She put up with you as a smelly teen and supported you in all your moments of self-searching. Now, it’s time to return the favor. Not that you shouldn’t show your appreciation every other day of the year, but Mother’s Day is the one you probably don’t want to forget. After all, chances are she did her best not to drop the ball in all the years she spent raising you. Time to say thanks, Moms are the best, right?. Whether you’re thinking of your mom or the mother of your own kids. And just in case you forgot, Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 8, so here’s to not letting yourself get caught unawares!
Here are a few tips to show the moms in your life that you actually don’t take them for granted, even if it might seem that you all too often do below !
Do: Buy a dress, a cup and a card. That’s the absolute minimum, the basic trio. Women love clothes, for some reason, so if you show up with a pair of shoes or even roses, you’ll be on solid ground for the rest of the day. The clothes have to be fancy. Quality usually trumps quantity. And the card should be tasteful, not bought in a rush at the local drugstore.
Don’t: Be cynical. Yes, Mother’s Day is an invented holiday cooked up by the flowers and chocolate and card industries, and is one of the grand dames of Hallmark Holidays. So what? Your mother loves you. Even the most committed anarchist should love his mother back. If you must, make her a card, buy ethically grown, pesticide-free flowers and pick up some organic, non-GMO chocolate. Go ahead and Occupy Mother’s Day. Just don’t be a jerk about it.
Do: Treat her nicely the moment she wakes up. That means breakfast (in bed, if she’d like), letting her sleep in and getting the kids out of her hair. Croissants or pastries and coffee and juice would do fine. If she likes big breakfasts, make a big breakfast with all the trimmings: eggs, pancakes, crepes, fresh fruit… You know the drill, and it really isn’t complicated. Get the kids to help. Or, if they’re more of a hindrance than help, turn off your bad parenting hangups and turn on the TV for a while. The idea is to get her away from the children.
Don’t: Forget to follow through. Clean up the kitchen and be extra nice to her all day. It’s not Mother’s Morning, it’s Mother’s Day.
Do: Remember your own mother. She also gets the basic trio if possible, and a visit to her grandchildren if applicable. If you don’t have kids of your own, make sure you at least call her. Forgetting is inexcusable and makes you a bad son or daughter
Don’t: Assume that the mother of your kids is going to remember to make sure you remember to call your mother. She probably will remind you anyway, but your esteem will rise if you do it on your own. She also has a mother of her own and will be likely doing good daughter things. It’s expected you pull your own weight.
Do: Listen to what she wants. If she says she’d like the day to herself, give her the day to herself. If she’d like a nice brunch at a local restaurant, do that. A picnic with the family? Start making sandwiches and potato salad. If she asks for something more specific than the basic trio, it’s your job to make sure she gets is.
Don’t: Tell her you aren’t a mind-reader. If she says she doesn’t want anything special, the basic trio it is. But if there is something she really wants, figure out what it is. You aren’t stupid. Think ahead, and plan accordingly.
Do: Buy her a frivolous gift. Yes, you have the flowers, chocolates and card, but an extra something, will be appreciated. It can be expensive jewelry, but it can also be tickets to a show, a spa day gift certificate or whatever suits her taste.
Don’t: Buy her a practical gift. She will not appreciate a new mop, frying pan, apron or power tool. And while clothing may seem like a good option, it can be risky in the extreme. If you must, make sure you keep the receipt.
Do: Spend some money, but don’t go crazy probably has a vested interest in telling you how much to spend), but you can be generous without breaking the bank.
Don’t: Give her cash.
