No matter what, Mother’s Day is always an important day, but this year, our moms might need a little more love and acknowledgement. This stay at home gig is tough going, between home schooling, working from home, missing face-to-face friend catch ups, managing the kid’s expectations around restrictions, trying to find a normal routine in an abnormal environment and that’s on top of just the everyday life stresses.

There are plenty of gift guides around to help you decide what you can buy for your mom and thankfully there are a plethora of online stores. But more importantly, what can we do for mom on Mother’s Day? Going to a restaurant or day spa is out of the question, so we’ve come up with a few ways you can help celebrate mom. If you are a mom with young kids, indiscreetly share this article with your partner or family, and encourage them, along with your children to consider one or more of these ideas.

1. Create an At-Home Spa Pamper Experience

Create the full experience with flowers, chocolates, bubbles and beauty pampering. Find a quiet space in the house and set it up with a comfy chair, her favorite relaxing music, place the flowers in view and have the chocolates and bubbles on hand (The kids will love the bubbles part!) As she sits and enjoys these goodies, you can get to work, painting her nails, massaging her feet, doing a facemask, and even doing her hair (having someone brush your hair for you, is really the ultimate luxury!). Hopefully she will come away feeling pampered, relaxed and loved. If you aren’t at home with your mom, organize for everything to be delivered to her home and provide strict instructions to stop and pamper immediately.

2. Give her the Gift of Time 

With all that seems to always need to be done, very few moms actually add their own time out to this list! So why not set up some time in the day to let mom go and do whatever it is that she wants. Whether that is lounging in the bath or on the couch, gardening, reading, exercising, creating, or online shopping. The time is hers to decide with it what she wants. She may decide that she wants to spend it with you playing in the backyard but the key thing is, that the choice is all hers.

3. Breakfast in Bed and/or 5-Star Dining at Home 

If you can do both of these, then that is the ultimate in Mother’s Day treats. Breakfast in bed can be tricky if mom is an early riser and always the one to get up and sort the family out. So, let her know that she can sleep in so she doesn’t rush in the morning. Have the family work together & whip up her favorite breakfast (and don’t forget to pick a flower from the garden) and serve to her in bed (or at the table, whichever she'd prefer). 

For the 5-Star dining experience, ask an adult to help you setup the table with candles, and your fanciest dishes. Create a menu card to place on the table and dress up in your finest to be the wait staff for the night. Have the best cook in the house go all out with three courses of exquisite foods - that you wouldn’t have for your day to day dining. If your mom is the best cook then ask the second-best cook to do it instead! Having the family wait on her and the opportunity to enjoy good food will be a lovely way to celebrate her day.

4. Go On an Exotic ‘Holiday’ 

Even though we can’t travel to Paris, you can still enjoy a little taste of France (or any other destination that intrigues you). Ask a grown-up to help you get some croissants for breakfast, pack a picnic lunch of French bread, cheese, and fruit, or order a meal from your favorite deli or restaurant (quiche, anyone?), and get into the flavor of the country. For an added touch, set up your dining room table with a red-and-white-checkered tablecloth and fresh flowers, put on some French music, and perhaps you can teach your mom some basic French words, such as "bonjour" (good morning) and "merci" (thank you).

5. Take Mom 'Out' for a Special Evening 

There’s nothing like taking your mom out to the movies, a play or concert and even though we are constrained by lockdown restrictions, there are some ways to replicate a similar outing. There are many artists and associations, such as theatre and ballet companies, orchestras and bands, making their plays, shows and concerts available to watch from home. Choose a time to view together and have your popcorn ready! Or the kids can spoil mom by crafting her a ticket to her favorite movie at home. It will be a welcome break from watching children’s movies and she'll have a nice keepsake memory to place on the frig. Show her a First-Class experience. Let her lie on the couch, bring her treats, pop her feet up and recreate the quiet movie theatre.

6. Do a Kids' Presentation of Your Creative Projects

It’s amazing how creative and thoughtful you can be through creative outlets. Why not write a poem for your mom describing how much you love herand/or paint a picture depicting your favorite activity to do with your mom? On Mother's Day itself, you can gift your creations to her after you present and explain each piece to your mom. 

7. Set Up Backyard Camping 

If mom is the outdoorsy type and is missing the outdoors, then why not setup the backyard for a camping weekend? (Be sure to ask an adult for help!) You could make it glamping with a tent, comfy mattress and luxe linen to make it a little extra special. Or set up your Springfree Trampoline with pillows, blankets, fairy lights and snacks for a night under the stars.

Photo Credit: @dawnpdarnell

8. Create a Hug + Kiss Schedule 

What would Mother's Day be like without hugs and kisses all around? One way to work them into your day is by setting up a silly "hugs and kisses" schedule and posting it on the refrigerator or other visible spot. For instance, you could write, "10:30 a.m.: Everyone runs around the couch and gives mom a hug and kiss." or "2:15 p.m.: Everyone hops around the tree in the backyard on one foot and assembles for a group hug." Make up your own directions and silly things to do -- but be sure to include lots of hugs, kisses, and laughter in your day.

We hope you are able to celebrate and share this special day with your moms, in some way. They are special and, lockdown or not, they deserve the celebration.

 

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