“I think every working mom probably feels the same thing: You go through big chunks of time where you’re just thinking, ‘This is impossible – oh this is impossible.’ And then you just keep going and keep going and you sort of do the impossible.” — Tina Fey
May is Mother’s Day month (May 10), and here at Staff Shop, it’s our chance to celebrate the incredible women in our organization who are truly “doing it all.” Working moms’ jobs never stop. They wear countless hats while expertly juggling professional and family life.
In Canada, about 80% of mothers aged 25-54 participate in the labour force, with 79.7% of those with children under six employed or seeking work as of 2023 (up sharply from 35.8% in 1976). Dual-earner families are now the norm in 68.3% of couples with young kids. Yet despite this shift, working mothers still shoulder most domestic chores, spending roughly 40 minutes more per day on unpaid housework than men in dual-income homes – adding over six extra hours weekly on tasks like meal prep and cleaning.
These high performers bring their A-game to work, then come home with energy left to parent, partner, and manage the household. In short, they deserve the world!
That’s why we’ve curated this gift guide spotlighting unique ideas beyond spa packages, flowers, or chocolates. These are thoughtful picks across budgets to make busy moms feel truly seen, heard, and loved.
Unique Gift Guide for Working Moms
- Meal kit subscription: For single moms and moms part of dual-income households, ensuring your family has healthy, balanced meals each night is so important. A meal kit for a few nights a week can make a huge difference for busy families. Take the guesswork out of meal prep and planning. You’re giving her the gift of time while ensuring everyone eats nutritious food.
Examples: HelloFresh, Chefs Plate, Goodfood.
- De-stress card deck: Moms will appreciate these portable cards with simple wellness prompts for short breaks to remind her to prioritize her mental and physical health while trying to do it all. She can throw them in her purse or keep them in her desk drawer for moments when she needs to quickly reset.
Examples: Work Wellness Deck, Calm Cards.
- Micro-journal: Busy working moms need time to reflect and grow both professionally and personally. These journals for brief daily notes on gratitude or goals make perfect Mother’s Day gifts.
Examples: Two-Minute Mornings, The Five Minute Journal, Best Self Co. Journal.
- Travel coffee press: These are great for the mom who travels for work. She deserves better than hotel lobby coffee! Get her a portable brewer for coffee that stays hot on the go.
Examples: Espro Travel Press, Aeropress Go, Staresso Portable.
- Integrated planner: Sometimes what mom needs most is a physical planner to write down all appointments, work events, meetings, playdates, school meetings, etc. An organizer that merges work, family, and personal tasks makes a great gift.
Examples: Paste n’ Paper, Moleskine Weekly Planner, Full Focus Planner.
- Beauty and wellness subscription box: Getting a busy mom a wellness or beauty subscription box is great for the one who sometimes forgets to treat herself. She can try new products she might not have bought otherwise. These regular boxes of beauty and self-care surprises are a fun treat for moms who always put family and work first.
Examples: Jilly Box, Loti Wellness, Luxe Box.
- Smart ring: For the tech-loving mom who wants to prioritize her health and wellness, a wearable ring that tracks rest and stress for better balance is perfect. If you have a bigger budget, these make great gifts!
Examples: Oura Ring Gen4, Ultrahuman Ring Air.
- Premium carry-on luggage: For moms who are frequent flyers for quick business trips, high-quality carry-on luggage will be much appreciated.
Examples: Monos, Away Carry-On, Samsonite Winfield.
- Hair volumizer brush: Mornings as a mom can be extremely hectic. Ensuring everyone is fed, lunches are packed, and off to school/work means less time for blow-drying and styling hair. Get her a tool for fast, polished hair styling!
Examples: Revlon One-Step, Drybar Double Paddle, T3 AireBrush Duo.
- Family portrait session: Has mom been talking about wanting family portraits taken? That’s a hint to book a family photo session with a local photographer. Give the gift with an empty picture frame so she can put one of the photos on her desk at work.
Tips: Do a quick web search for photographers in your area or ask for recommendations in local community Facebook groups.
Insights from Staff Shop Moms (And Those with Special Moms in their Lives)
Our Staff Shop team is made up of a diverse group of hard-working, talented folks. Some are mothers and others have moms in their lives whom they want to celebrate this Mother’s Day with..
I asked them about the best gifts they’ve received as moms or the best gifts they’ve given!
“A few of the most appreciated Mother’s Day gifts I’ve received include; a full day spa package with my bestie who’s also a Mom, letters and cards from my hubby, precious art from my kids, heartfelt messages from friends and family, and experience gifts like a concert, brunch, or weekend getaway.” — Jennifer Ménard-Shand, Founder & CEO
Learn More on How to Support Mothers in the Workplace
Want to bring real insights on supporting working mothers right to your team? Invite our CEO and Founder Jennifer Ménard-Shand to speak at your organization about practical strategies for empowering moms in the workplace. Jennifer is a successful business owner and mother to two young children.
For more on this topic, please read our previous blog on Supporting Mothers in the Workplace.
“For all working mothers it’s important to remember that we don’t get to be with our kids all the time, but it’s also important for them to see us as leaders and there is value in that.” — Olivia Wilde
