We tend to forget that grandmothers were mothers long before they became our beloved grannies.
In many ways, grandmas are mothers twice over: first to their own children and then to their children’s children.
However, because they are often viewed as having already completed their parenting role, when Mother’s Day rolls around, grandmas aren’t the first people we think to congratulate and thank.
Being a mother can be a thankless job…and it doesn’t end when one’s children turn 18.
How many people still rely on their mothers well into adulthood, including when they become parents themselves?
That is all to say that anyone with a mother who is doing a double shift as a grandmother should acknowledge her effort. Thank her whenever you get the chance.
And any grandchild with a loving and invested granny should do the same. But it is especially important to do so on Mother’s Day.
Not sure how to express your gratitude? Don’t worry, this article, provides a comprehensive guide to writing the perfect Mother’s Day card for a grandmother.
33 heartwarming messages to write in a Mother’s Day card for a grandma
- Happy Mother’s Day to my dear grandma. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me, my siblings, and my cousins.
- Dear Mom, thank you for not only being the most amazing parent to me but for also giving so much of your time and energy to my children. They adore their grandma more than anyone.
- On behalf of all twelve of us grandkids, happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for being the funniest, most spontaneous, and most caring grandma of all time.
- Dear Grandma, thank you for always going way above and beyond to make my sisters and I feel loved. You are such a warm and fun person. You are the embodiment of everything a mother (and grandmother) should be.
- Thank you for giving so much of yourself to make sure that I always had what I needed.
- Your joyful presence, integrity, and way of teaching by example have made me the person I am today. Happy Mother’s Day and thank you for all that you have given me, Grandma.
- Happy Mother’s Day to my hot mama who looks young enough to be my children’s mother.
- Happy Mother’s Day to the most easy-going mother-in-law on earth. Thank you for raising the love of my life and for being the most remarkable grandmother to my children.
- Wishing a happy Mother’s Day (and Grandmother’s Day) to our family’s vibrant matriarch!
- Happy Mother’s Day to the loveliest grandma who gave me the loveliest mother.
- I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all that you do.
- Happy Mother’s Day, Grandma! I don’t know how you put up with raising my own outrageous mother for so long but thank you for doing it.
- Happy Mother’s Day, Mama. Thank you for being the most amazing grandmother to my kiddos. They absolutely adore you.
- Happy Mother’s Day! I only hope that I can be half the mother you are when my baby arrives in the spring.
- Dear Nonna, happy Mother’s Day. You have been like a mother to me, and I’ll never forget all the school lunches you packed, all the tears you dried, and all the invaluable advice and guidance you’ve given me.
- Happy Mother’s Day, Granny. And Congratulations…I am so happy to be able to tell you that I’ll be joining you in motherhood, and that you’re going to be a great-grandmother.
- Thank you for raising me right and making me the mother I am today. And thank you for being such a cool grandma to my kiddos. Love ya, Mom, happy Mother’s Day!
- Thank you for all the patience and love that you show my kids. You shone as a mother, but I think you shine even brighter as a grandma. Happy Mama’s Day!
- Happy Mother’s Day! I think this is the perfect opportunity to tell you that your baby is having a baby. I can’t wait to introduce you to your first grandchild.
- Happy Mother’s Day, you total GILF.
- Even though our relationship hasn’t always been easy, I am so glad we worked out our differences. Watching you be an incredible grandma to my children is the ultimate reward. Happy Mother’s Day!
- Happy first Mother’s Day after your promotion to “Grandma.” Our little bundle of joy loves you more than anyone. Thank you for all your patience and time, and for the unconditional love you give to my son.
- I’ve always known I was lucky to have a brilliant mother, but I gained a new appreciation for you when I became a mother myself. Now, I am in complete awe of what a wonderful grandma you are, and I only hope I can follow in your footsteps.
- Motherhood hasn’t always been smooth sailing for me, but when the waves were rocky, you helped calm the storm, and I’m so grateful for all your careful, loving guidance. Happy Mother’s Day to the best, most compassionate mother and the most generous grandmother.
- Dear Grandma, since I won’t get to see you this Mother’s Day, I hope I can transmit the big hug I want to give you through the pages of this card.
- Dearest Omi, thank you for teaching me what it means to be a strong woman. Your fierce independence (and the way you achieve everything you set your mind to) has taught me more than you will ever know. Happy Mother’s Day!
- Dear Nana, thank you for being the glue that holds this crazy family together.
- I look up to you so much! With your intelligence, wit, and grace, you are the epitome of elegance. I only hope that I can one day match your good humor and charm and carry myself as well as you do. Happy Mother’s Day, Gran.
