25 Fun Things to Do With Your Mom at Home This Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is coming up, and this year, show your appreciation for your mom by spending quality time together.

You don’t need to spend a lot or go anywhere far to have a memorable day. Here are 25 fun activity ideas you can do right at home to make this Mother’s Day special.

Have a Movie Marathon of Her Favorite Films

What better way to spend the day than binge-watching films with mom? Let her pick some of her all-time favorite movies, classics she’s been meaning to rewatch, or new releases she’s excited about.

Make popcorn, order in her favorite takeout, and get cozy on the couch. Look up fun themed cocktail or mocktail recipes to sip on while you watch. During romantic chick flicks, have a box of tissues ready for happy tears.

For action or horror movies, make sure you’ve got plenty of pillows to hide behind! A movie marathon is a relaxing way to bond over shared interests and reminisce about favorite characters and scenes.

Cook or Bake Together

If your mom loves being in the kitchen, cook or bake something new together. Look up that recipe you’ve been wanting to try like homemade ravioli, French macarons or Beef Wellington.

Challenge yourselves by taking on a complicated dish or dessert so you can learn new techniques. Play some upbeat music to work to. Pour some wine or enjoy the treats you baked as you cook. Not only will you get to enjoy delicious food, but you’ll bond over the whole process.

Cooking together builds memories as you mix, measure, chop and bake side by side. When you look back and eat that dish again years later, it’ll remind you of the fun you had making it!

Do Arts and Crafts

Get creative together! Crafting is relaxing, and you get to make something you can keep or give as gifts. Try activities like vision boards, painting pottery, tie dye, candle or soap making.

Buy a paint-by-number set and paint something to hang in her home. Arrange fresh flowers together in a vase to brighten up her space. If she’s really crafty, let her teach you her skills like knitting, calligraphy, or jewelry making.

Crafts allow you to chat while keeping your hands busy, and you get to admire each other’s creativity. Display what you made together as a sweet reminder.

Pamper Each Other with Makeovers

What mom doesn’t love being pampered? Give each other makeovers and treat yourselves to at-home spa services. Do face masks like a brightening or hydrating one. Exfoliate with a scrub. Pluck eyebrows and shape up nails. Give each other manicures and pedicures.

Have a hair salon day by washing, blow drying and styling each other’s hair into new ‘dos. Give massages with lotion or aromatic oils. Apply mud masks for an extra detox. Take relaxing bubble baths with a glass of wine. Feel refreshed and bonded after a day of primping and relaxation.

Look Through Old Photo Albums

Sit together and gently turn the pages of old photo albums. Laugh at awkward haircuts and outrageous outfits from decades past. Reminisce about family vacations, holidays, weddings and other big events.

Tell the stories behind the moments frozen in time. Ask your mom about relatives you may not have known well or are no longer around. Photos capture memories and emotions.

They serve as a time capsule of eras past and a reminder of how quickly time flies. Leaf through the albums to connect with your family history and gain insight into who your mom was at all stages of her life.

Play Board Games and Cards

Challenge your mom to a game night! Classic options like Scrabble, Boggle, Trivial Pursuit, Rummy and Uno will spark friendly competition. Try cooperative games like Pandemic or Forbidden Island where you work together towards a common goal. Learn a new game like Ticket to Ride or Catan. Play cards like Rummy 500, Crazy Eights or Go Fish.

Stay up late trash talking and munching on snacks. Laugh hysterically when things go hilariously wrong. Bond over trying to outsmart each other while enjoying quality time together. Game nights create inside jokes and memories you’ll reminisce about for years.

Listen and Dance to Music From Her Era

Sit down together and play songs your mom loved from her youth and early adulthood. Make a nostalgic playlist of feel-good hits that were the soundtrack to her best memories. Sing along dramatically to every word. Share silly dances moves and laugh at each other busting out “classic” moves from decades past.

Ask your mom about concerts she went to or what music she’d listen to while getting ready to go out. Pull out photo booth-style props and accessories for some fun dress-up. Turn up the volume and have an impromptu living room dance party. 

