Life
Tech Gifts For Your Mom On Mother's Day
Mother's Day is coming up fast, but you don't have to settle for giving her a bouquet of flowers just like you did last year (and the year before that, and the year before that). If your mother figure loves staying up-to-date with the latest technological trends, there are plenty of tech gifts for this year's Mother's Day that will make her life easier and show how much you appreciate her. After all, this is the woman who cleaned up the contents of your diapers for literal years. If anyone deserves appreciation in the form of a fancy Bluetooth speaker, it's her.
Although it's a holiday currently known for showering mothers with affection and mimosas, Mother's Day has a surprisingly political history. According to National Geographic, the poet Julia Ward Howe issued a Mother's Day proclamation in 1870 encouraging women to take a more active role in pacifism. Several decades later, in 1908, a woman named Anna Jarvis organized the first official Mother's Day events in a few cities across the country. Less than a decade later, it was so commonly celebrated that then-president Woodrow Wilson officially declared a date for the holiday: the second Sunday of every May.
More than a century later most of us spend the second week in May frantically searching for the perfect gift. With that in mind, here are 16 tech-oriented gift ideas for your mom this year.
1Bluetooth Speaker
Blackweb HIGHWIRE Bluetooth Speaker, $19.96, Walmart.com
Whether your mom likes to throw loud parties or she's a veteran shower singer, she could use a Bluetooth speaker — especially one with a cool LED light display.
2AirPods
AirPods, $159, Apple.com
If you're shopping for tech gifts for your mom, chances are she's on top of the latest trends. If she has an iPhone 7, you may want to buy her a pair of AirPods in case she misplaces her pair; even if she doesn't, the wireless headphones have been well-reviewed enough to consider as a gift.
3Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 2, from $369, Apple.com
With a built-in GPS and heart rate sensor, smart watches like the Apple Watch are a great way for her to keep up with her health, and any techie would be excited to get their hands on the updated Series Two.
4Instant Coffee Maker
Keurig K50 Coffee Maker, $89, Walmart.com
This ultra-fast coffee machine is must for any caffeine addict.
5Vitamix Smart Blender
Vitamix A2300 Ascent Blender, $399.99, Vitamix
It might not look like much, but this Vitamix blender automatically adjusts its setting based on whatever container you use. It's perfect for the margarita-loving mom.
6Espresso Machine
Nespresso Vertuoline, from $157.49, Amazon
If your mom always finds the time to stop by Starbucks in the morning (and afternoon, and sometimes at night), it's possible to find some relatively low-cost espresso machines online. Nespresso's Vertuoline makes both coffee and espresso, and you can find it with an added milk frother on Amazon.
7Cute Phone Case
Clear Snap-On Case for iPhone, $8.99, Amazon
Is it corny? Yes, but that doesn't mean your mother doesn't deserve to know she's mom of the year.
8Fitbit
Fitbit Alta HR Tracker, $129.99, Kohls.com
Fitbit fitness trackers are a trendy, fun gift mom will love.
9Portable Photo Printer
HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer, $129.99 new/from $74.99 used, Amazon
Instead of just giving her a photo collage, give your mom a portable photo printer so she can make one herself. HP's Sprocket printer is a best-seller on Amazon, and you can print straight from your smartphone.
10Kindle Paperwhite
Kindle Paperwhite, $99.99, Amazon.com
Trust me — an e-reader is every book lover's dream. If they're too expensive new, look into a refurbished one.
11Roku Express
Roku Express, $29, Amazon
Anyone with a television ought to own a Roku Express. The device is simple to set up and use, and it casts streaming services straight to the TV. You and your mom can watch This Is Us and cry together in style.
12GoPro
GoPro HERO5, $399.99, Amazon
A GoPro is perfect for the adventurous mom. These durable, waterproof cameras capture video in virtually any situation.
13Fashionable Headphones
Ailihen I35 Headphones, $19.98, Amazon.com
These headphones are cute, well-reviewed, and affordable.
14Digital Photo Frame
Polaroid Digital Photo Frame, $39.99, Target.com
Digital photo frames show multiple photos at a time and require little set-up. Even the most technology-challenged mom can figure it out.
15Phone Mount
PopSockets, $9.99, Target.com
In my experience, parents love nothing more than (justifiably) worrying about smartphone use while driving. Phone mounts like PopSockets allow users to attach their phones to pretty much anything, including car dashboards.
16Instant Camera
Fijufilm Instax Mini Camera, $49.99, Target.com
What better way to remind you mom of her youth than by giving her an instant camera? Better yet, spend the day taking photos of the two of you and create a mini-collage showing how you spent your Mother's Day.
