Things You'll Need:
- A Mom
- LOVE!
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Step 1
With Mother's Day fast approaching, how are you planning to show your appreciation for the woman who brought you into the world? If you are a father, what are you planning for the mother of your lovely children? Haven't thought about it yet? Not surprising — we do tend to take moms for granted. Heck, she's always been there, sort of blends into the wallpaper, not always one of the high profile personalities on our ever-faster digital radar screen.
Here are some ideas for a memorable Mother's day, starting with ideas for older moms with adult kids and ending with ideas for younger families: -
Step 2
If at all possible, plan to spend time with her. This means QUALITY time, not just a run out for a meal at some overcrowded restaurant. Think about what your mom really likes to do (of course if she just LOVES overcrowded restaurants ignore the previous sentence) Does she love flowers & gardening? Plan an afternoon at the nearest Botanical Garden or visit a nursery together and pick out some plants that would spruce up her home either inside or out. Spending time together planting and sharing some takeout food could be a fun and welcome change to her daily routine.
Older Mothers often feel nostalgic for the days when the house was filled with kids and recreating that with any available grandkids is also a great way to spend the day. It can be sad going home to an empty house, but a full day with extended family can warm that chilly feeling right up. -
Step 3
If your Mom is a more restrained type consider taking her out to a museum or movie, The key here is that this is about what SHE likes to do, so if that means staying home and watching reruns of Dancing with the Stars, or watching a video – well, bring on the popcorn!
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Step 4
Are there any projects around the house that your Mom has been wanting to get to but just hasn't been able or gotten around to tackling? Wouldn't it be swell to show up with a prepared meal and finish off that project for her? In most cases she'd be thrilled, she gets your company and finally that pesky project gets finished! Of course, you're not going to renovate the bathroom or kitchen for her, but maybe hanging some curtains, fixing a sticking door or putting a fresh coat of paint on a small area would qualify as a good project.
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Step 5
Another winning idea is to frame up or put together a photo album of some of her old pictures. They can be pictures of her siblings when they were young or pictures of you and your siblings through the years. Every Mom has a box of old photos laying around and it can be a wonderful bonding experience to listen to her versions of the stories behind the images. If you can sneak off with the pictures and surprise her with a beautiful album of them, she'll be touched and surprised. ( Warning - some Moms may be very protective of their photos and won't appreciate your touching them without permission. You know your Mom - respect her boundaries, if necessary ask her to make the album together)
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Step 6
Now some ideas for younger families. Breakfast in bed is the old standby for Mother's Day in young families. If Mom is usually the one who gets up first in the house, it is a good idea to suggest the night before that she might want to sleep late on Mother's Day ( hopefully she'll get the hint). So, Dad, assuming that you are in charge of this task and you probably have a very excited small person, or several, who really, REALLY want to help make Mommy breakfast, let's keep it simple. Depending on your patience level, recommended breakfast menus would be french toast, (if breaking eggs with kids isn't too horrifying a concept for you), or frozen waffles ( much simpler, but you MUST remember to buy them in advance). Some fresh strawberries or raspberries will dress up either choice, and if possible splurge on some real maple syrup. If you really want to be a star you can whip up a Virgin Mimosa with 1/2 orange juice and 1/2 sparkling cider like Martinelli's- or of course you can use real champagne (but the kids might want to try some so that might be a bad idea). Serve this in a champagne flute or tall thin glass if you have one and drop in a strawberry – Mom will be in awe!! To keep the kids busy while you are cooking you can also have them draw some nice pictures for Mommy or if they are old enough they can make their own cards (they may already have these from school) – guaranteed to melt Mom's heart! If there are any flowers in the yard have the kids pick a few and put them in a small vase (a juice glass works in a pinch). Arrange everything on a tray, deliver to the lucky mom with your crew, and have fun!
Happy Mother's Day!
Comments
lweber4 said
on 5/2/2009 These are some great ideas! I won't see my mommy on Mother's day, but I still want to make it special! 5*s and a recommendation!
Rockney said
on 5/1/2009 Great article! 5*!