Dear Dads,
Write this down: Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10th. It probably goes without saying that after the events of 2020 moms should be recognized or better yet crowned with royal jewels. Most of us have taken on many new and challenging roles in the wake of a national crisis earning titles such as teacher, housemaid, full time cook, virtual assistant, work-from-home-mom and yard woman. All while being prisoner to own homes, unless you count going to the store once a week wearing a mask an “outing.”
Not all mothers fall into this category. There are the essential workers who are probably longing to be with their kids, but have been victim to the new rules about safety and social distancing. Which brings me to my next point. If your significant other is a health care worker, teacher, or other essential income earner, please do something extra special for her this year even if you have to be creative to show her how much you appreciate her.
All mothers have faced challenges in the last two months, and while this will not be a typical Mother’s Day filled with bottomless mimosas, family suppers or commemorating church services, it can still be special.
I polled a lot of moms to ask what they really want for Mother’s Day this year. The response was quite interesting being that I gave moms a choice of tangible or intangible things.
Here are some of the most popular requests:
- Someone to clean the house
- Someone to plan and cook meals
- Sleep!
- Time without the kids
- Gratitude
- Gifts that make them feel special
- Sweet treats in front of the TV
- Fun activities with friends
- Time with you
If your bride has been transparent with you and asked for something special, by all means get it for her! But if you need some inspiration here are some feasible ways to make the day special. Take notes.
Down Time
The biggest request this year is down time without responsibility. Many moms have confided in me that they feel that under this immense pressure, they have lost some very important things such as sense of self, control, and free time. To remedy this maybe you can take the kids out of the house for a few hours by taking them for a car ride or give her some personal space in a designated part of the house without interruption. Let her catch up on a marathon of This Is Us or paint her toenails that have been neglected since February. Allow her to go for a walk in the neighborhood without the double stroller. If she is sleep deprived, let her take a nap without disruption. Make a plan for the day to ensure she gets the down time she needs.
Fun Activities
Another major missing piece to this whole shelter in place mandate is that we miss our friends and normal activities. Since you can’t offer those things right now, how about making her a printable coupon book where she can redeem them at later date. Some ideas to include are: moms’ movie night out, Saturday morning coffee date, brewery tour or art museum ticket. You could go as far as buying a gift card to certain businesses so that she can redeem her coupon guilt-free. You could write her a coupon to one of these fun activities if she’s into food and beverage: ChattaBrew Tour, Chatttaste, Eat Sip Walk.
Time with You
For those of you who are out of town, quarantined or working crazy hours during this pandemic, think of a way to spend time together now or in the future. If alone time is not an option right now, give her a ticket to a fun outing or trip you can take later. Print a ticket to a one-night getaway at a bed and breakfast or a staycation to use when it’s safe for someone else to watch your kids. Get her a gift card to a nice restaurant and make a commitment to use it as soon as possible.
Gratitude
Although it’s impossible to know how she truly feels right now, you can still express your gratitude. One idea is to write a heartfelt letter that shows her how much you care and appreciate her selfless sacrifice. Another idea is to show her your appreciation by doing what she would normally do. Get up early with the kids and take on as much responsibility as you can manage. Cards are a nice gesture, but if you want to be really creative, consider buying a book such as this where you or your kids can write in it year after year. This way, she won’t have to keep up with the cards and artwork (just make sure you don’t misplace it!). If you cannot physically give her a card, check out website likes Greenvelope where you can send a beautiful e-card.
Gifts
Flowers and chocolate are great, but this year, make it extra special. If you traditionally bring home some flowers from the grocery store in plastic wrap, order a nice arrangement from a local florist. If she likes sweets, buy her something special and give her time to enjoy it alone or with the family — her choice. Don’t be surprised if she wants ice cream on the sofa while watching Little Women. Consider a nice gift basket from a local business (bonus: you can support those local businesses who are owned by moms). Here is a list of some places that are currently offering online orders, delivery or curbside pickup:
If she is into jewelry, you could get her a necklace or bracelet with the children’s names engraved onto it. If she has been walking outside more often, buy her a nice pair of tennis shoes or workout shorts that she may not normally buy. Or if she has been reading more, buy her an Amazon gift card to buy some new books. My favorite idea for moms that have been outside more often is to buy some bird watching equipment like bird feeders and houses! it is amazing how the simple things in our backyard can be so relaxing.
Gift Cards
Gift cards are always a hit and can be used anytime. Here are some ideas:
- Nail salons
- Hair salons
- Coffee houses
- Boutiques
- Spas
- Fitness studios
- Wine clubs
Don’t hesitate to ask her what she really wants. If she doesn’t know, offer to make a donation to a local business or family in her honor. We all know there are plenty of people who could use some generosity with the pandemic and catastrophic tornadoes.
So, dads, if you’ve made it to the end of this list you have plenty of time to plan accordingly. And just remember, Father’s Day is right around the corner!
