Do you know what this Sunday is? Well, if you are in the Unites States AND know of a mother special to you (Hint: this could include your wife), Mother’s Day 2019 is this Sunday, May 12th.
Mother’s Day is observed in different ways throughout the world. Celebrations of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. While dates and celebrations vary around the world, Mother’s Day traditionally involves presenting moms with flowers, cards and other gifts.
Our mothers help us with so much, and, let’s be honest, she gets little reward beyond the satisfaction of a job well done. Most of our moms are overworked, and now it’s time to give her a chance to relax. How you celebrate your mother depends on your relationship with her and her personal needs and wishes. The goal is to honor mom in a manner in which SHE would like to be honored.
So, whether that means getting a few extra Zs or taking a casual day trip with the family, here are some general themes to help you find what Mom might like best.
Ten themes to honor Mom
1. Connect & Reconnect – Sometimes the best present is presence.
In our busy lives, we sometimes forget to or don’t have the time to be truly present with the people around us. Take the time to sit with her or give her a call. Truly listen to what she is saying and engage in the conversation. Be curious about her, her history, her interests, or her hopes and dreams.
2. Food – Food is a great source of celebratory connection.
What are her favorite foods? Where is her favorite place to go? Does she like to cook? You may be able to answer these questions yourself. Based on what you know, or what she asks for, here are some suggestions of how to honor your mom with food:
– Make a meal special – in home or out, with a few people or many
– Make a meal together
– Bake together
– Serve her breakfast in bed
– Go out for drinks or serve her favorite special beverage at home
3. Pamper Her – Give her the care she deserves.
With all the work that Mom has put into raising her children, this is a good day for pampering. With so many responsibilities, most moms put aside their personal needs for their health and stress management. Self-care is a crucial part revitalizing a body and mind. Help Mom out with one of these pampering activities:
– Breakfast in bed
– A quiet morning for her to sleep a little later
– A massage
– A facial
– A mani-pedi
– Take her to the salon for a haircut and style
– Hang out together at the spa
4. Family Day– Motherhood is part of her identity. Surround her with family.
Whether with the extended family or the immediate household, you can plan a fun family day. (Just be certain that YOU are taking care of the details, not her.) It can be at home, the park or anywhere else you know she enjoys. Groupon is a great source for ideas. Here’s a short list of other possibilities:
– Binge watch a Netflix series with popcorn, pizza, and dessert
– Spend the day at the pool, beach, lake, or park
– Go to Disneyland, Universal Studies, or another amusement park
– Catch a movie
– Plan a novel experience like an Escape Room or Axe Throwing
– Go on a road trip or a tour of your city
– Sing karaoke
– Take a bike ride
– Pack a picnic lunch
– Go glamping or camping
– Create a scavenger hunt (if she’s into things like that)
5. Retail Therapy – This does NOT include the grocery store!
Whether you give her gift cards, set up a shopping date wither her friends, or just time for herself, create the time for her to do some shopping. Let her know she can update her wardrobe, get a summer bathing suit, or anything else. Make sure she knows she is shopping for herself. Some retail options she may enjoy are:
– Mall Shopping
– Online or catalogue shopping
– Farmer’s Market
– Flea Market
– Antique Shopping
6. Hobbies & Interests – While family may be her focus, chances are high she likes some other things too.
What does your mom like to do? Is there anything she’s expressed an interest in and hasn’t done? Depending on the activity, this could be a family activity, a one-on-one activity, or a gift card for her to explore her interests. Perhaps, she would be interested in one of these activities:
– Cooking Classes
– Paint and sip class
– Concert
– Yoga classes or gym membership
– Wine tasting
– Tickets to a baseball game
– Plan a day hike
– Go to a gallery or museum
– Rent her dream car for a day
– Take a pottery class
– Tackle a home project together
– Get crafty – home or away
– Gardening
– Visit a winery
– Horseback riding
7. Lend a Helping Hand – It may be Mom’s day off, but stuff still needs to get done.
Do something for Mom that she usually does herself. Let her know her hard work does not go unnoticed and roll up your sleeves. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. You can help a lot by doing just one (or some) of these:
– Clean house
– Do chores like dishes and laundry
– Take care of the younger children for a day
– Wash her car
– Make the meals
– Grocery shop
8. Create Visual Memories – Show Mom the love!
Giving Mom something she can see, is a great idea. When she has a quiet moment, it’s something that she can study and contemplate. When life is busy, she only needs to glance at it to remind her that she is loved. Here are some ideas for the creative people and the rest of us:
– Do a photoshoot
– Give mom framed photos or a scrapbook
– Draw a special picture
– Create a family Vision Board together
9. Special Note – Your first word may have been “Mom,” but you know a lot more words now.
This one is my favorite. Some of my most precious gifts from my children are their cards, letters, and special drawings. In them, I see their love and appreciation. Every holiday (Mother’s Day, my birthday, Christmas) I tell my kids, “Don’t put your money into things, put your heart into whatever you choose to give. Let me know what I mean to you.”
10. Say “I love you!”
I hope I don’t need to expand on those three words.
Remember, it’s about honoring her. Don’t confuse what you want to do for mom compared to what she wants.
If she’d like a nice quiet morning without having to chase after babies and make everyone else breakfast, don’t try to get her up early for a large family in-home brunch. Allow her to sleep in, take care of some of the usual to-dos, you or older children make her breakfast in bed, and honor her with a nice massage or time with her favorite book.
