This Mother's Day, let's redefine how we express our love.
Image: Supplied
We’ve all been there: that mid-May moment where we start panicking over a gift that feels "enough".
We default to the usual suspects: a bouquet that will wilt by Tuesday, a candle she’ll probably save for a power cut, or a tray of lukewarm toast for breakfast in bed that usually ends with her cleaning the kitchen anyway.
But if you look at what people are searching for lately, it’s clear we’re all craving something deeper. We aren't looking for "best perfumes"; we’re looking for "meaningful ways to spend the day".
We’re swapping the shopping bags for experiences, and there’s a beautiful reason why.
The truth is, most moms don’t actually want more stuff to dust or store. They’re quietly wishing for something much simpler: presence.
They want the slow morning coffee where no one is checking their phone. They want the kitchen filled with laughter (and maybe a new recipe) rather than just a quick "thanks, mom".
They want the kind of memories that don’t fit in a box but stay tucked in the heart. This year, let's stop trying to buy her time and start actually spending it with her. Because at the end of the day, the best thing you can give her is a seat at the table and your undivided attention.
Research around consumer behaviour shows a clear pattern: experience-based gifts tend to create a deeper emotional impact than physical ones. Shared experiences such as cooking together, going out for a meal, or even a simple activity at home create space for conversation that doesn’t happen in the rush of everyday life.
Studies show that the joy from physical items fades faster, while experiences become stories we revisit. That lunch, that laugh, that moment, it sticks.
Mother’s Day has always been about appreciation. It’s about showing someone you’ve thought about them.
“Food has a way of saying the things we don’t always put into words,” says executive chef Andre Hill of Radisson RED Waterfront.
“Mother’s Day is about showing appreciation, and something homemade always carries that extra bit of meaning.”
Executive Chef Andre Hill of Radisson RED Waterfront.
Image: Supplied
That’s where experience meets intention.
You don’t need a big budget or an elaborate plan. The most meaningful ideas right now are the ones that feel human.
Cook something together. Book a lunch you don’t have to clean up after. Take a walk and actually talk. Sit down longer than usual. Or, if you want something that feels both comforting and just a little indulgent, make something. Something like banana bread. But not the basic kind.
Chef Hill’s banana bread with crumble and miso caramel is one for the books.
Ingredients
Crumble
Method
Miso Caramel
Ingredients
Method
To serve
Slice a generous piece of banana bread, top with caramelised banana (pan-fried or lightly torched), drizzle over the miso caramel, and finish with berries or anything you love.
Serve it warm. Preferably with mom sitting down and not lifting a finger.