Mother’s Day has a long and storied history, drawing its roots from the 19th century as a day to reunite families torn apart by the U.S. Civil War. The first official holiday was celebrated at a church in Grafton, West Virginia, in 1906, and the designation of the second Sunday in May as the holiday was established in 1914.
The day quickly became one of the most commercially successful American occasions. Flowers, fine dining, spa treatments, and greeting cards are the most common Mother’s Day gifts, but gadgets to help moms are more in demand in the 21st century.
Matching up a gift with a mom is tough because every mother wants something different. We’ve gathered a variety of items that might make your mom happy, although would it kill you to just call her more often?
Best High-Tech Mother’s Day Gifts 2019
1) Furbo Dog Camera (on sale for $199, regularly $249.99)
If it’s been a while since you’ve lived with mom, there’s no doubt that she probably gave her fur-baby your old room. Which isn’t to say you’ve been replaced but, well…we’ll leave that up to discussion between you and mom. But, if you know what true love is, you’ll have no qualms with winning her over–it’s Fido you have to worry about.
Behold! The Furbo Dog Camera is here to solve all your problems and rather instantaneously, too. This wifi enabled pet cam provides your mom with stunning HD resolution every time she checks up on her furry friend. It’ll even send a notification to her smartphone when it detects the dog is barking. Plus, since it has two-way audio she can even say hello before prompting the device to release a treat! Yup, you read that right. This thing will also give Fido a reason to love you!
2) Crock-Pot 6 Qt 8-in-1 Multi-Cooker ($69)
This ain’t your daddy’s slow cooker, and that’s not just because it would make a great gift for mom. Sure, it slow cooks stuff to perfection just like the Crock-Pots that clog up every church potluck. But it does so much more. Make pulled pork, braised short ribs, and piles upon piles of rice in minutes, not hours.
This pressure cooker works wonders, no stove needed. “Wait, what if I have to sear my chicken thighs before making my vindaloo?” Worry not!
This pot has a searing function to brown all your yummy food before putting it under pressure. And if you’re the kind of ungrateful child that never helps with the dishes, mom can rest easy. The interior cooking vessel pops out and cleans with a simple wipe.
3) Apple Watch Series 4 ($414)
Sure, some moms still can’t grasp space age tech and only use their computers to play Solitare and send Minion memes. But the savvier bunch are totally plugged in, and always on the prowl for the latest tech. The Apple Watch is not only a slice of sci-fi, but it’s also a fashion statement.
Stream 45 million songs on iTunes, set reminders, use countless apps, monitor health, and of course, help mom with her fitness goals. Plus, whenever she talks into it she’ll look like a Power Ranger. That alone is worth the cost!
4) Tile Key Finder Combo Pack (on sale for $44, regularly $59.99)
Mom may be perfect, but even the saintly among us are prone to lose our keys. Tile ensures mom can find them no matter where they lost them.
Tile attaches to any keychain or phone, and when activated, it rings a loud jingle until your lost items are found. Plus, it’s waterproof and resilient to nature’s many dangers, in case things are lost outside.
5) Samsung Chromebook ($105)
If your mom isn’t a hardcore gamer or video producer, a netbook may be the choice for them to get their surf on. And the Samsung Chromebook is one of the most reliable netbooks available.
Built-in Wi-Fi lets mom do everything they want to do online, from gossiping with your cousins on Facebook or watching Monk reruns on Netflix. And with 2 GB of ram, there will never be a slowdown. There’s even a 16GB solid state drive to store documents or family pictures.
6) JBL FLIP 4 Bluetooth speaker ($73+)
Even if mom isn’t a self-proclaimed audiophile, a solid Bluetooth speaker like this one by JBL would be music to her ears (literally).
Wirelessly connect up to two smart devices (or more, but she’ll have to have the speaker “forget” the extra devices) for full stereo-sound quality and up to 12 hours of playback. She can even connect this JBL to other JBL devices and use her voice to control the tunes, in case she’s planning to have a full-on rave Mother’s Day weekend. Plus, the FLIP is waterproof so if she forgets the speaker on the porch while it rains or drops it in the pool, she won’t have to stress over replacing it.
