Stumped for Mother’s Day? Here are the gifts mums in Singapore really want, in their own words

SINGAPORE – It is always dispiriting when a Mother’s Day gift does not land as anticipated; no shrieks of joy or bashful sighs of contentment from mum. More likely, it goes one of two ways.

She scolds you for wasting money, or thanks you emphatically, only to get no use out of it except as a dust trapper. Gift guides timed for Mother’s Day might suggest wishes for an iPad or precious stones, but whatever happened to mother knows best?

The Straits Times goes straight to the source, speaking to seven mothers to hear what gifts – tangible and intangible – they would appreciate and why.

To cover all bases, the mums also shared what they last bought for themselves, because if you want to know what to get her, look at what she gets for herself.

This is what mothers want, in their own words.

Wahyu Rahman, mid-40s

Wahyu is an actress, producer and writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment. She has starred in local drama series Siapa Viral (2024) and Bunga Tanjong (2015), and won Most Popular Personality at the Pesta Perdana awards in 2025, the biennial Mediacorp event celebrating the best of local Malay entertainment.

Wahyu has an 18-year-old son named Mika.

Gift I’d like: A random unexpected note. I “heart” random unexpected gestures. Mika used to type lots of notes on my phone when he was younger. He wrote this one when he was nine:

“Surrounded by the people who love me./ I still feel alone./ I like being alone./ Solitude.”

He gave my partner and me a long handwritten note when he was six or seven years old, after we told him that he needed to save his Hari Raya money and not splurge. One line that stood out was: “I know my wants and my needs./ I want you guys to know this.../ I will work hard and provide you a butler, Ma.”

If I had to choose an item that can be shopped, it would be sneakers that match any outfit – dress, skirt, or whatever. But there are not many shoes that suit the silhouette of every clothing style.

Experience I’d like: Watching the sunrise and sunset together on the same day.

My last purchase: A traditional Chinese medicine package including facial acupuncture and a massage. Self-love is important.

Maia Lee, 43

Lee is a singer who gained fame as a contestant on Singapore Idol Season 1 in 2004. She went on to be a costume designer before opening her own artiste and model management company, Orion Artists Agency. She now performs with her show band, Lionheart, for corporate events.

She has four kids, aged 24, 17, 12 and four.

Gift I’d like: My kids are quite the surprise planners and I’ve always appreciated their handmade bouquets and drawings. Even if I think it is cringe to be celebrating Mother’s Day – because to me, it’s just my duty to raise them to my best ability, without asking anything in return – I think I’m always happy to eat nian gao.

My three older kids can cook. So if they can make nian gao for me, that will be nice.

It is one of the tastiest foods to me, and always reminds me of my mother, who used to cook it for us while my dad brewed tie guan yin tea to go with it. So the dish brings me comfort. I revisit seven-year-old me sitting on the kitchen floor with my mum, incessantly begging her to let me have a go at making the batter, and then irking my dad by not wanting to drink his bitter Chinese tea.

Experience I’d like: To witness my kids’ independence and happiness. I’m looking forward to seeing how their lives pan out. I would like to see that I have raised great people.

My last purchase: This question makes me teary-eyed. I do not remember getting anything for myself in recent years, and I cannot remember what I last got for myself. Does my boob job count? Finally got that done in 2024 after a total of 15 years of breastfeeding.

It was a downsize from my natural size, and I got a breast lift with implants. Can’t expect anything to defy gravity after fluctuating between 32E and 34G four times over. But I actually miss my original size – should’ve gotten them bigger. Kids, y’all wanna sponsor my total mummy makeover?

Celia Loe, 82

Loe is a retired fashion designer, part of a crew of clothiers known as the Magnificent Seven during the 1980s heyday of local apparel.

From the 1970s to 2013, she ran her namesake label and its diffusion lines, known for being a go-to for working women here. At her peak in the 1990s, she had more than 20 stores, including one in central London, and some 300 workers in her employ.

She has two children in their 50s and five grandkids.

Gift I’d like: My kids will probably take me for a meal. Italian or Korean. Actually, I prefer Japanese food. Cooked food, not raw. I eat sushi but not a lot of rice – too many carbohydrates.