Celebrate and reminisce over feel-good tunes and create new memories dancing together. The music that shaped her young adult years will bring out funny stories and deep connections.

Read Aloud Together From Books You’ve Been Meaning to Check Out

Reading together is a simple pleasure that lets you bond quietly over books. Pick a book you’ve both been wanting to read like a buzzy new release or critically-acclaimed novel. Take turns reading chapters aloud to each other, doing character voices and acting out dramatic scenes.

Discuss your reactions to the book as the story unfolds. What do you think will happen next? Which characters do you relate to? What are the deeper themes? Open up over thoughts the book provokes.

Read lighter books that make you laugh out loud so you can enjoy some carefree time together. Drifting into a fictional world through reading aloud is a way to connect deeply and expand each other’s perspectives.

Work Together on a DIY House Project

Take on a DIY project around the house to improve your living space together. Ideas include reorganizing closets, installing new shelving, painting accent walls, decorating with photos or artwork, repotting houseplants or freshening up the patio with new plants. Shop for supplies together and team up to tackle the tasks.

Put on some energizing music while you work. High five each other when you power through tricky steps. DIY projects allow you to bond while actively improving your home. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment admiring the finished product made by your combined efforts.

Plant New Flowers or Herbs in the Garden

If you and your mom both love gardening, plant flowers or herbs together in the garden or in pots for the house. Head to the nursery to pick out seeds or starter plants of her favorite annuals like peonies, sunflowers, or hydrangeas. Find herbs like basil, cilantro and rosemary to plant in a windowsill box.

Dig into the soil together and pat the dirt gently around new plants. Water them while chatting about your shared love of nature. Gardening is rewarding and a wonderful way to spend time together while making your living space bloom. You’ll think of each other whenever you admire the plants you grew together.

Give Each Other Massages

Treat each other to relaxing massages after a long week. Look up massage techniques online and practice on each other. Have mom lay down first and gently knead her shoulders to relieve tension.

Rub her temples if she’s complained of headaches. Massage her hands and feet which often carry a lot of stress. Light candles so she can fully zen out. Play spa music or nature sounds to set the mood. Ask how much pressure feels best.

Offer to pick up lotion on the way so you can incorporate it. Respect boundaries and check in if certain spots are sensitive or painful. Show appreciation through the healing power of touch. Then switch roles so you can be pampered next.

Do Yoga or Stretch Together

Improve flexibility and breathe deeply together through yoga. Roll out yoga mats side-by-side. Look up YouTube yoga videos for all levels - try beginner, gentle or restorative routines.

Flow through sequences of poses together. Modify movements to abilities and don’t take it too seriously. Smile at each other when you wobble out of a pose. Squeeze in a giggle when loud stomachs growl mid-session.

Follow the instructor’s guidance on breathing in and out through each movement. Chat about how yoga makes you feel emotionally and physically. Stretching is good for the body and bonding. End your session relaxed and centered.

Meditate Together

Experience the power of meditating together. Sit across from each other and set a timer for 5-10 minutes. Close your eyes. Try square breathing: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4. Clear your minds fully on each exhale.

If thoughts creep in, gently return focus to your breath. Hold hands or just sit in silence. For guided meditation, search YouTube for options - loving kindness, body scan, gratitude meditations are uplifting. Notice how calm and present you feel after.

Meditation is a way to tap into inner peace amidst the busyness of life. Sharing this ritual builds connection and wellbeing. Continue practicing on your own between sessions.

Enjoy Calm Time Together with Tea

Simply sitting and sipping tea together can be special. Brew a pot of chamomile, green tea, earl grey or her favorite variety. Set up in the living room or out on the porch. Add a blanket if it’s chilly.

Sit quietly and notice the aroma and flavor. Chat about your week or sit in comfortable silence. Put on relaxing music or listen to the birds chirp. There’s no agenda other than taking a pause from the rush of life.

Let the ritual of steeping, pouring and sipping tea together be grounding. Small moments of connection over tea mean so much. This time to unwind without expectation allows you to appreciate each other’s company.