- Happy Mother’s Day to the best-looking grandma out there.
- How is it that you only get more fun with every year that passes? Happy Mother’s Day, Abuela!
- Dear Grammie, there is no card that could possibly express the love I feel for you, or accurately represent how special our relationship is to me…but what kind of grandchild doesn’t get their grandma a Mother’s Day card?
- I am blessed to call you my grandma. Thank you for showing me the righteous path and guiding me faithfully. Your humility and grace are an inspiration to me. I thank the Lord for our relationship every single Mother’s Day, and this one is no different.
- Dear grandma, you are always rushing around doing nice things for everyone else, so my wish for you this Mother’s Day is that you take the time to do something nice and relaxing. And next time I’m in town, I’ll take you out for a belated Mother’s Day treat.
The sweetest Mother’s Day card messages for grandmothers
When we hear the word “grandmother” many of us still picture a stereotypical older woman. She probably has grey hair parted down the middle and is wearing wire-rimmed glasses.
Regardless of how little this caricature might resemble our actual grandmothers, we find it difficult to get rid of the idea that “grandmother” is synonymous with someone who sits in a rocking chair knitting.
But grandmothers can be very youthful and sporty. And, depending on a family’s dynamic, they often spend a lot of time raising their grandkids.
Given that by the time a woman becomes a grandma she is responsible for two generations of humans, it is only fair that her children and grandchildren take the time to say happy Mother’s Day.
How you go about this will depend on whether you are the grandmother in question’s child, child-in-law, or grandchild, and how close you are to her.
Not sure how to express what you want to say? One of these sample Mother’s Day wishes for a grandmother might be just right.
1. Happy Mother’s Day to my dear grandma. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me, my siblings, and my cousins.
Have you ever heard the saying, “Blood is thicker than water?” The idea behind the idiom is that we will do anything for those whose blood we share…or, in more simple terms, our relatives.
Family bonds become especially pronounced when grandchildren enter the picture. Most grandparents go out of their way to help their children out when they first have babies.
For many of us, our earliest memories feature our grandma taking care of us.
Often, we weren’t the sole child being looked after in those memories, and our grandmas were responsible for a whole gaggle of noisy cousins.
If this was the case in your family, use Mother’s Day to thank your grandma for the important role she played bringing up your generation of the family.
2. Dear Mom, thank you for not only being the most amazing parent to me but for also giving so much of your time and energy to my children. They adore their grandma more than anyone.
It is sad but true that by the time one has grandkids, most of one’s correspondence are sympathy letters.
That’s just how life goes: At the point in life, one is writing wishes in 30th birthday cards and receiving an outsized number of wedding invitations. Then, by the time one is helping one’s own child’s write baby shower thank you cards, one is receiving regular death notices.
So, when an occasion arises to send an elderly person a joyous message (such as Mother’s or Father’s Day), make sure you take advantage of it.
If you are writing to your mother, try to thank her not just for the time she has put into raising you but also for her dedication to her grandkids. Make your card personal by telling her how much your children adore her.
3. On behalf of all twelve of us grandkids, happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for being the funniest, most spontaneous, and most caring grandma of all time.
Remember that gaggle of cousins referred to above? Well, if your group of toddler cousins was particularly large, you might have stayed close throughout the years.
Sending your grandma a joint card is a nice thing to do. It shows her that she raised you well and fostered lasting bonds of affection between her grandkids.
Often, family difficulties lead to complicated dynamics that result in people only talking to one another at weddings and funerals.
No one wants to end up only getting in touch with their cousin when sending a condolence letter that makes them feel like they are writing a sympathy card for a distant relative.
Showing your grandma that you are on good terms with her other grandkids will make her smile. Plus, your kind and caring words about her won’t go unnoticed either.
4. Dear Grandma, thank you for always going way above and beyond to make my sisters and I feel loved. You are such a warm and fun person. You are the embodiment of everything a mother (and grandmother) should be.
If you weren’t part of a big old cousin gang, but were thick as thieves with your siblings, you can write your grandma a Mother’s Day card referencing them.
The ultimate trait of a good caregiver is that they make their charges feel loved.
Telling your granny that she is everything a mother and grandmother should be will make her feel like she has succeeded at the profoundly difficult job of raising children.
5. Thank you for giving so much of yourself to make sure that I always had what I needed.
This is a sincere message to send to either your grandmother or your mother.
Whoever the woman in your life is who told you “you are beautiful” and made you believe in your dreams, she deserves your profound gratitude. And Mother’s Day presents the perfect opportunity to express how thankful you are.