Experience I’d like: There’s nothing that I haven’t done with my kids. I go on trips with my grandchildren, mostly on cruises. But I would like to go to Australia together again, have nice seafood and drive somewhere nice.

Something I always love to have from my kids and grandkids is a phone call to ask what I’m doing.

My last purchase: A very nice piece of Japanese kimono fabric. I bought it on a cruise. I may make it into a dress, not something for occasions, but a simple dress.

Geraldine Leow, early 50s

Ms Leow is a single mother and the deputy director at an institute of higher learning. Her husband died more than 20 years ago. She has two daughters – a 25-year-old doctor and a 23-year-old psychology undergraduate at the National University of Singapore.

Gift I’d like: After more than 20 years of planning and paying for every single family trip, I’m finally ready for something different. Now that my elder daughter has started working and my younger daughter is graduating soon, I’m really looking forward to a fully planned, all-expenses-paid holiday where I can simply pack my bags and enjoy the journey with my girls.

I’d like to go to the Maldives because I love the sea and I like to snorkel. I have taken them to Phuket quite a number of times just to spend time together by the beach and chill. As such, they have grown up also loving beach holidays, just basking in the sun, swimming and enjoying meals together. Yet, we also have our own personal space and time to just “stone”.

Experience I’d like: To watch Michael (2026), the musical biopic about American singer Michael Jackson, together.

My last purchase: A second-hand BMW 216i when my certificate of entitlement expired in January, to pamper myself and also be able to drive my aged mum, daughters, and sometimes colleagues and friends.

Myra Queman, 40

Ms Queman is a foreign domestic worker from the Philippines. She started working abroad in 2010 and moved to Singapore in 2018. She sees her 22-year-old daughter and 21-year-old son once every two years when she visits home.

She used to have a cousin based in Singapore who has since moved to Thailand for work.

Gift I’d like: I want only a Mother’s Day card, no flowers. My daughter surprised me with a card last year which she sent to my cousin here. When I received it, I cried because I didn’t expect it. It was the first time she had sent a card to Singapore. I stuck it on my bedroom wall. I read it often.

Flowers... no, I don’t want to waste money and it’s not (a gift you can keep) for life.

Experience I’d like: I don’t want anything. I want only love from them.

My last purchase: A wallet that I bought with my Chinese New Year hongbao.

Harminder Rajan, 54

Ms Harminder is a contestant for Mrs Singapore 2026, a pageant open to women up to 65 years old. She is an educator and lecturer with a doctorate in education who has lived, studied and worked in the United States, Australia and Singapore.

She has two sons – Shreyas, 18, and Sarvesh, 15.

Gift I’d like: Not an item but if my sons cooked a simple meal just for me, that would genuinely mean a lot. I say “simple” because I’m not fussy and I’m realistic about what might come out of that kitchen unsupervised. Even if it’s just fried rice with egg, I’d be happy. What would really make it special is knowing they thought of it themselves, made the effort and did it just for me.

Experience I’d like: For Mother’s Day, I really just want a relaxed evening at East Coast Park – cycle a bit, walk, find a good spot for satay. The tricky part is getting both boys there at the same time, phones left at home. If that happens and I get more than one-word answers all evening, I’d consider it a very good night.

My last purchase: The last thing I bought for myself was a white gold bracelet last year. I had some old jewellery sitting around for ages that I never wore, so I finally went to sell it at a goldsmith’s and came back with a bracelet.

That wasn’t exactly the plan, but I’ve had a hectic few months, so a little self-pampering felt fully justified.

Yuki Leow, 46

Ms Leow is a Grab driver with a 16-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son. She has been driving for six years, working 10 hours a day, five days a week, and is also a Grab “captain”, the ride-hailing app company’s name for people who mentor newbie drivers.

Gift I’d like: Something wearable like clothing, or comfortable shoes for driving. These are better than memories for me because I am very forgetful.

Experience I’d like: Hugs and kisses. My kids still do this, but as they grow up, they feel a bit more shy and back off a little. I miss the times when they were younger and used to do that more freely.

My last purchase: Sneakers. Shoes are my favourite part of outfits. I have more than 15 pairs, a bit more now than I used to because now I can share them with my girl, which means I can buy more. My favourite pair is from Aldo.