Life

Tech Gifts For Your Mom On Mother's Day

by Eliza Castile

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.

1

Bluetooth 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.

2

AirPods

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.

3

Apple Watch

Courtesy of Apple

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.

4

Instant Coffee Maker

Keurig K50 Coffee Maker, $89, Walmart.com

This ultra-fast coffee machine is must for any caffeine addict.

5

Vitamix 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.

6

Espresso 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.

7

Cute 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.

8

Fitbit

Fitbit Alta HR Tracker, $129.99, Kohls.com

Fitbit fitness trackers are a trendy, fun gift mom will love.

9

Portable 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.

10

Kindle 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.

11

Roku 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.

12

GoPro

GoPro HERO5, $399.99, Amazon

A GoPro is perfect for the adventurous mom. These durable, waterproof cameras capture video in virtually any situation.

13

Fashionable Headphones

Ailihen I35 Headphones, $19.98, Amazon.com

These headphones are cute, well-reviewed, and affordable.

14

Digital 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.

15

Phone 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.

16

Instant 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.