Last-minute Mother’s Day 2020 gifts that can be sent digitally

Did you forget?

Mother’s Day 2020 is around the corner on May 10, but worry not — there’s still time to show her you care, even with delivery times complicated by this year’s coronavirus lockdown.

There are options aplenty for a thoughtful virtual gift this year, from a simple e-card to entertainment services that will take her mind off the quarantine to subscription boxes that will bring a smile to her face long after Mother’s Day.

If you’re lucky enough to be on lockdown with your mama, brunch is only a door-knock away with delivery services from takeout-only restaurants. If she’s far away, there’s still a mother lode of opportunities to say “I love you” with a few clicks of a mouse.

Here are the best last-minute gifts that can be sent virtually.

Subscriptions

She watched endless Disney movies with you — now give her a chance to watch them all again, along with Disney+‘s arsenal of programming with a subscription to the streaming platform. One year is $69.99.

We’ve all got a lot more time to read, so make it easy for Mom to catch up on some reading without having to go to the library. Kindle Unlimited subscriptions are on sale now and can be gifted for six months ($47.86), 12 months ($80.30) or two years ($143.80).

Audible memberships can be gifted for only one month ($15) or a whole year ($150) and include three titles for each month of their gift membership — one audiobook plus two Audible Originals.

From the newspaper that made you grateful your mom wasn’t that bad, send Mom a subscription for none other than the New York Post. Can’t blame a newspaper for tryin’!
Plus, a home delivery subscription saves up to 65% off the newsstand price.

Gift cards

Gift cards are doing double duty this year: not only can they be sent online, but they may help a business struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. Top-sellers include Wayfair (new patio furniture, anyone?), Kohl’s — or just straight-up cash, through Visa or Mastercard.

If Mom’s not already on the Netflix train, buy her a gift card for a subscription so you can watch a movie with her through Netflix Party. It lets you choose a movie or show to watch with a loved one by synchronizing the start time and allowing users to chat during the movie. Beats getting shushed by Dad when you’re trying to figure out just what exactly is going on with Joe Exotic’s ear piercing.

And let’s face it, she’s probably just as sick of cooking as you are. A Grubhub gift card will give her the freedom to order food to her door, from her favorite neighborhood restaurant.

Experiences

Travel may be off the table for the near future, but Airbnb is selling virtual experiences for wanderlust-loving moms. The service allows family members to get together over a video chat to experience a ritual from another part of the world. Now, you and Mom can learn to make Latin pastries (from $18/person), attend cocktail hour at a London jazz club (from $16/person) or even forest bathe in Portugal (from $14/person) — all from your couch.

Learn something new with your mom through MasterClass, which offers up courses taught by world-renowned experts such as Anna Wintour and chef Gordon Ramsey. Two passes, with unlimited access to more than 80 instructors, costs $180.

The family that sweats together stays together. Pick out a video from ClassPass’ free selection of at-home workouts and try out a yoga sesh with Mom — you’ll be together in spirit. Namaste. Or, up the ante with a subscription to FabFitFun ($50), which includes a selection of digital workouts and a seasonally delivered box of eight to 10 beauty and fitness products, valued at more than $200.

Cupcakes for a cause? Sounds like something Mom can get behind. The Ronald McDonald House New York is teaming up with Food Network digital content creator Chelsey White to host a live Zoom cupcake class on Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m. Eastern. Participants will learn how to bake white almond cupcakes and can ask Chelsey their burning cupcake questions during the class. Ingredients are listed here. Tickets are $10 for one person and $15 for two people, and all proceeds will support RMHNY, which provides temporary housing for pediatric cancer patients and their families. After signing up, you’ll receive an email with information on how to join via Zoom.

E-cards

Bougie moms will love this: Louis Vuitton has released a series of e-cards called #WELVMOMS. The cards let you customize a fancy note suitable for your class-act mama. And yes, this interactive service is completely complimentary, so go ahead and spread the LV love to your grandmas, aunts, sisters and cousins, too. Simply select from a soft purple or white stationery, then write her a sweet message. Unsolicited advice: Don’t forget the “I love you.”

Moms love photos! Put together a virtual slide show of your favorite childhood pics with Motionden. The first video is free and after that, it’s $9 per video.

Or, go the tried-and-true route with a Hallmark e-card, which can be customized with animations and music. Memberships to Hallmark cost $5 a month.

Food

It’s not necessarily too late to send a treat or two to Mom on her day. For example, send her a bottle of Champagne to go with a brunch through Saucey, which delivers to most major cities. And you can get $10 off your first order with code NYPOST.

Brunch-tastic! Many restaurants will deliver on Mother’s Day, via Grubhub, Caviar, DoorDash and more. Make it an ongoing thing with a monthly subscription to Goldbelly ($79/month). Each month, she’ll get the buzziest delectables delivered to her door.

For New Yorkers, Michelin-starred chef Danny Brown and his restaurant Estuary have created a festive, sweet and savory to-go Mother’s Day basket for families to enjoy — perhaps at a socially distanced picnic at the nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park? The $65 basket, which serves four, includes a seasonal quiche and viennoiserie. You could even add on a DIY mimosa kit for an extra $40. The basket is available via Grubhub, Caviar, Seamless or phone order for pickup at Estuary’s grab-and-go annex, Ebb & Flow, in Brooklyn.

Just for the heck of it, gift her a childhood staple: Red Lobster’s cult-favorite Cheddar Bay Biscuits. The company will deliver them on Mother’s Day along with a fun e-card. A dozen Cheddar Bay Biscuits start at $4.79 and a half-dozen start at $2.49, depending on location.

Donations

Does your mom say she doesn’t want anything? Like, for real this time? It sounds like you could still honor her giving spirit by making a donation in her name to an organization in need this year, or her favorite political candidate.

Nonprofits that could use some love these days include Feeding America, which supplies food to food banks and pantry programs, and Direct Relief, which is taking donations for protective equipment for health-care workers around the world.

In New York City, the organization Off Their Plate is also providing meals to health-care workers at Elmhurst Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, NYU Langone and others.