(Photo by stockwars on Shutterstock)
In a nutshell
- Twenty-two percent of Americans admit they don’t call their mothers enough, despite 78% saying they can’t go a week without talking to them.
- Seven in ten Americans worry that mothers have too much on their plates, with 39% of moms reporting less than an hour of personal time daily.
- While 88% of people believe self-care should be a priority for mothers, many moms still feel underappreciated, with 30% wishing for more recognition from loved ones.
NEW YORK — Nearly a quarter of us carry around a hidden guilt – we know we should call our mothers more often. If you’re feeling bad about it, you’re far from alone.
In a Talker Research survey of 2,000 adults, 22% straight-up admitted they don’t call their moms enough. On average, people speak to their mothers just once a week, despite 78% saying they can’t go a full week without talking to them.
The research, commissioned by Woodhouse Spas, examines our complicated relationship with maternal appreciation. The average person demonstrates appreciation to the moms in their life less than twice a month, whether through spending time together (31%), saying something nice (21%), or other expressions of love.
The Silent Burnout Crisis
Seven in ten Americans worry moms today are juggling too many responsibilities, forcing self-care to take a backseat. A third of those who maintain contact with their mothers specifically worry she doesn’t dedicate enough time to herself.
The numbers reveal a concerning reality: 67% surveyed agree that their mom spends too much time worrying about everyone else. For mothers themselves, the situation is even more stark – 39% of moms surveyed report having less than an hour of personal time daily, and the average mother has experienced burnout five times in just the past three months. For 36% of mothers, burnout happens even more frequently.
There’s an interesting divide in attitudes toward maternal self-care across age groups. Younger generations appear more attuned to this need, with 57% of Gen Z and 45% of millennials reporting they know mothers who recognize their need for self-care. In contrast, Gen X (41%) and baby boomers (46%) more frequently know mothers who downplay this need.
Despite growing awareness, 44% of respondents report having “the self-care talk” at least once weekly, attempting to convince the mothers in their lives to prioritize themselves.
What Moms Really Want
When asked what their ideal self-care day would include, mothers’ responses were clear. Sleeping in topped their wish list (37%), followed by getting their hair done (36%), having someone else cook (35%), listening to music (32%), and receiving a massage (31%).
Additional preferences include manicures (29%), walking (27%), reading (26%), catching up on favorite shows or movies (26%), and enjoying a long bath (25%). Perhaps most telling, a third of mothers (34%) would prefer a solo spa day over sharing the experience with anyone else.
Meanwhile, nearly a third (30%) of surveyed mothers feel their loved ones don’t appreciate them enough, with many expressing a desire for more quality time (29%) and verbal affirmation (28%).
Two-thirds (68%) of those who maintain contact with their mothers claim to know her better than anyone else in her life. These connections flourish in moments of shared laughter (28%), heartfelt conversations (25%), and simply relaxing together (11%).
While 88% of respondents believe self-care should be a high priority for mothers, the research highlights the ongoing challenge families face in translating this awareness into meaningful action.
Survey Methodology
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Woodhouse Spas and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between March 6 and March 10, 2025. The survey sourced respondents from traditional online access panels and programmatic sampling. Quality-checking measures excluded speeders, inappropriate responses, bots, and duplicate participants. Statistical significance was calculated at the 95% level. This survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.