7) Sandman charging clock ($25)
The 21st-century mom has a lot of electronics at her fingertips. Smartphones, tablets, fitness trackers, and other devices are used throughout the day but need to be charged at day’s end to prepare for the events of tomorrow.
The Sandman clock fits comfortably on a nightstand, but it hides its true purpose as a four-port USB charger, ready to keep all of mom’s devices powered up. A cable management system helps prevent the spaghetti effect for all the wires.
The clock itself has a large display, which automatically adjusts brightness levels to keep the glow of the numbers from overpowering a dark room. An internal battery helps keep time even if the power goes out.
8) Polaroid Zip (on sale for $91.53, regularly $99.99)
If mom is always taking pictures with her phone, you should support her effort to capture all her favorite memories by allowing her to print her favorite frames and share them with the physical world (not just the digital one).
The Polaroid Zip is a portable photo printer that’s compatible with most smart devices, including iOS and Andriod. Simply connect the printer to any smart device via Bluetooth and by using the Polaroid Zip app, mom will be able to print whatever she wants, whenever she wants. And since the printer uses Zero Ink (or ZINK) paper, she’ll never have to worry about replacing an ink cartridge.
9) Pasonomi adjustable stand ($14)
Some very helpful moms said what they really want is support. No, they don’t want more of your time. (Right now, anyway.) They want something that will support their electronic devices and keep them off tabletops and counters.
The Pasonomi adjustable table stand can accommodate most tablets and smartphones, and its multi-angle configuration allows for easy viewing from any position. Made from an aluminum/titanium alloy, the stand is very light and strong.
The dock for the electronic is rubber, preventing scratches on the device. An opening in the back allows for charging while in the stand.
10) Toast iPhone cover ($12+)
Sometimes, moms just want something personal from their kids. A hand-drawn card or drawing goes a long way to a mother’s heart.
But why not give her something she can carry anywhere? Toast phone covers are made from real wood and can be individualized from a photo or design using a laser. Whether is it a picture of you or maybe a design from something you have shared, mom can carry that with her always.
The peel-and-stick wood covers come in four different colors and come from responsibly grown and rainforest friendly veneers. Toast also donates a portion of each sale to environmental nonprofit groups.
The covers fit iPhones and Android phones, so check mom’s phone to see what’s she got now. Hey, she’s up on her tech.
11) Sansaire Sous Vide immersion circulator (on sale for $189, regularly $199)
Some gifts just make things easier. The greatest gift of all is free time to let her do something she wants.
The Sansaire sous vide immersion circulator provides slow cooker cooking with just a pot of water. No larger than a champagne bottle, the circulator has a bright LED screen to set the perfect temperature, providing control and precision no matter what you are cooking.
It works with most freezer bags, eliminating the need for vacuum sealers. An active pump system circulates the water in any pan, providing even heating for any dish.
Sure, it can do typical steaks, chicken or fish, but it also does vegetables, desserts, and beverages. The circulator method cooks the food gently and without constant tending, giving mom time to relax.
12) Oco smart camera ($60)
Some “children” are of the fuzzy, four-legged variety, and mom loves them just as much as a human child. So, it’s natural to want to keep tabs on them while mom is away from home.
The Oco smart camera lets mom watch her loved one(s) from a smartphone or tablet with ease. The camera notices movement or noise and alerts via an app.
A two-way talk feature lets the pets know you are “there” with them, relieving any separation stress they might feel. The live stream video lets you see what they are up to when you are not around.
Oco is easy to set up and connects to any Wi-Fi network. Video can also be archived if something unusual happens while mom is away. Doesn’t she deserve the peace of mind while she’s not at home?
MORE BAZAAR DEALS:
- 18 Mother’s Day cards for every type of mom
- 5 thoughtful last-minute Mother’s Day gift ideas
- 10 handmade gifts that support small businesses
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