I'm a mom. Get the speedy! In a 30. I personally have always hated the neverful. I don't like the thin straps and to me it just looks cheap to be honest. If you want a tote, the BH is much nicer and much richer looking. Beautiful hardware, nice leather straps that patina beautifully and can be clipped shut a bit at the top. I see neverful fakes everywhere and it's just really flimsy looking. The straps dig because they are so thin and I just don't feel the quality and materials are there to make it worth the money. I recommend a speedy 30! Classic, pretty, and just understated richness. Everyone needs a speedy, especially a mom. I've been carrying one for 25 years. Replacing as needed. I can't imagine being without one. I probably wouldn't wear a neverful if I was given one free. That's just my opinion though. A lot of members like them. It's just I've been buying LV over 25 years and I just feel like it's probably the lowest quality bag I've ever seen LV produce in all those years. (Sorry neverful lovers!!). I do use my BH a lot though and love it a lot. Enough that I bought each of my three daughters one as well.
How wonderful of you to buy your mom an LV!