Tips for a Happy Mother

Now, you and your mom may not always agree. You may not always get along. Maybe you even drive each other (and everyone in your general vicinity) nuts whenever you get together… Even so, most of us can agree that we love our moms and all the quirks that come along with them. And we wouldn’t trade them for the world. Remember to let mom, and the other nurturing parental figures in your life, know that you care. Every mom is different. My mom, and your mom- they are all unique. They have different strengths, preferences and opinions.  As May rolls by, we tend to think more and more about mom, and how exactly we will show her we appreciate her. If you are struggling to think of what you can do for mom this year, here are a few tips to guide you.

Give Her Time Prioritize spending time with your mom, especially if you don’t get to see her a lot.  Spending quality time with people, one on one, is something we neglect in this digital age. If your mom lives further away, and it is impossible to visit in person, give her a good old-fashioned phone call, Skype or even FaceTime her. Whatever the method, be sure to let her know that you are never too busy to say hello.   Take Care of Her My dad periodically likes to remind me that, “Diapers spelled backwards is Repaid.” If you would like to start repaying mom this Mother’s Day, consider taking care of something she usually does herself. It can be as simple as doing the laundry for her, cooking her a meal or filling the car up with gas. It doesn’t have to be a big thing. It doesn’t even need to be something difficult. It just needs to be something that will help you give your mom a chance to do something she enjoys in her free time.   Pamper Her Give mom some TLC. Treat her to a massage, manicure, yoga class or any positive activity she would consider relaxing. If your mom is more of a do-it-herself homebody, consider picking up some face masks, or make her an Epsom salt bath mix with essential oils.   Make Memories A picture is worth a thousand words. Similarly, building fun family memories often beats pricey gifts when it comes to long-term enjoyment. Consider planning a family outing or field trip. Whether you choose to do a movie day or a trip to the zoo, make sure it is something mom will enjoy. If your family is rarely together or your mom loves family photos, be sure to snap a great group shot of your adventures and print a copy for mom!   Get Creative Most people have memories of making handmade cards, popsicle jewelry boxes and pasta necklaces… If you are artistic, that’s great! You can try your hand at a do-it-yourself gift in your preferred artistic modality. If you have skills with words, perhaps you can write your mom a letter. For the artistically challenged, your ‘get creative’ may be more on the ‘ideas’ side of things. Remember, you know your mom best, so dig deep and use your creativity to think outside the box. Based on your years of observations, figure out what kind of gift or experience she would appreciate.   Do Something For Her Most moms have something they always wanted to do, or things they enjoy when they have time. For example, my mom likes to watch Korean Dramas with the family and eat popcorn. She likes to sit outside and drink tea. Walking the dog and enjoying the outdoors are her idea of a good time. Think about what your mom enjoys and use that for inspiration.  

  Happy Mother’s Day!