How to Cheer up Your Mom

Last Updated: February 1, 2023

Your mom is important to you, so it can be really hard to see her feeling down. If you are looking for ways to cheer up your mom, there are some simple things that you can do. Talking to your mom, reaching out in other ways, and offering to help around the house may be all that it takes to put a smile on your mom’s face today.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Talking to Your Mom

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See if your mom wants to talk about what's bothering her. If your mom seems upset about something, and you are not sure what it is, then the best way to figure out what is going on and to help her feel better is to ask her what’s wrong. Try talking to your mom when she is on her own and you have time to sit and talk.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Rebecca Kason, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.}
- For example, you could try talking to your mom after dinner or over the weekend.
- You don’t need to say anything fancy, just say something like, “I have noticed that you seem a little sad. What’s wrong?”
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Offer to help with the issue if you can. Your mom might have something really specific that she is worried about, which can give you an opportunity to offer your help. For example, if your mom tells you that she is stressed about getting the house cleaned up before your grandparents come to visit, then you could offer to help her clean up.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Rebecca Kason, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.}
- Keep in mind that it is also possible that your mom is just feeling a little blue. This happens to lots of people and it is normal. However, if your mom continues to feel sad, then she might need to talk to her doctor about it.
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Wrap your mom up in a big hug. Hugs are great for cheering people up. It can be tough to see your mom when she's feeling sad. The good news is that giving her a hug can be a huge help. She loves you, so this could put a smile on her face and help her to feel better. It's like a superpower for cheering people up!^{[3]
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Research source}
- Walk up to your mom and ask her if you can give her a hug. If you can, try giving her a big smile too, because she loves to see you happy!
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Say something sweet to your mom, like "I love you." Saying a few nice words to your mom will mean the world to her.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Rebecca Kason, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.} You could try giving her a compliment, telling her you love her, or just telling her something nice about your day. Even though it can be really sad to see your mom cry, always remember that she loves you a ton. So your words can make her feel a lot better! Try saying:^{[5]
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Research source}
- “I love you.”
- “You are important to me.”
- “I care about you.”
- “You’re not alone.”

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Reaching Out

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Call her or send her a text. If you are not at home or if your mom is not at home right now, then you can also give your mom a call or send her a text message. Just call or text to chat. Try asking how her day is going and letting her know that you are thinking about her.
- If you send her a text, try adding a smiley face or heart emoji to brighten the message.
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Tag her in a Facebook post. Posting a message for your mom that all of her friends will also be able to see and comment on can help to cheer up your mom. Try posting something that you know will make her smile, such as a silly cat picture, a movie-related meme, or even just a sincere compliment.
3
Invite her to do something fun. Inviting your mom to go and do something with you is also a good way to cheer her up. Try inviting her to do something that you know she will enjoy.
- For example, if your mom enjoys biking, then you can ask your mom to go for a bike ride with you. If your mom is a fan of shopping, you can ask her to meet you at the mall. Or if she is a foodie, then you can ask her to go out to lunch with you at a new restaurant.
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Surprise her with a small gift. Buying or making a small gift for your mom can also help to brighten her day. Try drawing her a picture, getting her a bag of her favorite candies, or picking some pretty wildflowers and putting them into a vase to surprise her when she gets home.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Helping Out Around the House

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Clean your room. If you still live at home with your mom, then making sure that your room is clean is also a good way to cheer up your mom. You can tidy up your bedroom without being asked to do so and then she will be surprised the next time she comes into your room.
- You can also tidy up other areas of the house without being asked. For example, you mom might appreciate it if you tidy up the bathroom, living room, or kitchen.
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Do some of your mom’s chores. Your mom probably has lots of different household chores that she has to do each day. These might include doing dishes, vacuuming, dusting furniture, feeding and cleaning up after pets, or taking out the trash. Identify one or more of these chores that you can safely do and do it without tell her.
- After you finish the chore, you can tell her that the chore is complete. She will probably be grateful for your help.
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Offer to make dinner. If you are old enough to cook and you know how to cook something that your mom likes to eat, then offer to make dinner for her. This does not need to be an elaborate meal. You can just make something simple so that she will not have to cook.
- For example, if you know how to make mac and cheese, then make a batch for dinner and pair it with some carrot sticks or a salad.
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Ask what would help her the most. If you are not sure what you can do to help out your mom and make her feel better, then you can also ask her. She will probably appreciate the consideration and be willing to suggest something that would really help her out.
- Try saying, “Mom, I want to help out around the house. What can I do?”

Expert Q&A

Question

What do you do when your mom is sad?

Rebecca Kason, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Rebecca Kason is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist licensed in both New York and New Jersey. She specializes in adolescent mental health, dialectical behavior therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Dr. Kason treats clients struggling with emotional dysregulation, behavioral disorders, interpersonal difficulty, family conflict, anxiety, depression, and phobias. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The University of Delaware and a Master's degree in Applied Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. Dr. Kason completed an APA accredited internship at Mount Sinai Services. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapy.

Rebecca Kason, PsyD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Expert Answer

Start with validating their emotions, behaviors, or thoughts. This doesn’t necessarily mean you agree with them, but that you find them understandable.
Question

How can I help my mom with stress?

Rebecca Kason, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Rebecca Kason is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist licensed in both New York and New Jersey. She specializes in adolescent mental health, dialectical behavior therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Dr. Kason treats clients struggling with emotional dysregulation, behavioral disorders, interpersonal difficulty, family conflict, anxiety, depression, and phobias. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The University of Delaware and a Master's degree in Applied Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. Dr. Kason completed an APA accredited internship at Mount Sinai Services. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapy.

Rebecca Kason, PsyD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Expert Answer

Ask how you can support her. If she is having trouble answering, you can give a multiple choice option that includes a normalizing statement. For example, “Sometimes when I am upset I like to have some alone time, other times when I am upset I want someone to hear me out. Which do you think would be best for you right now?”