Mother’s Day gifts shift from bouquets to easing daily stressors

Pune: In many homes, a mother's work extends far beyond chores. From remembering grocery lists and school deadlines to managing doctor visits, bills and the emotional balance in the family, women are often expected to carry the mental load silently and constantly. This Mother's Day, however, a growing social media-driven trend is encouraging families to gift something more lasting than flowers — relief from everyday cognitive labour.On Sunday, florists across Pune reported a sharp rise in Mother's Day sales, with bouquet prices nearly doubling compared to regular weekends. "Apart from Valentine's Day, we see the highest sales on Mother's Day and Women's Day," said Akshay Sakharam, a florist from Kondhwa. "Roses, carnations and mixed bouquets are in high demand. Whatever gifts people buy, flowers remain a popular accompaniment," he said.Alongside traditional gifting, some families are trying to reduce the invisible responsibilities mothers shoulder daily."I realised my mother doesn't need another gift item, she needs fewer things to worry about," said Aditya Kulkarni, a college student from Vimannagar. Kulkarni said he created a shared family calendar and took over tasks such as bill reminders and grocery restocking. "It sounds small, but it makes a difference when she has fewer things to keep track of mentally," he added.Working professional Neha Mehta from Baner chose a practical solution for her mother. "She spends time every day planning and preparing salads for the family, so I gifted her a weekly salad subscription. It's one less task for her to manage," Mehta said.For many mothers, health management adds to the daily burden. "Managing diabetes also means constantly remembering medicine refills," said Sunita Patil (55), a homemaker from Katraj. "My daughter arranged a monthly medicine subscription with reminders. It took away a stress I didn't realise I carried every month," Patil said.Unlike one-day celebrations, such gestures offer ongoing support. For many mothers, fewer reminders, fewer decisions and fewer responsibilities to mentally juggle can matter more than traditional gifts. Flowers may still arrive this Mother's Day, but increasingly they are being accompanied by something less visible and far more meaningful — a little more peace of mind.