6. Your joyful presence, integrity, and way of teaching by example have made me the person I am today. Happy Mother’s Day and thank you for all that you have given me, Grandma.
Cheesy Mother’s Day cards are a dime a dozen in every stationary shop or department store.
Make your card for your grandma unique and personal by inscribing something that couldn’t have been written about just anyone.
Acknowledging the personality of the woman you are talking about, whether that is joyful or thoughtful, will make your card much more heartfelt.
What this sample card inscription also does well is thank your grandma for making you the person you are today. Whether you’re referring to something as simple as your level of confidence when replying to someone saying, “Hi” or something more profound, like how you always know what to say to cheer someone up, who you are is the result of your upbringing.
Acknowledging your grandma’s role in molding you will make her extremely proud.
7. Happy Mother’s Day to my hot mama who looks young enough to be my children’s mother.
Is your mama, to quote the iconic mother of queen bee Regina George in MeanGirls, “not a regular mom, but a cool mom”? If so, you can compliment her on her youthful appearance in your Mother’s Day card.
If people are always mistaking your children for hers when she’s out with them, she needs…well, for starters, she needs to write down her skincare routine, stat.
No, but in all seriousness, turning the inside joke that your mom looks like she could be your kids’ mom into a Mother’s Day card inscription is a nice idea.
8. Happy Mother’s Day to the most easy-going mother-in-law on earth. Thank you for raising the love of my life and for being the most remarkable grandmother to my children.
Okay, so, mothers-in-law have a reputation for being difficult to deal with.
I mean, there’s even a houseplant called “mother-in-law’s tongue” that is so called because it is sharp and looks like it might cut you.
But if your experience of marrying into your spouse’s family has been entirely positive in this respect, use your Mother’s Day card to make light of the negative stereotype about in-laws.
Write a sweet card that pointedly contradicts the idea that mothers-in-law are difficult to deal with. While you’re at it, make sure you thank your spouse’s mother for being a wonderful grandmother to your grandkids.
9. Wishing a happy Mother’s Day (and Grandmother’s Day) to our family’s vibrant matriarch!
We hear a lot of things about the patriarchy…and with good reason. But some of our families are less “the godfather” and more “the grandmother.”
Having a matriarchal figure in the family is great because she’ll have all the info you ever need about any of your other family members.
She knows when the youngest baby grandchild says his first word and what time of year to send an anniversary card to the eldest.
If one of the grandmas in your life is the indisputable head of the family who holds things together and makes sure everything goes to plan, congratulate her on her queendom.
If she has an authoritative air even when asking, “How’s your day?” and keeps tabs on everyone, from young to old, this is the Mother’s Day card for her.
10. Happy Mother’s Day to the loveliest grandma who gave me the loveliest mother.
This is a sweet message to send your grandmother on Mother’s Day. It expresses your affection and admiration for both your grandma and mom.
It is short and to the point and would make a perfect message to write on a postcard if you happen to be on vacation on Mother’s Day.
11. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all that you do.
This sincere Mother’s Day message is appropriate if your mother is an incredible grandmother who is putting in a serious shift with your children.
If you are a single mother who relies on your children’s grandma for childcare and emotional support, expressing the extent of your gratitude on Mother’s Day is important.
12. Happy Mother’s Day, Grandma! I don’t know how you put up with raising my own outrageous mother for so long but thank you for doing it.
If your mother is a bit wacky, you can joke about her unusual ways with her mother, your grandma. This makes a humorous Mother’s Day card for your grandma, and it will be even funnier if your mama is in on the joke.
Feel free to include a series of pictures of your mother acting outrageous to underline your point.
Instant photos make a great choice here! You could write captions on polaroid pictures and include them in your grandma’s Mother’s Day card.
13. Happy Mother’s Day, Mama. Thank you for being the most amazing grandmother to my kiddos. They absolutely adore you.
There are few bonds as close as that of a mother to her daughter.
So if you’re writing a card for your mother on Mother’s Day and want to thank her for everything she does to help you with your kids, just say it like it is.
Considering that you’re probably texting each other all day most days, you don’t necessarily need to go out of your way to be formal with your mother just because you are writing her a card.
What will mean more to her than formal language is being told how much her grandchildren love and appreciate her.
14. Happy Mother’s Day! I only hope that I can be half the mother you are when my baby arrives in the spring.
If you are pregnant on Mother’s Day, write your mother a card that gets across the message that she is about to be a grandma.
Part of being a mother is being invested in our children, and that means wanting the best for their future.
