With every new obstacle comes new experiences, and Mother’s Day this year is definitely falling prey to one of the greatest obstacles most of us have ever faced; a pandemic.
I know, I know; like you really needed another reminder of the craziness going on in this world right now, right?
Don’t be bummed, I have some good news for you! Although the odds may seem against you this year, there is still hope! New experiences can be just as awesome as old experiences.
Mother’s Day is, after all, meant to be a celebration of the women in your life – wives, moms, aunts, grandmas, you name it – that you love most.
At the end of the day, they all really want the same thing, to know they are loved and appreciated.
Even when practicing social distancing there are many ways to make sure this Mother’s Day is just as special as those before it. This list is full of ideas, but take note – the number one ingredient is YOU!
1. Keep Her From Having to Cook for the Entire Day
If you are able to physically be with her, fix and serve her every meal of the day. You can start by surprising her with breakfast in bed and later lunch and dinner wherever she would like. Make a list of her favorite foods and beverages and try to plan each meal to include something from that list.
If you aren’t able to be there, you can still make this happen through her local food delivery services, and you can even eat with her by using an online video conferencing tool such as Zoom.
2. Give Her an At-Home Spa Day
If she normally loves to have her nails done or enjoys a good pedicure or manicure, chances are she is really craving one right about now. If you don’t know how to do any of these things, you can always go on Google or YouTube to find out. You may not be an expert, but a little pampering goes a long way for mom.
If you’re physically unable to be there to do this for her, you can always order some of the standard pampering items and have them sent to her as a gift for Mother’s Day.
3. Give Her the Whole Day to Herself
Honestly, this is my favorite of all gifts. As moms, we often feel as though we are suffocating with our responsibilities and expectations. We are doing for others 100% of the time and never truly feel like we get to do anything we enjoy for ourselves.
Sometimes, the best gift can simply be to let the mom in your life do whatever she wants to do for the entire day. If she wants to take a nap, so be it. If she wants to go sit in a cafe wearing a mask and read all day, let her. Husbands, this is your chance to say “Honey, I’ve got this. You go do you all day and don’t worry for a second about us.”
4. Plan a Movie Night, Game Night, or Painting Night
Help mom relax by scheduling a family night with lots of laughter and her favorite snacks and drinks. We spend so much time now worrying about work, finances, homeschooling, and stressing about keeping our families safe, that there’s very little time during the day to really come together as a family and have fun.
Pull out whatever games you have laying around or make up new ones and just play. If mom likes to be crafty, grab some canvases and paint and have the whole family sit down to paint together. Add Netflix to the mix and some popcorn and watch mom’s stress melt away. All of this can also be done virtually, by the way. Remember, video services like Zoom always come in handy.
5. If All You Can Do Is Talk to Your Mom, Do It
There is no denying that times are tough right now. Maybe you’re struggling financially, maybe the mom in your life is in the hospital, or maybe she doesn’t understand technology so she can’t use video conferencing software. There could be many reasons why the only thing you are able to do for her this year is to pick up the phone and call her.
Don’t feel bad about this and if you do, don’t let it stop you.
There are so many of us that wish we could just hear our mom’s voice one more time. Never assume she will still be here tomorrow. Just call her. Tell her how you are doing. Ask her how she is doing. Tell her that you love her and you appreciate all she has done for you during your life. At the end of the day, this is what matters most to her.
This Mother’s Day might be a little different, but that doesn’t mean it has to be any less meaningful. It may just take a little more thought and planning, but you can do this. For mom, it truly is the thought that counts.
