Want to make Mother’s Day special this year — but don’t have a ton of cash? No worries. It’s always the thought that counts, especially when it comes to your mom.
The best gift for mom on Mother’s Day depends on her personality and where she’s at in her mothering career. If Mom is an empty-nester, her favorite gift would likely be having all (or at least most) of the family together for the day. If you’re looking for ideas for your wife who is currently raising toddlers, some alone time might be what’s required.
Luckily, many moms’ wants and needs on this special day are pretty similar. Just take these three steps to create the perfect Mother’s Day for the mom in your life.
Step 1: Knock out the chores.
If there’s one thing moms have in common, it’s that ignoring dirty dishes and piles of laundry is difficult, at best. Sure, some active-duty moms learn to turn off their sensitivity to chores that have not yet been done — it’s a survival mechanism!
But, trust us, Mom will be able to relax much more on her special day if these things are taken care of. So take some time to tackle a few chores before Mother’s Day.
Not sure where to begin? Just ask! Most moms have one or two particular chores they can’t stand leaving undone. Make it a priority to get those chores out of the way first, and then go to town on the whole house.
If your mom is an empty-nester no longer struggling to keep up with mountains of laundry and piles of dishes, ask about long-neglected chores you could tackle. Maybe the gutters need cleaned, or her flower bed needs to be tilled for spring. Again, set aside some time to take care of those nagging chores she never has time to get to.
Step 2: Plan meals.
If you’re celebrating Mother’s Day with a mom in the middle of raising kids, allowing her to not worry about meals for one day can make a huge difference. And even moms who are past their child-rearing days enjoy letting someone else do the cooking, for once.
Either way, try to plan at least one or two special meals for Mother’s Day. If you can afford it, take Mom out on the town for dinner. If not, make her favorite meal from scratch — with the help of the kids, of course.
(Hint: If you do cook from scratch this weekend, be sure to clean up your own mess!)
Step 3: Carve out some special time.
Once the house is clean and the meals are planned, it’s time to take things up a notch. What would the mother in your life love most this Mother’s Day? A movie night at home, snuggled up on the couch with her favorite people? A backyard cookout with all the kids and grandkids? Or maybe she’d most like to have some time to herself before spending time with family?
Here are 20 creative and fun events you can plan for Mother’s Day:
1. Go on a family bike ride.
2. Take a walk around downtown.
3. Go out to dinner — but just eat dessert.
4. Have a picnic in the backyard.
5. Hang out at a local park. (Do the playground hovering so Mom can relax.)
6. Have a family reading or movie night.
7. Create a work of art together. (Pick up a big canvas and paint from a local craft store.)
8. Play kickball, soccer or baseball together.
9. Go to an affordable or free local museum.
10. Tell Mom all your favorite stories starring her.
11. Make homemade modeling clay, and create sculptures together.
12. Go thrift store shopping, and see who can find Mom the funniest gift for less than $5.
13. Make homemade pizza together, and serve her favorite wine.
14. Play board games together.
15. Go on a nature scavenger hunt at a local park.
16. Have a water balloon fight.
17. Relax on the porch together.
18. Set up an at-home spa day just for Mom (and then take off with the kids for a few hours).
19. Send Mom to the local coffee shop or library for some quiet time.
20. Surprise her with an unexpected visit from kids or grandkids.
For most moms, Mother’s Day isn’t about the gifts, though they can be nice (especially the homemade, from-the-heart kind). This day is more about relaxing and celebrating Mom for who she is and what she does for the whole family.
If you follow these three steps on Mother’s Day, you can’t go wrong, and you may not spend a dime! Whether you’re celebrating a mom well into grandmotherhood or a new mom of a newborn, you’ll make her day special.
More from U.S. News
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Your 3-Step Guide to a Special Mother’s Day originally appeared on usnews.com
