Don’t forget that Mother’s Day lasts all day, so plan ahead to give Mom the day off, as my brothers and I did when we were young. Let her sleep late, serve her breakfast in bed with a personalized card and make the day memorable with homemade gifts from the garden or the craft box. Do all the chores, and let Mom sit back and marvel at what a wonderful family she has.
Mother’s Day is one of the most widely celebrated holidays of the year, probably because moms are so special. Show Mom how much she means to you with the help of these ideas:
Organize a Family Dinner with a “Menu Sign-Up”
Prepare dinner for Mom with a white board or chalkboard guide. Have Dad or an older child list the dinner menu and all its associated tasks on the board (bake chicken, scrub potatoes, slice vegetables, prepare salad, fill water glasses, fold napkins, etc.), and have each child sign up for individual jobs one at a time until they’re all taken. Caution: Mother will probably faint as she observes the spirit of kindly cooperation in this finely tuned dinner operation, so make sure she has a handy, comfortable spot to recover on. Even young children can help with some of the table setting and other simple tasks if they’re carefully supervised.
Make a “Truth Jar” Full of Love
One of the most precious gifts for Mom might be a truth jar, which will give you a chance to tell her all the things you appreciate about her.
Decorate a jar in Mom’s favorite colors using yarn, bows, ribbon, pompoms, fabric scraps, raffia — anything you like. Place slips of paper in the jar — five to 10 from each person, including Dad — on which are written positive, uplifting traits or characteristics you love about your mother. She can then pull out slips — perhaps one a day, or two or three a week — and read the messages from you, which might include:
“Mom smiles most of the time.”
“Mom is a good driver.”
“Mom loves me.”
“Mom loves to read to me.”
“Mom grows beautiful flowers.”
“Mom is a great softball pitcher.”
“Mom is never too busy to help me with my homework.”
