mother’s day gift guide
mother’s day is around the corner so i asked my wife to put together a list of things moms actually want (not to take away from those macaroni necklace they may love so much).
hi! cait here - wife, mama x2 and yoshioka acupuncture’s most underpaid employee. i can’t take credit for this whole post myself since i asked some of my mom friends for their recommendations (in true motherhood fashion, it takes a village). i may be biased, but i think we’ve put together a pretty great list for every mom in your life!
for new moms
this might be the most important category of this whole list - those postpartum days were hard. and in this stage, it’s important to remember that the “let me know how i can help” text is actually not helpful (seriously, poll any mom with kids under 5). hopefully this list gives you a good place to start.
products:
Postpartum recovery kit
Hands-free pumping bra or accessories
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Lactation snacks or tea
freezer meal delivery: a life saver and a great option if you’re not close by. there’s nothing harder than being sleep deprived and needing to make a food decision. but that mama needs to be nourished.
drop off her favorite dishes (if you are close by): don’t ask what she’s in the mood for. find out what her food preferences currently are (is she nursing, etc.) and either make her a home made meal or buy it and bring it over. bonus points if it happens to be during a meal time and you can hold that baby while she gets to actually sit down and eat.
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massage: if their baby is a little older, consider getting her a gift certificate for a massage. she’s probably still not sleeping as good as she needs to, her neck and shoulders might be wrecked from carrying the baby and she is probably forgetting to stretch (because she can’t remember anything at this point). now,this is the important part: line up the babysitter for her if it’s not you. get it on the books or it’ll end up getting filed in the “i feel too much mom guilt to take care of myself” file, which happens more than you think.
clean her house: whether that’s getting a service to come in while you take mama and baby out on a walk or you and your family go over and clean and hold baby while she is forced to nap, those early days feel overwhelming and you’d be surprised how much of a mood booster a clean house can be.
celebrate her without expecting her to celebrate anyone else: i saw a reel once from parenting coach mary van geffen that essentially said mother’s day is about the moms in the trenches, the ones with kids still at home, the ones in the thick of it. and it really stuck with me. not that we don’t absolutely love and appreciate every grandma and aunt out there, but listen - let us have this one. think of it as celebrating the new generations of mothers as they are created.
for the moms just starting their health journey
everyone wants to feel good, but let’s be honest - the “health industry” is overwhelming and a lot of “influencers” in this space are just selling products who pay them to. so here is an easy list for the moms in your life who are wanting to start taking care of themselves again.
products
Walking pad or simple step tracker without emf:
consumables
experiences / fun things
beginner yoga or pilates class: pilates sounds scary, but you truly can take it at your own pace and you get an incredible stretch! look for reformer classes.
meditation app subscription: cute notebook, new headphones and a daily meditation app? perfect for the ones who don’t know where to start. seriously, don’t believe us in the power of meditation? check out this huberman podcast - it was crazy insightful!
for the foodie moms
products
awesome snack containers for any activity:
consumables
better for you caffeine: remember a couple years ago when mushrooms were all the rage? not a fad and if you have a coffee
experiences / fun things
Dry brush or lymphatic drainage tool
Consumables
Organic bone broth
Raw or manuka honey
Experiences / Fun
Sound bath
Farmers market morning + coffee date
for the active moms
products
massage gun
ankle or wrist weights
consumables
electrolytes
beet juice or beet crystals: my absolute favorite beet crystal is this one from salus - post period, before long runs, during long runs, for altitude adjustment or if you just need something good (and actually yummy) in your life. even my run coach veronica sena approves!
a healthy snack assortment:
experiences / fun things
Sports massage
Sauna + cold plunge session
Moms Who Already Have Everything
products
consumables
experiences / fun things
Silk sleep mask or pillowcase
Beautiful journal or gratitude notebook
Consumables
High-end dark chocolate
Functional mushroom blends
Experiences / Fun
Private chef dinner at home
Staycation (even one night)
for the elevated moms
products
consumables
experiences / fun things
Products
Red light therapy device
Grounding or PEMF mat
Consumables
High-quality collagen peptides
Adaptogenic blends (ashwagandha, maca, etc.)
Experiences / Fun
Vibroacoustic therapy session at Yoshioka Acupuncture
Cosmetic acupuncture + microneedling package at Yoshioka Acupuncture
IV hydration therapy or functional medicine consult
