How many days until Mother's Day?

Mother’s Day in Australia is observed on the second Sunday in May. It is a familiar occasion for recognising mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, foster mothers and other people who have provided maternal care. Breakfast in bed, handmade cards, flowers, phone calls and family lunches are common, and schools or early-learning centres often help children make a small keepsake. The day is an observance rather than a nationwide public holiday, so ordinary Sunday trading, transport and workplace arrangements generally apply.

The Australian tradition has a notable local thread. In the 1920s, Sydney woman Janet Heyden organised gifts for lonely and forgotten mothers at the Newington State Hospital, drawing community support to the cause. Today the meaning is broader and deeply personal: some families gather across generations, while those separated by distance may arrange a video call or post a card early. Because it always falls on Sunday, cafés, parks and roads around popular lunch spots can become busy even though the date changes from year to year.

Mother’s Day can also be complicated. People may be grieving a mother, living with infertility, estranged from family or remembering a child, and others may not use the word “mum” for the person they honour. A gentle message and respect for someone’s preferred way of spending the day are often best. Anyone planning ahead should use the second Sunday in May shown for the relevant year, coordinate siblings or relatives, and consider accessibility, travel time and autumn weather before settling on a gathering.