Whenever my phone lights up and I see her name, I always say something soft in Spanish before I hang up. It feels warmer, like wrapping a blanket around a voice. The simplest, most common thing I say is 'Te quiero, mamá.' It's casual, affectionate, and what most people in Spain and many Latin American families would use with a parent. If I want to make it a little stronger I say 'Te quiero mucho, mamá' or 'Te quiero con todo mi corazón, mamá.'
There are moments when I want to be extra earnest — birthdays, hospital visits, or after a long time apart — and then I reach for 'Te amo, mamá.' In some regions 'te amo' carries a heavier, romantic flavor, but in many families it's perfectly normal between close relatives. For a more formal or neutral phrasing, I might use 'Amo a mi madre' or 'La quiero mucho a mi madre.' If I'm being playful or cute, I'll call her 'mamita' or 'mami' and say 'Te quiero, mamita linda.'
Pronunciation notes: stress the last 'a' in 'mamá' (ma-MÁ). For a card or message, add a little line like 'Gracias por todo, mamá. Te quiero muchísimo.' My mum always replies with something equally cheesy, and I love that our little Spanish phrases keep family feeling close even when life gets busy.