Wishes
Mother's Day Messages for Grandma
Grandmas get a double Mother's Day: they raised your parent, and then they helped raise you. Many of them also keep every card, lined up on the fridge or saved in a folder, which makes a grandma card one of the most reread things you will ever write.
The messages below are sorted by who is writing: little grandkids who need something simple to copy or dictate, grown grandchildren who want to say something deeper, the whole family signing together, and great-grandchildren. There are also short rhyming poems that read well aloud and notes for a grandma who lives far away. Mother's Day falls on the second Sunday of May, so plan to mail cards a week ahead.
From little grandkids 10
Grandma, I love you because you always have cookies and you never say I'm too loud.
Happy Mother's Day, Nana! Your house is my favorite place because it smells like pancakes and hugs.
Grandma, you are the best at puzzles, songs and making me feel better. I love you.
I drew you a picture of us at the park. I'm the small one. You're the one with the snacks.
Thank you for teaching me to play cards. Next time I'm going to win. Love you, Grandma!
Grandma, when I sleep over at your house, I feel like the luckiest kid in the world.
Mommy says you were her mommy first. Thank you for making her so nice. Happy Mother's Day!
Gigi, you give the best hugs and the best stories. Can you come over soon?
Grandma, I picked these flowers and I only stepped in the garden a little bit. Love you!
You read me the same book ten times and never got bored. That means you love me a lot. I love you too.
From grown grandchildren 10
Grandma, the older I get, the more I realize how much of who I am came from those summers at your house. Thank you for every single one.
You taught me to bake bread, play rummy and stand up straight. I still do all three, and I hear your voice every time. Happy Mother's Day.
Grandma, you've been through more than I can imagine, and you still greet every day with a smile. I want to be that strong someday.
I made your pot roast last weekend. It was good, but not as good as yours. I think you leave something out of the recipe on purpose.
Thank you for being the one person who always had time to listen, even when I was a moody teenager with nothing nice to say. You never gave up on me.
Grandma, I've started saying 'well, isn't that something' to everything. I'm turning into you, and I couldn't be happier about it.
Dear Grandma, I don't think I ever properly thanked you for the afternoons after school, the grilled cheese sandwiches and the way you asked about my day like it was the most important news in the world. You gave me a place where I always felt welcome and never felt rushed. I carry that with me everywhere. Thank you, and happy Mother's Day.
You raised my mom, and then you helped raise me. That's double the love and double the thank-yous. Happy Mother's Day, Grandma.
Grandma, your faith, your patience and your laugh are the things I most hope I inherited. Thank you for showing me how to live a good life.
Thank you for every birthday card with five dollars tucked inside. I never needed the money, but I always needed the card.
From the whole family 7
From all of us, your kids, grandkids and the newest little ones: thank you for being the root of this whole family tree.
Happy Mother's Day to the woman who started it all. Every Sunday dinner, every holiday tradition and every family joke traces back to you.
Grandma, our family is loud, busy and full of love. We got that from you. Thank you.
Thank you for being the glue that holds this family together. We love you more than we say.
To our Nana: three generations of us are sending love today. You've made every one of our lives better.
Mom and Grandma, Happy Mother's Day to you both. We're lucky to have two generations of wonderful women in this family.
We love you, Grandma. Thanks for making every holiday feel like home. Enjoy your special day.
For a great-grandma 6
Happy Mother's Day, Great-Grandma! Four generations of this family exist because of you. Thank you for starting something so beautiful.
Great-Grandma, your newest great-grandbaby can't talk yet, but if she could, she'd say thank you for all the love that came before her.
You've watched your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow up. What a gift to all of us that you're still here to see it.
To our great-grandma: your stories are our family's history book. Thank you for sharing them.
We're sending this card with a picture of all the little ones. Every smile in it started with you. We love you, Gram.
God bless you, Great-Grandma, for the faith you passed down through four generations. We're so grateful for you.
Short Mother's Day poems for grandma 6
Grandma's house is warm and bright, with cookies baked and stories told. Your love is like a cozy light that never, ever grows old.
You knit the scarves, you baked the pies, you knew our secrets, wiped our eyes. Of all the grandmas, near and far, the very best is who you are.
Roses are red, violets are blue, my mom is great because of you.
A grandma's hug can fix a frown, her laugh can turn a day around. And though I'm big and nearly grown, I'm still your kid, your very own.
You gave my mom her gentle heart, and she passed down a little part. So when I'm kind, it's plain to see: the love began with you, not me.
Gardens bloom in early May, the sun comes out to say hooray. But nothing blooms as sweet and true as the love I feel for you.
For a grandma who lives far away 7
Grandma, I wish I could hug you today. Since I can't, this card is carrying a big one all the way to you. Love you!
