de Botton Barnes, is obsessed with this watermelon scented lip gloss. “It legit tastes like watermelon and is the closest I’ve gotten to wearing makeup in 6 weeks,” she says. (Long live the quarantine beauty standard!) It’s pricey for a lip gloss, but on top of her recommendation, Glow Recipe is a K-Beauty brand, so you know it’s going to be good.

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Help mom treat herself with a sheet mask (or a few!) from Yes To. We love this brand for their dedication to using 95 percent all-natural ingredients in their products. Plus, it smells ah-may-zing and creates really satisfying bubbles when applied to your face.

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Jewelry is stereotypically an “easy” Mother’s Day gift, but it requires knowing a lot about mom’s style. Luckily, this sweet, simple personalized necklace from Etsy makes your job that much easier.

Whether you choose to add mom’s own initials or the initials of the kids, Parenthood editor Saralyn Ward says this is a thoughtful, well-made gift that’s sure to be a hit.

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Copy editor Kara Williams loves these Yeti wine tumblers… actually multiple people on our team love these wine tumblers. And for good reason: They’re made with sturdy, vacuum-insulated stainless steel, and come in a bunch of fun colors.

“These are great for around the fire pit or on camping trips because you don’t need to stress about breakage,” Kara says. “One negative is that they’re not sold with a lid, but I don’t like drinking wine with a plastic lid anyway. And, yeah, they’re not the cheapest, but they’re the best.”

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Picking out a bottle of wine can be overwhelming. That’s why Parenthood’s market editor Jamey Powell trusts Winc’s quick flavor-profiling quiz to do the decision-making for her. And while the typical reds and whites are great year-round, summer is coming. And that can only mean one thing: rosé.

“With a Winc subscription, you typically receive four unique bottles of wine a month,” she says. “But this special summertime subscription sends warm weather favorites like rosé, a chilled red, and a pink bubbly from May through August. It’s basically sunshine in a bottle!”

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Cocktails are fun, but a little labor intensive — especially for moms on the move. Parenthood editor Jessica Jondle likes to drop these flavor-infused sugar cubes into a bottle of bubbly when she’s feeling fancy.

“There’s not a busy mom around who has time to mix a frilly cocktail,” she says. With flavors like orange, grapefruit, peach, and raspberry to choose from, it’s easy to whip up something festive and delicious in no time.

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There’s just something about candles that makes the world seem a little less stressful. This elegant ceramic candle from Tokyo Milk is high-end self-care in wax form.

Yes, it’s an expensive candle. But according to Parenthood editor Sara McTigue, everything from the packaging to the scents make these feel special. Besides, mom’s worth it.

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Since a visit to a massage therapist isn’t exactly an option this Mother’s Day, a little at-home self-care is going to have to do. That’s why our copy editor Kara is asking for this electric back and neck massager from Naipo.

With eight different deep-kneading massage nodes, three speed settings, and a built-in heat function, it’s no surprise this massager has rave reviews on Amazon. Reviewers say the product is an excellent purchase if you like intense massage, but one negative is that it’s not cordless so it requires an outlet to use.

Note: The Naipo Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager is currently unavailable on Amazon but is available on Naipo’s website.

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These comfy joggers from Lululemon are another fave from our VP Dria. The material is by far some of the softest you’ll find in the activewear game, but sweat-wicking, too, making them great for yoga, running errands, or just lounging around. They also have pockets because, seriously, who has time for pants without pockets anymore?

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Okay, these are pricey for a sneaker, but our market editor Jamey lives in them. They’re comfy from the get-go with zero break-in time, made of all recycled marine plastic (!), and come in fun colors and patterns.

The best part? They’re washable. Rothy’s also just launched really cute Mary Janes if the sneaker isn’t your style, as well as some pretty cool bags.

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There are coffee drinkers, and then there are coffee lovers. If you’re shopping for the mom who regularly uses a Chemex to brew single origin roasts from Honduras, we think a subscription for Trade Coffee might be the perfect gift.

After a quick survey about preferred brewing methods and flavor profiles, Trade picks a blend to start mom off. Then, with a monthly subscription, they’ll send a different U.S.-roasted coffee each time based on thumbs up/down feedback from the drinker. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

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Is there such a thing as too many mugs? We think not, especially if you collect mugs that remind you of places you’ve traveled or your favorite TV shows.

“I’m a sucker for mugs,” says editor Sara. “This one will let me pretend to be drinking my coffee with my favorite girls — ‘The Golden Girls.’” Enough said.

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You probably know her from “Fixer Upper,” but Joanna Gaines is one half of the dynamic duo behind the brand Magnolia. Her book, “Homebody,” is a guide to turning the spaces in your home into places you truly love to spend time. For the organized mama, our social media editor Mary Catherine can’t recommend this read enough.

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Since pool parties aren’t happening anytime soon, you might as well treat mom to one at home. Our editorial director Jamie Webber is a fan of these designer inflatable pools from Minnidip.

These aren’t your average kiddie pools — they’re stylish, colorful, and made for some serious fun in the sun. Plus, they also have mini pools that serve as coolers for when mom wants to rosé-all-day.

Update: Minnidip is currently sold out of all designs, but they’re working quickly to restock. In the meantime, we recommend checking out this inflatable pool from FUNBOY.

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Kids are messy. Pets are messy. Editor Sara has both. That’s why she has a Ruggable washable rug at the top of her wish list.

With a lightweight, removable rug cover and a nonslip pad base, Ruggable rugs are designed to be thrown in the washing machine whenever the inevitable happens. Plus, they come in a variety of beautiful patterns and colors.

Rugs are expensive as it is, but these are pretty standard compared to names like World Market or Wayfair.

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Weeding is a dirty job, but these bright, floral gloves from Anthropologie make it a little sweeter. Made from a tough, nylon blend, they’ll keep mom’s hands safe from scratches and cuts while working in the garden.

The only real problem with these gloves is that the floral pattern is on a white background. Don’t expect them to look brand-new for long — but then again, they’re gloves for gardening, not going to the ball.

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One way to make scheduling a little less stressful? Adding some flair with these colorful pens from Paper Mate.

“Keeping track of the schedules for my three kids and myself, plus shopping and other assorted to-dos is all about organization,” says editor Sara. “I love these pens for making that organization a little easier — and prettier!”

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For the mom who spends all day juggling work and child wrangling (and making it look easy), a good night’s sleep is essential. A pillow spray, like this lavender- and chamomile-scented product from This Works, might help mom catch some much-needed Zzz’s.

“This is an item that I wouldn’t buy for myself, but when I received it as a gift I realized how much I needed it,” says editor Jessica. “It sounds too good to be true, but a spritz or two does make for a luxurious (in an exhausted mom way) sleeping experience.”

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For breastfeeding moms, this super-soft nursing cover is a hit. It’s made of quick-drying bamboo viscose so it can handle drips and spit-up with ease.

Size-wise, it’s versatile enough to fit most breastfeeding mamas and can also be used as a car seat cover. “I love this nursing cover — I wear it even when I’m not nursing!” says editor Saralyn.

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Hey, we don’t judge — if you like to match outfits with your little one, we say go for it!

“I like to match with Riggs (but try not to be super cheesy about it) and these Bitty Brah beach hats are pretty cute — that is, if I could ever get him to wear a hat,” says editorial director Jamie.