Make This Mother's Day Unforgettable
04/28/2009
I know that as a kid I unknowingly invoked my mother’s ‘unconditional’ love many
times. It took me years to truly realize the sacrifices mothers make for their children.
For all mothers out there reading this post, I want to say thank you for everything
you do.
-Mike
When I was a kid, Mother's Day was easy. My teacher always had us make something for our mother in art and we'd come home with our gift on Friday. I could never wait until Sunday to give my mother her gift, but she never seemed to mind. When she passed away many years later, I found my artwork stashed away, which I think had just as much meaning for me as the artwork did for her. As an adult, I have found Mother's Day a bit more challenging to get right. Do I purchase something for my wife (I figured out the hard way that the answer is yes!), my mother-in-law (again, yes), and should the kids stick with the artwork or should they purchase something also?
Many people think that Mother’s Day has been over commercialized and I have to admit that I’ve always suspected that Hallmark created these types of holidays just to sell more cards. Mother’s Day actually dates back to ancient Greece and became a national holiday in the US in 1914. While Mother’s Day does get commercialized, with just a little forethought we can keep it meaningful and honor our mothers appropriately.
I've talked to many people about Mother's Day so that I could provide a broader perspective on this holiday. Overwhelmingly, the feedback I got is that Moms just want to know that they are appreciated. I believe the answer to how to prepare for Mother's Day is to figure out the best way to show your appreciation for the person you want to honor.
Mothers and Mother-in-Laws
Most of us know our mother well enough to figure out exactly what they want. This year I decided to take a few minutes to think about what I’ve done in the past and try to do something unique this year. For me personally, my mother-in-law would consider flowers a waste of money so that’s out. But giving her a nice card and getting the family together for lunch really makes her happy. This year, I’m going to give her a card (with more than just my name signed at the bottom) and I’m making reservations at one of her favorite restaurants. She knows that the restaurant gets booked quickly so hopefully the advanced planning will show her that she is appreciated. (And, no mother-in-law jokes in this post!) While talking to mothers, one idea that was brought up several times is a personal letter. A hand written letter to your mother letting her know how much you love and appreciate her hard work and dedication can make this Mother’s Day unforgettable.
Honoring Grandmothers
These days I have to set up multiple alerts to remember birthdays - but somehow my grandparents remembered every birthday with a card and five bucks. I don’t think I ever read their cards but I sure did appreciate the 5 spot. When I got old enough to truly appreciate my grandparents, I started including them on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. And when I had children, I had them do the same. I honored my grandmothers with what they wanted most - just for me to stop by and spend some time with them.
Kids Honoring Mothers and Grandmothers
I talked to a bunch of moms before I wrote this post and many of them have had Mother’s Day blown off or their children weren’t really into the holiday. I’m sure my own mother felt this a few times, especially the year that I asked her – on Mother’s Day – why isn’t there a Kid’s Day? If you have experienced this in the past, keep the faith! The mothers with older children that I interviewed said that their children eventually came to appreciate their sacrifices and love.
While most young children make their own cards and homemade gifts, older kids might feel that a homemade gift is not enough and that they are expected to buy something more expensive such as a spa gift certificate. If you’re a mother of a child that is beyond making artwork in school as a gift, you can subtly let them know that an expensive gift is not necessary.
Please feel free to comment on this post and recommend your own ideas for Mother’s Day!
-Mike
When I was a kid, Mother's Day was easy. My teacher always had us make something for our mother in art and we'd come home with our gift on Friday. I could never wait until Sunday to give my mother her gift, but she never seemed to mind. When she passed away many years later, I found my artwork stashed away, which I think had just as much meaning for me as the artwork did for her. As an adult, I have found Mother's Day a bit more challenging to get right. Do I purchase something for my wife (I figured out the hard way that the answer is yes!), my mother-in-law (again, yes), and should the kids stick with the artwork or should they purchase something also?
Many people think that Mother’s Day has been over commercialized and I have to admit that I’ve always suspected that Hallmark created these types of holidays just to sell more cards. Mother’s Day actually dates back to ancient Greece and became a national holiday in the US in 1914. While Mother’s Day does get commercialized, with just a little forethought we can keep it meaningful and honor our mothers appropriately.
I've talked to many people about Mother's Day so that I could provide a broader perspective on this holiday. Overwhelmingly, the feedback I got is that Moms just want to know that they are appreciated. I believe the answer to how to prepare for Mother's Day is to figure out the best way to show your appreciation for the person you want to honor.
Mothers and Mother-in-Laws
Most of us know our mother well enough to figure out exactly what they want. This year I decided to take a few minutes to think about what I’ve done in the past and try to do something unique this year. For me personally, my mother-in-law would consider flowers a waste of money so that’s out. But giving her a nice card and getting the family together for lunch really makes her happy. This year, I’m going to give her a card (with more than just my name signed at the bottom) and I’m making reservations at one of her favorite restaurants. She knows that the restaurant gets booked quickly so hopefully the advanced planning will show her that she is appreciated. (And, no mother-in-law jokes in this post!) While talking to mothers, one idea that was brought up several times is a personal letter. A hand written letter to your mother letting her know how much you love and appreciate her hard work and dedication can make this Mother’s Day unforgettable.
Honoring Grandmothers
These days I have to set up multiple alerts to remember birthdays - but somehow my grandparents remembered every birthday with a card and five bucks. I don’t think I ever read their cards but I sure did appreciate the 5 spot. When I got old enough to truly appreciate my grandparents, I started including them on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. And when I had children, I had them do the same. I honored my grandmothers with what they wanted most - just for me to stop by and spend some time with them.
Kids Honoring Mothers and Grandmothers
I talked to a bunch of moms before I wrote this post and many of them have had Mother’s Day blown off or their children weren’t really into the holiday. I’m sure my own mother felt this a few times, especially the year that I asked her – on Mother’s Day – why isn’t there a Kid’s Day? If you have experienced this in the past, keep the faith! The mothers with older children that I interviewed said that their children eventually came to appreciate their sacrifices and love.
While most young children make their own cards and homemade gifts, older kids might feel that a homemade gift is not enough and that they are expected to buy something more expensive such as a spa gift certificate. If you’re a mother of a child that is beyond making artwork in school as a gift, you can subtly let them know that an expensive gift is not necessary.
Please feel free to comment on this post and recommend your own ideas for Mother’s Day!