We're far apart, but you're on our fridge, in our photos and in every story we tell the kids. Happy Mother's Day, Grandma.
The kids made you this card and want you to know they're counting the days until summer at your house. So am I.
Grandma, I'll call you this afternoon, so make sure your phone isn't hiding in the couch cushions again. Love you!
Distance doesn't change a thing. You're still the first person I want to show my report card to. Happy Mother's Day, Grandma.
I'm sending a photo of the garden we planted with the seeds you gave us. The tomatoes are doing great. You'd be proud. Miss you, Grandma.
Every time I smell cinnamon, I'm back in your kitchen. I miss you so much, Grandma. Can't wait to visit.
What to write in a Mother's Day card for grandma
Grandmothers tend to love two things in a card: a memory and a bit of news. The memory shows her that the time she spent with you stuck. The news shows her she is still part of your life. A great grandma card often has both.
- A memory: the cookies she let you decorate, the card games, the summer you stayed at her house, the way she always had peppermints in her purse.
- A lesson: something she taught you that you still use, from sewing a button to saying grace to never leaving the house without a jacket.
- Some news: a new job, a school milestone, a trip you are planning, a recipe of hers you finally got right.
- A wish: a restful day, a visit soon, a promise to call on Sundays.
Example: "Grandma, I made your peach cobbler for my roommates last week and they asked for the recipe. I told them it's a family secret. Thank you for every summer in your kitchen. I'll see you in June. Love, Emma"
Cards from young grandchildren
Little kids do best with a sentence they can finish in their own words: "I love Grandma because...", "My favorite thing at Grandma's house is...", or "Grandma is the best at...". Their answers are often funnier and sweeter than anything an adult could write. Pre-readers can draw a picture, and a parent can write down exactly what they say about it. Handprints and a date on the back turn the card into a keepsake.
Writing to a grandma who lives far away
Distance makes a card more important, not less. Mail it about a week before the second Sunday of May and include something physical: a recent photo, a school drawing, or a printed picture of the kids holding a sign that says "Happy Mother's Day, Grandma." If she uses a phone or tablet, a short video of the grandkids reading the card aloud is something many grandmothers watch again and again.
Great-grandmothers
A great-grandmother has seen four generations of her family. Messages to her can honor that: thank her for the family she started, mention each generation by name, or include a photo of the youngest great-grandchild. Large, clear handwriting helps if her eyesight is not what it was, and reading the card aloud to her during a visit is a lovely gesture.
Grandma in a care home or hospital
If she is in assisted living or recovering from an illness, keep the message bright and simple and focus on connection: "We're thinking about you and can't wait to visit Sunday." Staff in many care homes are happy to read cards aloud or pin them up where she can see them, so it does not hurt to ask.
What to call her in the card
Use the name your family actually uses: Grandma, Nana, Gram, Gigi, Mimi, Abuela, Bubbie or a nickname a toddler invented twenty years ago that stuck. A grandmother who has been "Lolly" since the first grandchild could not say her name will smile at seeing it written out. If you are writing from the whole family, it is fine to open with "Dear Mom and Grandma" so she is honored in both roles.
Gifts that go well with the card
Grandmothers often say they do not need anything, and many mean it. Time and photos are what tend to land: a framed picture of the grandkids, a printed calendar with family photos for each month, a planned visit or a standing weekly call. Tuck a note into the card saying what the gift is for, such as "This is for our Thursday lunch dates."
Mistakes to avoid
- Age jokes. Grandmas often hear plenty of them. Leave them out of the card.
- Tiny writing. Write larger than you normally would, and use a dark pen.
- Only signing your name. Even one sentence of your own makes the card worth keeping.
- Forgetting step-grandmothers and grandmas-by-marriage. If she has been part of your life, she will appreciate being included.
Mother's Day wishes: all parts
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Frequently asked questions
What do you write in a Mother's Day card for grandma?
Share one memory of time with her, mention something she taught you, add a bit of news from your life, and end with a wish for her day or a plan to visit.
What can a child write to grandma for Mother's Day?
Let them finish a simple sentence such as "I love Grandma because..." in their own words, then sign their name. A drawing or handprint makes it even better.
Do you say Happy Mother's Day to your grandmother?
Yes. Grandmothers are mothers too, and most love being remembered on Mother's Day by their grandchildren, not just by their own children.
What is a short Mother's Day message for grandma?
Try "Thank you for loving all of us so well. Happy Mother's Day, Grandma." Add her nickname, like Nana or Gigi, if your family uses one.
What should I write to a great-grandmother on Mother's Day?
Thank her for the family she started and mention the younger generations by name. Including a recent photo of the great-grandkids is a wonderful touch.
When should I mail a Mother's Day card to grandma?
Mail it about a week before the second Sunday of May so it arrives on time.