Yeah, I tried the Ubuntu desktop experience for them as well.

Unfortunately, even though I wish it was the year of the Linux desktop it's still not quite there yet for the non-tech savvy.

New devices are a pain, websites that don't work for whatever reason are a pain (since Linux penetration is so small, a lot of people don't test it), and overall the UI is nice for power-users but still inscrutably complex and unintuitive for the non-initiated. It's possible your mother has a knack for the UI though =). Which desktop environment did you use?