25 Mother's Day Wishes for Your Mother-in-Law to Say You Love Her

Waiting for the right time to let your mother-in-law know how much you love her? How about Mother's Day? You'll have no problem finding an appropriate card, but if you need a little help penning a thoughtful Mother's Day message to your mother-in-law on the inside, we got you.

We've put together a list of heartfelt, funny, sweet, humble, inspiring and straight-up Hallmark-sounding sentiments to help you find the words—even if they don't come so naturally. Now, pour yourself a mimosa (the drink of choice for most moms), break out your favorite pen and start flexing those wordsmithing skills—your favorite child-in-law status depends on it! (We're kidding, of course.)

In this article:

• What to Write in Your MIL's Mother's Day Card
• Sweet Mother's Day Wishes for Your Mother-in-Law
• Funny Mother's Day Messages to Your Mother-in-Law
• Happy Mother's Day Messages From Daughters-in-Law
• Happy Mother's Day Messages From Sons-in-Law
• Happy Mother's Day Wishes for a Future MIL

What to Write in Your MIL's Mother's Day Card

Once you've found that perfect blank card to pair with your perfect gift, it's time to think about your Mother's Day wishes for your mother-in-law. First, determine if she's one for funny notes or if sappy and sweet is more her love language. Your gut instinct is usually right on target, but if you're still iffy about it, then it might be a good call to go back to a card she wrote to you for one of your very special days—i.e. your wedding day or bridal shower, perhaps.

If she waxed poetic on the ways you've made her child the happiest in the world, then feel free to do the same, with a passage that celebrates her prowess as a mama (she did a damn good job with your soulmate). If her message looked forward to the future, manifesting a truly wonderful life for you and yours, then return the favor with Mother's Day well-wishes and references to her beautiful and deserving life ahead like you would in a birthday card. If she sung your praises for putting up with the quirks of her kiddo, then by all means, put some humor in your prose— in referencing one of your partner's silly idiosyncrasies.

Remember, too, that while the card may be coming from you, it's a joint effort. Using words like "we" in your messages ("we appreciate you," "we can't imagine a world without you in it," "we can't wait to celebrate you later on" etc.) help convey a sense of shared gratitude from you and your partner. And for mothers-in-law who are happy to see their kids growing up, getting engaged, getting married and starting families of their own, but are still phased by those intermittent pangs of nostalgia for their early parenting years, knowing their children haven't aged out of their appreciation for mom is all kinds of comforting.

Sweet Mother's Day Wishes for Your Mother-in-Law

If you always end up dropping the "in-law" part of her title (no matter what mom moniker you call her), you have a very special bond to celebrate on Mother's Day. These thoughtful and heartwarming turns of phrase will say "happy Mother's Day, mother-in-law" in a way that'll truly touch her heart.

• No one deserves a better Mother's Day than you do. We hope it's wonderful!

• Of course you'll say that any day is great as long as it's spent with your kids, but this one is all yours—so we're at your service to make it the best!

• On a day we celebrate the most amazing moms, I'm thrilled to call you one of mine.

• Thank you for raising my best friend—fortunate doesn't even begin to cover it.

• Happy Mother's Day. We're so thankful for you and all you do, today and everyday.

Funny Mother's Day Messages to Your Mother-in-Law

It's not every day that a child-in-law can call up their partner's parents and shoot the sh*t like it's nothing at all. If you've got an impressive rolodex of inside jokes with your mother-in-law, go ahead and get her LOL-ing with these funny Mother's Day messages. These Mother's Day messages for your mother-in-law might just be what gets you added to the group chat with her besties.

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• Instead of brunch and mimosas for your special day, we brought guac and margs. Cheers to the very best mother-in-law, we love you!

• Happy Mother's Day, mother-in-law. Nope, that sounds weird. HMD, Mom!

• To my reality TV-obsessed MIL, you give Kris Jenner energy on the regular.

• How do you put up with me?! There's no way I'll be half as nice to my kiddo's future forever love. Happy Mother's Day to a one-of-a-kind mama!

• I know you probably want to spend this day with your actual kids, but thanks for letting me hang!

Happy Mother's Day Messages From Daughters-in-Law

Whether you're just starting to build a relationship with your mother-in-law (now that you're officially part of the fam) or have been getting close for years, you'll definitely have her attention with gracious inscriptions like these (and be gal pals in no time).

• I must have done something right to land [partner's name] and you. Hope that never changes.

• My mom is a hard act to follow, but you've truly become a second one to me. Happy Mother's Day!

• Don't know how I ever could have worried about joining this family—you've made me feel at home from the get-go! HMD to an iconic matriarch.

• I'm one lucky daughter to have you as one of my moms. I love you!

• I'll let [partner's name] toast you first, but then it's my turn. Have a terrific time today, mother-in-law!

Happy Mother's Day Messages From Sons-in-Law

Getting sentimental might be easier to do when your sweet mother-in-law is the recipient. But you certainly don't need to wear your heart on your sleeve in the quest to win over your main squeeze's mama. Congeniality and a compliment or two go a long way if you're a son-in-law thinking of what to write in a mother-in-law Mother's Day card.

• I lucked out with you as a mother-in-law and I don't say that often enough. So, Happy Mother's Day, Mom. Enjoy it!

• Your son/daughter/child is everything and more to me—thank you for your role in raising them.

• I know you'd be happy to go out for the day, but how about dinner here? I've already planned the menu and [partner's name] helped make it perfect.

• My mom made great pancakes while we were growing up, but to be honest, I like yours better (shhh). Happy Mother's Day to the mom who keeps me well fed.

• [Partner's name] is a phenomenal mother and clearly she learned from the best. Happy Mother's Day to you from us and your equally grateful grandkids!

Happy Mother's Day Wishes for a Future MIL

You might find yourself saying "mom" with little to no hesitation after you've been married for a few years. But until you get to that comfortable threshold, you might want to hold back on the overly-tender or touching tidings and go with something simple, sweet and straight-forward instead. No one will fault you for it!

• Excited to celebrate you today—and many more Mother's Days to come!

• I'm honored to have gotten to know you since [partner's name] and I got engaged and you're an amazing mom. Happy Mother's Day!

• Great moms aren't a guarantee, but [partner's name] and I got lucky. Treat yourself today, please?

• I hope your Mother's Day is one for the books. Booked you some time at the spa, to commemorate the occasion!

• You've been a major help with all of our wedding plans, so take today off—seriously. HMD future MIL!