Tips for making Mother’s Day a success
Sleeping in high on the list for busy moms looking to feel pampered
What are the best presents partners and children can give moms for Mother's Day?
It seems a day off, letting her sleep in and giving her a break are the most popular choices.
When asking some Atlantic Canadian moms what they wished their partners would do for them for Mother's Day, the top suggestion that came up was to let them get a little extra rest.
“Let mom sleep in and take time for her self-care; whatever that looks like for that mom. And dad can do the cleaning for the day," says Courtney Toombs from P.E.I.
Summerside, P.e.i.-based Rochelle Colleen says her husband always lets her sleep in – and cooks her breakfast.
“It's the sleep for me," she says.
“Nap, let them nap,” says Jacqueline Sinyerd.
Turn off her alarm and let her catch a few extra hours of snooze time in the morning. If you can, leave a note on her nightstand and perhaps some hand-picked flowers and cook her breakfast when she wakes up. Sounds simple enough, but clearly, this would mean the world to some overworked moms.
A DAY OFF
Jackie Simm from Kennetcook, N.S., suggests that partners take the kids out for a day on Saturday and let moms be alone.
“Already have the major chores done and pick up after yourselves,” she adds, noting that it would be nice to have Mother's Day end with a home-cooked family meal.
Halifax-based mom Jessica Daley-wamboldt calls for a night away, alone. “Don't call 356 times, and pick up after yourselves while she's away," she says.
Melodie Taylor would like a day off.
“Do the things she does for a day, so she doesn't have to."
For P.E.I. mom Georgina Bassett, getting some extra help is a win on Mother's Day.
“Dads can organize and supervise breakfast in bed, lead the kids in cleaning the house, give the mom some alone time, prepare a meal, take the kids to buy flowers and encourage the mom to actually take the day off,” she says.
DO SOMETHING SPECIAL
While most moms only ask for a day off and more sleep, some moms said it would be nice if the special people in their lives put in some extra thought to making Mother's Day memorable.
Halifax-based mom Kristina Retfalvi suggests that partners could make a card or craft with the help of the kids and surprise her with it.
“Make her meals and cater to her for the day,” she adds.
Martha Hartling wants a trip to a saltwater beach, maybe the zoo and a picnic.
“Not made by her,” she's quick to add.
Natasha Leblanc says a spa day would be nice or a reservation at a nice restaurant for herself and a night at a hotel.
“All alone without kids or hubby!” she laughs.
Dayna Prime's daughter loves to give her gifts on Mother's Day.
“If my husband helped her make a card or colour a picture for me, it would mean a lot,” she shares. “She also loves to help cook so they could make me breakfast. Aside from that, I just enjoy spending the day with my husband and kiddos, and not having to cook supper.”
Jess Howe from Halifax admits that just about anything thoughtful that took an ounce of planning would be nice.
“We don't care what it is, we just want to know that it wasn't thrown together the night before,” she adds.
It would seem all moms need their own thing, and no one formula works for every mom. Doing something together as a family – without mom having to do any of the planning or organizing
– is often high on the list for moms.
Nichole Haan's husband cooks her whatever she wants for breakfast, even if it's a strange request, like barbecue.
“Then I love just spending time wandering around somewhere – the beach, flea markets, the waterfront, all weather-dependent of course,” she says.
Mahone Bay, N.s.-based mom Lyndsay Hiltz says the last thing she wants for Mother's Day is a day to herself.
“In our house, for Mother's and Father's Day, we make it all about our son. We're celebrating that he made us mom and dad,” she says.
The couple allows their son to choose what activities he wants to do – planned or not.
“We keep our phones off to be fully in the moment.”
Hiltz and her husband prefer to spend the time really appreciating what they have, how lucky they are, how much their son means to them and how he has shaped their lives.
“I never understood the time off from parenting to celebrate the fact that you're a parent," she says. "I appreciate the work, stress, and chaos that comes along with being a mom; that's what I signed up for. It's not supposed to be easy. It will be gone too fast, and I'll have the rest of my life for me."
Summerside, P.e.i.-based dad Wensel Harris thinks that it shouldn't take a special day like Mother's Day or Father's Day to show how much you care for one another.
“Try to do something every day – parents and children. It doesn't have to be something big,” he says.
“I appreciate the work, stress and chaos that comes along with being a mom; that’s what I signed up for. It’s not supposed to be easy. It will be gone too fast, and I’ll have the rest of my life for me.”
Lyndsay Hiltz