Celebrate the special woman in your life
Mother’s Day, Sunday May 8, is just 10 sleeps away, so think about how you can honour mum, or the special mother figure in your life.
Honouring mothers and motherhood is nothing new. Festivals honouring mothers in ancient times were often tied to gods and goddesses. In the Middle Ages, people would return to their home or ‘‘mother’’ church once a year during the middle of Lent.
In 16th-century England, this celebration became ‘‘Mothering Sunday.’’ Children – mainly daughters who had gone to work as domestic servants – would be given the day off on the fourth Sunday of Lent to return to their mothers and home parish. The eldest son or daughter would bring a ‘‘mothering cake’’ to share withy the entire family. Family reunions were the order of the day, with sons and daughters assuming all household duties and preparing a special dinner in honour of their mother.
Ways to celebrate in 2022
Offer garden services. If you’re local, help her in the garden for a day. If you’re not, buy a voucher for garden products or services. Decorate her front door or give flowers. If you’re nearby, surprise her by adorning her front door with streamers, special signs, a wreath, and flowers.
Cook for her. Breakfast in bed is always a classic and appreciated, whether simple toast or a croissant with jam or fruit, and a cup of coffee or tea. Alternatively, prepare a lovely brunch, lunch, high tea or dinner for her, either at her home or yours. If you don’t live locally, and can’t visit, gift her a foodie treat.
Ring her for a chat. Set aside some time for a long chat on the phone, or better still, a video chat so she can see you. You could go all out and rope in other family members for a group chat talent show!
Watch a movie or show together. If you’re all at home in one place, have a movie night, complete with theatre treats. If you’re in separate locations, watch the same movie at the same time. Or, start a marathon of your favourite TV series while indulging in a glass of wine or cup of tea. Netflix has a way to watch together online.
Make her a video, a music playlist, or a piece of art. Record a video from all of the children. They can each say ‘‘Happy Mother’s Day’’ and why they appreciate her. You can always splice videos together on your phone. Or if she loves music, make a playlist of her favourites. Arty? Create a special work of art; perhaps paint the outside of a terracotta flower pot and fill it with garden seeds and a card.
Go for a stroll in the park or organise a picnic. Fresh air always lifts the spirits and autumn is a wonderful time to visit a park with the leaves changing colour. Top it off with a simple picnic.
Make a homemade gift. Mothers love gifts from the heart. Think gifts from the kitchen (jam, herbal vinegar) or DIY beauty products (homemade soap).
Buy an extra-meaningful gift. Think about what she loves, but perhaps would never buy for herself. How about a gorgeous scarf, or a piece of jewellery with her favourite gemstone.
Travel virtually to a museum or garden. The wonders of technology make so much possible. Many museums are opening up their ‘‘walls’’ to offer virtual tours. Choose from the Louvre in Paris, or the Vatican in Rome, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. If she’s a garden lover, the famous Holland tulip farm Keukenhof has created a virtual tulip tour. Or visit Monet’s Gardens in France to see the waterlillies.