It has been nearly six years since I last spent Mother’s Day with my mom. Granted, I was in a different country than she was, which I suppose does excuse me a little. Sadly, I can’t seem to remember spending any real quality Mother’s Day time with her even before I left. And for this I don’t really have an excuse. At the time, I was still a teenager, and being the daughter of my mother, we were inherently bound to disagree. We fought too much, I see that now. I was probably too dramatic, unable to really see how much my mom was truly doing for me. Why was I so hard on her?
I think we can all be too hard on our mothers sometimes. We tend to criticise and focus on the shortcomings rather than being grateful for what actually does exist. It took me six years of distance, more than I actually needed, to wake me up. Finally, I am able to see our relationship not for its shortcomings, but for what actually does exist.
For me, that’s unconditional love and a sense of belonging.
Now that I am home, I plan to make this Mother’s Day memorable by spending quality time with my mom. I’ll probably cook some dinner, pasta specifically. Although I don’t think I am a good cook at all, she always appreciates it. I also plan to buy her an Amazon Fire Stick because I know how much she loves watching movies. But, being old fashioned, she’s stayed with the usual Tata Sky so far.
Now, she is ready to experience the magical world of no advertisements and a treasure chest full of choices! This is what will make my mother happy, her daughter spending time with her and noticing her needs. I mean, it’s the least I could do right? She did spend her whole life noticing my needs and wanting to spend more time with me.
On this Mother’s Day weekend, cherish the relationship you have with your mother and make her feel loved. Make amends if you think you need to, apologise for where you went wrong, and maybe get some flowers. Flowers are always nice, at least I think so. Here are a few more things you could do to make this Mother’s Day memorable:
1. Watch TV Together
You don’t have to spend all day in front of the television. But it can be really comforting to watch your favourite movies or episodes of a show, together. If you like chocolate, you can throw that into the mix. I feel like I’m describing my ideal Sunday, with one addition, instant noodles.
2. Give Her Something Handmade
There are so many things you could do here. Bake a cake, make a card, make jewellery…It depends on what your mother would like best. I found this quote by an 80 year old mother somewhere in the world. She said,
Hint to grown children everywhere: Even if it still comes out misshapen, a handmade gift for your mother is the best thing you could possibly give her for Mother’s Day.
If you need a little help figuring out what to make, follow this link!
3. Breakfast in Bed
Who doesn’t like breakfast in bed? Just make sure not to burn the toast, and maybe try squeezing fresh orange juice instead of serving it out of the carton. Oh, you could go all out with this one. Pancakes, eggs, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee, toast, the meats (if your mom’s not vegetarian)…
4. Go Out to Dinner
Pretty standard but still a classic option, take your mom out to eat to her favourite restaurant. You could couple this with a handmade gift maybe. Of course, pay for dinner.
5. Host Happy Hours at Home
Oh, what fun! You could do mimosas or just plain champaign. Or you could prepare a variety of drinks, and make some dinner as well. Don’t want to get wasted, just looking to have a good time.
6. Thank Her And Tell Her You Love Her
I know it sounds sappy. It’s like when someone asks, “what did you get me?” and they respond with, “a hug.” But it does go a long way to let your mother know that you appreciate her, or just that you’ve noticed her effort.
7. Plan Something She’s Wanted to Do
Maybe it’s going on a little road trip, or taking your mom to the beach. You could get some of her close friends together, and plan a collective Mother’s Day outing. Anything your mum has wanted to do for a while works here. It could even be something as small as getting a whacky hairstyle.
8. Cook Together/Bake Something
If your mum likes to cook, then make something different and fun together. But of course, don’t do this if your mom is dying to get out of the kitchen. Remember, you must be mindful of what your mother would want and be happy with.
Here is a link to a few recipes you could check out if you’re considering this option.
9. Treat Her to a Spa Day
Treat your mom to a full day of relaxation, you can join her if that’s what she would like most. To help you get started, follow the link to find a bunch of spa vouchers. Or you could check out Touche as well.
10. Take Her to a Movie
I can’t remember the last time I went to see a movie with my mom! I know it sounds simple, but really when was the last time you went to the movies with your mom? Get a giant tub of popcorn and hangout.
You could also do a couple of movies back to back, like a marathon but at the theatre.
11. Call Her
This one is for those who cannot make it home this weekend. Call your mom, tell her you to miss her and love her. Maybe send her some flowers or a card. But don’t forget to call and don’t be in a rush to hang up. Just let her know that you’re thinking about her.
I hope that you are able to spend time with your mother this Mother’s Day weekend. Don’t take the time you have together for granted, you may have less than you think. Okay well on that rather morbid note, Happy Mother’s Day to all the awesome mom’s of the world!
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