This Mother’s and Father’s Day, what do parents really want? Less of a mental load.

At a glance

• AI scheduling assistants: Parents are using the Gemini app on the Google Pixel 10 Pro to transform school emails and voice notes into actionable itineraries.
• Supervised independence: The Gizmo smartwatch and Verizon Family app allow parents to monitor locations and digital safety while giving kids more freedom.
• Holiday gifting: Verizon is offering Mother’s Day deals on the iPhone 17 and Apple Watch to help parents automate logistics and find peace of mind.

As a mom, the mental load is constant—the invisible, heavy lifting of managing a household’s schedule, safety, and logistics. From remembering dance practice to tracking down permission slips, the cognitive demand is constant.

I sat down with fellow moms and dads on my Verizon communications team—Jeff Kew, dad to a 3 and 5 year old; Ashley, mom to a 3 year old with another baby on the way, and Roberto Quintero, a dad of 4 ranging from tween to teens—and talked about how we’re leveraging technology and AI to act as a digital partner in parenting. Listen to our podcast (15 minutes long for parents on the go!)

Bottom line: If you're looking for the ultimate Mother’s or Father’s Day gift, consider giving the gift of a lighter mind.

The AI game changer for scheduling

One of the greatest sources of stress for all of us is the sheer volume of incoming information. Whether it’s an email about a school competition or a text about a playdate, if it isn’t documented immediately, it’s a liability. Next thing you know, you’re late or worse, you’ve missed it entirely.

• Voice-activated itineraries: Using the Gemini app on the Google Pixel 10 Pro, parents are transforming how they plan. I speak event details directly into my Gemini AI app or copy-paste school and PTO emails to create clear, running itineraries. And just like that, all of this information is no longer just in my head, it’s actionable and shareable.
• Dividing and conquering: Ashley and her husband can scan a schedule, upcoming appointment, and more with Gemini, and easily generate calendar invites. This efficiency ensures smoother managing of their work, pregnancy and the frequent doctor’s visits and planning that comes with this stage of life.
• Digital hubs: Jeff and his wife maintain a central digital kitchen calendar synced across all devices to ensure that even the most complex logistics—like managing pre-k events and soccer games—remain visible to everyone.

Safety tech: Peace of mind as a gift

The mental load includes worrying about digital safety and physical whereabouts. While none of us want to be helicopter parents, we also need to know our kids are safe. So tech that offers supervised independence is a win for both us parents and our increasingly independent kids.

• The smartwatch for kids: My kids are not ready for a smartphone, so we compromise by using the Gizmo smartwatch. It provides location tracking and restricted contact lists, giving kids independence while parents keep their peace of mind.
• Active monitoring: Roberto is a super user of the Verizon Family app (available on all Verizon postpaid lines for free) as it allows him to monitor phone usage, see who his children are communicating with, and even track driving habits for his oldest, a new teen driver.
• Content guardrails: Roberto also recommended the parental restrictions the Verizon Family app provides to ease concerns like online bullying and unfiltered chat in games like Roblox or Minecraft.

Why this is the ultimate holiday gift

So maybe this year in addition to the flowers and fishing gear, consider a gesture for Mom or Dad that says, “I see the weight you carry, and I want to help you set some of it down.”

By automating the mundane and securing the digital front, we’ve found tech provides the one thing every mom and dad needs most: peace of mind. 

Want to add some savings?

From now until May 13, moms can get an iPhone 17 on us with a new line on Verizon myPlan. Throw in a service plan and you can get the Apple Watch Series 11 or an iPad. Additional terms and restrictions apply. And be on the lookout for our Father’s Day deals coming soon.