Make Brunch Together

Treat mom to a homemade brunch feast! Cook dishes like pancakes, waffles, crepes, omelets, baked French toast or breakfast casseroles. Mix up mimosas or Bloody Marys to sip. Bake fresh muffins or whip up fruit salads. Set the table nicely with flowers and candles to celebrate the spread.

Chat and laugh with no rush as you linger over the meal. Surprise her with her favorite childhood breakfast dishes or baked goods. Cooking brunch together combines quality time with delicious food. The thoughtful effort spent making her favorites will mean a lot.

Enjoy Afternoon Tea and Treats

Channel a British teatime with dainty finger sandwiches, scones and desserts. Make petite sandwiches with ingredients like cucumbers, smoked salmon, cream cheese or chicken salad.

Bake fluffy scones and whip up lemon curd and clotted cream. Add cookies, macarons or mini cakes for sweet bites. Brew a pot of Earl Grey or English breakfast tea.

Set up a tea table with your prettiest teacups, linens and flowers. Chat leisurely for hours like you have all the time in the world. Pinkies up! Afternoon tea is a lovely low-key way to connect over nibbles and tea.

Make Homemade Pizzas and Appetizers

For dinner, get creative in the kitchen whipping up homemade pizzas and apps. Make pizza dough from scratch or use a pre-made crust. Top with classic marinara and mozzarella or fun ingredients like prosciutto, arugula, goat cheese. Whip up garlic knots, caprese skewers or antipasto skewers to munch on.

Bake up mini calzones or focaccia. Fill ramekins with tomato soup for dipping. Pour a glass of red wine to enjoy with the Italian feast. Cook together while listening to music and chatting. Making a spread of shareable foods is a fun, collaborative effort. The mouthwatering aromas will build your appetite!

Bake Childhood Favorites

Surprise mom by baking beloved treats from her childhood like chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, or peanut butter brownies. Look up old family recipes or search vintage cookbooks for nostalgic desserts like banana pudding and lemon bars. Use ingredients popular in her era like Jell-O or canned evaporated milk. Decorate with retro sprinkles, chocolate cigarettes or marshmallows.

Share stories and laughs over the sweets you adored as kids. The familiar flavors will light up her taste buds and whisk her back in time. She’ll be touched you remembered her childhood cravings.

Mix Up Cocktails or Mocktails on the Porch

Sip cocktails or refreshing mocktails as you catch up on the porch. Look up recipes for fun drinks like Aperol spritz, Moscow mule, margarita or mojito. For mocktails, mix and garnish non-alcoholic concoctions like ginger peach fizz, blueberry mint lemonade or cranberry lime spritzers. Snack on veggies and dip or chips and guacamole.

Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a drink together as the sun sets. Mixing and sampling cocktails you’ve never tried before makes for great summer memories. The porch sets a relaxing vibe to unwind over drinks and conversation.

Go Shopping and Window Shopping Together

Hit up the mall or downtown shops for an afternoon of retail therapy together. Check out popular stores you both love like Anthropologie, Madewell, Sephora, Paper Source, Barnes and Noble.

Try on clothes and give feedback on outfits. Swatch test makeup products at beauty counters. Smell all the fancy candles and body care items. Sneakily buy each other gifts you spot the other eyeing up. Pop into local boutiques and chat with owners of the small businesses.

Stop for lunch at a cafe to refuel. When your feet get tired, do more window shopping where you can leisurely admire displays without going inside. Ducking into shops together is a way to bond over shared interests and explore new products and stores. Wherever you go, it’s time spent enjoying each other’s company that matters most.

Conclusion

This Mother’s Day, skip the brunch reservations and create special memories together at home with these fun activity ideas. Cozy up for a movie marathon, cook delicious foods, get crafty with DIY projects, pamper each other at a home spa, and so much more.

Simple quality time doing activities you both love or have wanted to try allows you to reconnect. From nostalgic music dance parties to quiet moments sipping tea, find ideas that align with your mom’s interests and personality.

Don’t underestimate the power of spending a day together focused completely on each other. No matter your plans, the gift of your time and attention will make her feel loved this Mother’s Day.

What are you most excited to do with your mom?