Most mothers are overjoyed when they hear the news that their daughters are going to become mothers themselves.
Whether your mother already knows that you are pregnant or you are using your card to tell her about your condition, this makes a great message to send your mama on Mother’s Day.
15. Dear Nonna, happy Mother’s Day. You have always been like a mother to me, and I’ll never forget all the school lunches you packed, all the tears you dried, and all the invaluable advice and guidance you’ve given me.
Families can be complicated. For a wide variety of reasons, many grandmothers end up playing a maternal role in their grandchildren’s lives.
If you were partly raised by your grandma, telling her she is like a mother to you when you send her a Mother’s Day card will surely mean the world to her.
16. Happy Mother’s Day, Granny. And Congratulations…I am so happy to be able to tell you that I’ll be joining you in motherhood, and that you’re going to be a great-grandmother.
Being upgraded from “grandmother” to “great-grandmother” status is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience.
If you have recently discovered that you are pregnant, you can use Mother’s Day as an opportunity to tell your grandmother the big news.
All mothers share the sacred bond of knowing what it is like to raise children.
And motherhood isn’t always easy. That’s why mothers who are having a difficult time find the support of other women who know what they’re going through especially valuable.
Your grandmother will be moved to know that you are going to get to experience raising and loving children first-hand.
17. Thank you for raising me right and making me the mother I am today. And thank you for being such a cool grandma to my kiddos. Love ya, Mom, happy Mother’s Day!
If you’re a mother, you are probably rushing around here, there, and everywhere.
From making sure each little foot has the correct number of socks on it, to clipping closed lunch boxes, to cleaning up spills of all smells and colors, being a mama is no joke.
So, you’d be forgiven for thinking that raising children is not for the fainthearted.
You might find yourself wondering, “if the only way I want to respond when someone asks me ‘what’s up?’ is to scream, how is everyone else out there doing this?”
The truth is, most mother’s struggle…and many may be struggling much more than you are.
If you know that you are only able to parent as well as you do because of the childhood you were given by your own mother, thank her!
18. Thank you for all the patience and love that you show my kids. You shone as a mother, but I think you shine even brighter as a grandma. Happy Mama’s Day!
Many grandparents report that they feel more able to be present when they are with their grandchildren than they did when they were raising their own kids.
This is partly because they are not ultimately responsible for the children, which makes the time they spend with them less stressful.
But even more than that, perhaps, being older and wiser gives us perspective that allows us to cherish what is really important.
19. Happy Mother’s Day! I think this is the perfect opportunity to tell you that your baby is having a baby. I can’t wait to introduce you to your first grandchild.
This super cute message makes the ideal Mother’s Day card inscription for a grandma.
Telling your own mother that you can’t wait for her to meet the baby that’s currently kicking in your belly will reinforce how important family is to you.
And at the end of the day, Mother’s Day is about appreciating the role that family plays in our lives.
20. Happy Mother’s Day, you total GILF.
If your mama is still a stunner in her older age, calling her a GILF will make her laugh.
What on earth is a GILF, you ask? If you’ve never heard this funny term, google it. Hey, you’re never too old to learn new things, right?
21. Even though our relationship hasn’t always been easy, I am so glad we worked out our differences. Watching you be an incredible grandma to my children is the ultimate reward. Happy Mother’s Day!
As nice as Mother’s Day is for people who have good relationships with their mothers, for those who don’t, it can be a painful reminder of what is missing.
That said, anyone who has gone through a rocky period in their own relationship with their mother but has since reconciled with them will appreciate Mother’s Day immensely.
Particularly if healing family rifts has allowed your mother to be a wonderful grandma to your kids, acknowledging how far you’ve come is a great premise for a Mother’s Day card.
22. Happy first Mother’s Day after your promotion to “Grandma.” Our little bundle of joy loves you more than anyone. Thank you for all your patience and time, and for the unconditional love you give to my son.
If you are celebrating the first Mother’s Day after giving birth…so, your very first Mother’s Day, you can write to your own mother congratulating her on her promotion.
While you will surely be flooded with cards and well wishes from all those around you who want to acknowledge your big day the first time around, don’t forget to write to your own mother.
Especially if your mother is taking to the role of grandmother swimmingly and your new little cherub adores her, tell her how much you value the time she spends with your child.
23. I’ve always known I was lucky to have a brilliant mother, but I gained a new appreciation for you when I became a mother myself. Now, I am in complete awe of what a wonderful grandma you are, and I only hope I can follow in your footsteps.
Almost everyone will remember a time when our mother turned to us and said, “I can’t wait until you have children, so that you can see how hard it is.”
