I am a bit late writing this, but if you are reading this, then you are probably trying to think of ways to celebrate Mother’s Day during a pandemic where social distancing is still the norm. And if you’re like me, sometimes you wait so long because you can’t decide what to do. I say, don’t overthink it. This pandemic is a challenging time, and as a mother myself, my biggest concern is the health and safety of my family. That’s the best gift right now. However, I get it; we love our mothers and still want to acknowledge her and make their day special!
Buy/Make Her a Gift
Obvious right? I know. I wish I could come up with some magical one size fits all gift that moms will love everywhere. That’s why it took so long to post this. I thought I could figure out an amazing, easy, budget-friendly gift that no one else could think of. Sadly, there isn’t one, and I think my brain crashed along the way. But there are a lot of posts out there that have excellent suggestions!
The Not So Picky Mom
Some moms are easy to shop for. They tell you exactly what they want. I once received a shade of lipstick from my five-year-old daughter as a gift. It wasn’t the right shade for my skin tone, so I sent her and my husband back to the store. That’s mean, Nikki! No, it isn’t because when she came back with the other shade, I wore that lipstick like it was going out of fashion! What’s mean to me is taking gifts and never using them because you don’t like them. I’m the mom who knows what I want…sometimes.
My mom (Mama Resourceful) does know what she wants from time to time, but ever so often can throw out that line with the best of them. “Oh, I don’t know what I want…just having you guys is the best gift,” she would say. Aww, cue hallmark music and fade to black… Come on, Mom!
If you have that Mom who isn’t picky about what she wants, let me throw my hat in the pile of suggestions circulating out there right now.
Suggestion 1: Bring the Restaurant Home
Order her favorite meal, whip out that nice china that mom keeps stored for the 12th of never and give her the “restaurant” treatment. You’ve been to plenty of restaurants before, so make sure she has water as well as a drink. Give her a nice napkin and set the table with two forks, a knife, and a spoon! All that classy stuff! Enjoy the meal with her, make it a family meal if the gathering is small enough. Just make sure you are following your areas social distancing guidelines.
Suggestion 2: Have Multiple Flowers Delivered
Order her favorite meal, whip out that nice china that mom keeps stored. Okay, so this sounds obvious, but don’t just send a vase of flowers. Send multiple vases and have them delivered to her doorstep. Imagine her answering the door to a whole lot of flowers or plants! Make them her favorite flower if you know what that is.
Write a note for each flower:
- For my mother (and possibly your mother), I would add a line or two from Proverbs 31 to the note for each arrangement delivered because who she is to our family is deeply rooted in our Christian faith.
- You could also do this with each line of a poem about mothers.
- Take each letter of her first name and write a word or phrase on each arrangement’s card that describes her. For example, the “N” in my name could be “Noble” (you’re too kind).
Suggestion 3: Q&A Video Chat with Mom
Again another obvious suggestion if you don’t live near your mother or can’t get to see her. However, don’t just do a video chat. Treat it like a Q& A with your favorite celebrity, because it’s Mom. Get a group video chat going with all her children. Ask her questions you usually wouldn’t ask. She wasn’t always a mother, you know, lol! You might learn something new. What would I ask her, Nikki? I’m glad you asked here are some suggested questions:
- What is the best thing about being a mother?
- What qualities or traits of yours do I have?
- What was the toughest part of being a mother?
- Who did you go to for motherly advice?
- What is the worst habit that I got from you?
- What is the funniest thing that I ever did as a kid?
- What did you think I would be when I grew up?
- What things did you do differently as a mom than your mom?
- Did you ever get in trouble at school or at home?
- Do you remember a lie you told to your parents?
- Who was your first date/boyfriend?
These are just a few questions, but you can always google more. Make them thoughtful, funny, challenging. Just a mix of things and learn something new, grow closer to mom.
When Mom is No Longer Here
This part is for you if your Mom isn’t here to celebrate Mother’s Day. My family’s tradition has been flowers on the grave as a way of celebrating on that day. In church, you would receive the white rose.
Since we can’t all do that just yet I suggest remembering your mother by doing the following on Mother’s Day…or any day for that matter.
- If she liked to cook, make one of her meals. Even if it doesn’t turn out as good as hers. It’s a great way to reminisce.
- Look at photos, maybe even make a collage
- Write a letter to your Mom. Make it more conversational, like she is right there with you, because in a way, she is. What do I do with the letter, Nikki? Whatever you would like. If you have a box of cherished memories of your mom, out it there. You could even shred If she liked to cook, make one of her meals. Even if it doesn’t turn out as good as hers, it’s a great way to reminisce.
- Look at photos, maybe even make a collage.
- Write a letter to your mom. Make it more conversational, like she is right there with you, because in a way, she is. What do I do with the letter, Nikki? Whatever you would like. If you have a box of cherished memories of your mom, out it there, you could even shred it up and place the letter in a potted flower. It would symbolize your words being a part of life. And when that flower has grown, you can put it near her headstone as a living letter to her.
- You could even stick the letter (folded and one page) in a potted flower. It would symbolize the living extension of your words. And when that flower has grown, you can place it near her headstone as a living letter to her.
Mother’s Day is just the day to say thanks to the woman who gave birth to you. I’m a mother everyday, but this is the day that my kids say, “Thank you” and show appreciation, so I take it any way I can get it lol! So don’t overthink it. Just enjoy the day and tell Mom “Thank you” because that’s what we are looking for…the acknowledgment. I hope this helped you some in deciding how to celebrate Mother’s Day during a pandemic. Have a Happy Mother’s Day!
