Mother's Day Madness
This Hallmark holiday comes on the second Sunday every May. While commercialism tries to convince us the only way to say we love mom is by flowers, chocolates, and jewelry, many moms may have other ideas. As a mom, many of us do not get a day off. While the idea of spending the day with our families is extraordinary, moms do not want to plan, prep, cook, or clean for this day. If we are to genuinely celebrate moms, supersize your efforts to remove some obligations from her to-do list.
Some moms have secret fantasies that they will get to sneak off to a spa for the day or get a full night’s sleep at a hotel. The underlying goal is that we just want to feel loved and appreciated with genuine intent. So even if your self-label as a non-sentimental person, this is the one day you should find your favorite internet browser and find ways to show your appreciation.
But as we are racing around to prep for the mothers of our children, there are always the grandmom and the great-grandmoms to consider, so whose day is it anyway? Can this day celebrate all the women equally? Can we meet the needs of all the mothers without disappointing one? One friend insistent years ago that Mother’s Day is always the day of the oldest living mother of the family. However, focusing on the oldest mother does not welcome or celebrate the most recent mom into the club. I would rather see the holiday look like a baton race. The newer moms are coronated into the halls of motherhood and celebrated as they care for the newest members of the family. Whatever you decide to celebrate the mothers in your life, remember to plan it all, and don’t forget the cleanup!
Melissa’s Monthly Tips
1. Ask the mother of your children how she would like to celebrate the Day.
2. Find a way to honor your mother, your partner’s mother, and the mother of your children either separately or together. For example, look at tip #1 again.
3. Plan, plan, plan. Many restaurants’ reservations book up weeks in advance
4. If a gift is not part of your plan, write a note expressing your gratitude for caring for the kids and what you, in particular, love about her as a mother.