Whether we were pestering her to buy us something, wouldn’t stop crying, or were being extremely particular, we must have done something to make our mother utter those fateful words.
And the thing is, it’s true! No one fully appreciates just how trying it is to be a mother until they become a parent themselves.
But, once you have your own children, you can tell your mother that you now understand what she went through.
As a new mother, the nicest and most validating thing you can write to your own mother on Mother’s Day, is that you now truly appreciate what a brilliant parent she was.
24. Motherhood hasn’t always been smooth sailing for me, but when the waves were rocky, you helped calm the storm, and I’m so grateful for all your careful, loving guidance. Happy Mother’s Day to the best, most compassionate mother and the most generous grandmother.
Nothing in life is all smiles and rainbows. But for women who find motherhood difficult, the clouds can seem especially dark.
Because motherhood is supposed to be such a happy time and women are supposed to find it so fulfilling, when it feels like purgatory instead, a lot of new mothers feel like they have nowhere to turn to express the difficulty they are having.
If your mother provided an invaluable support for you during the difficult times, thanking her for being your rock on Mother’s Day will show her that you don’t take anything she’s done for granted.
25. Dear Grandma, since I won’t get to see you this Mother’s Day, I hope I can transmit the big hug I want to give you through the pages of this card.
When you send a card because you can’t be at an event in person, whether to mark the loss of a loved one or to congratulate a bachelorette, you can say that you are sending a hug.
Acknowledging that you regret that you cannot be with your loved ones in person to give a real hug will show you deeply you have thought about the occasion you’re missing.
26. Dearest Omi, thank you for teaching me what it means to be a strong woman. Your fierce independence (and the way you achieve everything you set your mind to) has taught me more than you will ever know. Happy Mother’s Day!
Our grandmothers were all trailblazers. Modern women owe a lot of their freedoms and rights to the battles fought by the women who came before them.
If you’re writing a Mother’s Day card for your grandmother, acknowledge how her determination and independent spirit have inspired you to pursue your dreams.
27. Dear Nana, thank you for being the glue that holds this crazy family together.
If your family is a big batch of crazies, and you are only held together by the grace and goodness of a wonderful matriarch, you can thank her for her efforts on Mother’s Day.
28. I look up to you so much! With your intelligence, wit, and grace, you are the epitome of elegance. I only hope that I can one day match your good humor and charm and carry myself as well as you do. Happy Mother’s Day, Gran.
Why is it that so many of our grandmothers are so chic? So many older women carry themselves with an elegance that feels unattainable nowadays.
If your grandma is basically Audrey Hepburn, you can send her this complimentary message in a card on Mother’s Day.
If, like a fine wine, your grandma only seems to get classier with every passing year, make sure she knows you’ve noticed.
29. Happy Mother’s Day to the best-looking grandma out there.
Whether because she’s young or just because she’s always been a very attractive woman, if your grandma or mother still turns heads when you’re walking down the street with her, this is a cute thing to write in a card.
You can also write this on the front of a card and choose another of the items on this list to write inside.
30. How is it that you only get more fun with every year that passes? Happy Mother’s Day, Abuela!
For some bizarre reason, there is a commonly held view that old people aren’t much fun. We need to break the myth about grumpy old men (and women).
If your grandma is the most fun-loving gal in town and is always up for a little glass of tipple and telling funny stories, you can send her this message on Mother’s Day.
31. Dear Grammie, there is no card that could possibly express the love I feel for you, or accurately represent how special our relationship is to me…but what kind of grandchild doesn’t get their grandma a Mother’s Day card?
If your grandma is the type who isn’t one for cheesy cards but who enjoys a good joke, you can send her this funny message on Mother’s Day.
32. I am blessed to call you my grandma. Thank you for showing me the righteous path and guiding me faithfully. Your humility and grace are an inspiration to me. I thank the Lord for our relationship every single Mother’s Day, and this one is no different.
If your grandma is devoutly religious and prefers every correspondence to reference those beliefs, this is certainly the card inscription for you.
While Mother’s Day isn’t strictly a religious occasion, for anyone who has devoted themselves to the church (or any other faith), everything ties back to belief in God.
33. Dear grandma, you are always rushing around doing nice things for everyone else, so my wish for you this Mother’s Day is that you take the time to do something nice and relaxing. And next time I’m in town, I’ll take you out for a belated Mother’s Day treat.
Many mothers (particularly those who became mothers decades ago) are so used to doing things for everyone else that they never stop to ask themselves what they want.
Encourage your grandma to treat herself to a day of rest and relaxation on Mother’s Day.