35% of Moms Want to Stay Home on Mother's Day — What Day Is Mother's Day
On what day is mother's day, a 2025 YouGov survey found that 35% of moms would rather stay home than go out for a big celebration. The result points to a preference for quieter plans, especially when many mothers already spend much of the day managing the details themselves.
That preference fits a broader pattern. A Motherly survey found that 62% of mothers get less than an hour to themselves each day, and nearly 40% of moms surveyed said they had to book their own Mother's Day meals in 2024. For readers making plans, the clearest takeaway is simple: ask before assuming a reservation, outing, or crowded dinner is what she wants.
Motherly and YouGov
The YouGov number lands alongside another survey finding: 44% of moms surveyed said they would prefer someone else take full charge of the day's plans. Put together, the two results suggest that the burden is not only about where the day happens, but who carries the planning, scheduling, and cleanup.
Mother's Day is one of the busiest dining days of the entire year, which helps explain why some mothers favor a lower-pressure option. A home meal can work better when the family handles everything from preparation to clean-up, so the day does not require her to manage a single task.
At Home With Dinner
Some moms want a low-key dinner at home with food they did not cook and a kitchen they do not need to clean. That setup gives the day a different finish: the meal is still the focus, but the work stays with someone else.
For families choosing a gift instead of a restaurant reservation, wellness sits at the top of the list when a mother wants something beyond staying home. A massage, a facial, or a long afternoon at a spa is the kind of plan many moms would not book for themselves on a regular weekend.
Wellness Tops the List
The surveys leave a practical message for anyone planning ahead: the best gift may be the one that removes effort from the mother altogether. That can mean taking over the meal, handling the booking, and making sure the day does not ask her to organize her own celebration.
