Mother’s day – a day of sentiment

Mothers are life-givers, nurturers, caretakers, protectors and the world’s biggest supporters of families. Mother’s Day is a day to honour and show our appreciation for the mothers and mother figures in our lives. And that includes stepmothers, grandmothers, aunties ‘next-door mums’ and ‘work-mums’; those fabulous female figures who have played a significant role in our lives. Mother’s Day is all about celebrating them and expressing gratitude for all they do for us.

How do I love thee

There are countless ways to show how much you love them. But remember, the purpose of Mother’s Day is to show respect and gratitude, not to spend a fortune. These fabulous women know you and care about you. They won’t be expecting expensive gifts and treats you can’t afford. All you have to do is keep within your means and give them something that shows your appreciation while making them happy.

In fact, expensive gifts and treats may just deliver the wrong message; one of extravagance and irresponsible spending. I think it’s safe to say that the mums in our lives do not appreciate generic gifts you zip out and buy as much as the small thoughtful gifts that are all about her or the gift of quality time together.

So, we’ve put together some ideas on finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift that will strike the right chord with your special wonder woman. We have suggestions for gifts that are meaningful, thoughtful, can be specially personalised and don’t break the bank.

Ways you can celebrate your wonder women on Mother’s Day

Take a load off your mum

This is her day, so do all the hard work that she normally does. Running a household is a huge job and chances are your mum does most of the organising and day-to-day slog. So, help out. You can involve the other members of the family, divide responsibilities, and do some of the hard work on that never-ending list of household jobs that need doing. You could weed the garden, clean out the gutters, clean the windows, clean the skirting boards, clean the kitchen drawers, wipe out the pantry, organise the linen cupboard, spring-clean the bathroom and laundry or plant out a new vegetable patch. And you can do all this while she goes for a walk, a massage or to see a movie.

Take her out for lunch or dinner

Everyone loves being taken out to wine and dine, and Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to do it. Why not go out with the whole family to celebrate? Well, restaurants can be very expensive, particularly for a group of people. So, why not surprise mum with a potluck meal at a house where she doesn’t have to organise anybody or anything, clean up beforehand and afterwards, or even drive? You could make it a potluck picnic lunch and if the weather is not good, hold the picnic on the lounge floor.

Give her some well-deserved R&R

Your mum may also appreciate some precious me-time. Time away from work, children, noise and everything that makes life hectic may be just what she has been hankering after. Whether that’s a walk on the beach or simply an afternoon to herself with a good book and a glass of wine, she may love nothing more than some peace and quiet. If that’s the case, then pick up the mess, pack up the family, leave out some treats and let her know you’re simply disappearing for a few hours.

Give her a handmade bouquet

In my experience, mums always love flowers, particularly on Mother’s Day. However, the price of flowers skyrockets at this time of year. So why not get the little people together and make your own paper bouquet for an extra special touch? There are loads of tutorials on YouTube ranging from simple to pretty fancy. You could get the team cracking and deliver the finished masterpiece to her doorstep, wherever your wonder woman lives.

Brunch in bed

It’s hard to go past brekkie in bed on Mother’s Day morning. Whether it’s toast with her favourite jam lovingly slathered on by the youngest member of the clan, or you get the whole family in the kitchen whipping up treats, there’s nothing like being woken up with a tray of breakfast delights. Remember though, the key to her enjoying it may well be you then shutting her door and leaving her to savour her breakfast and a cuppa in peace. Here’s a huge collection of Mother’s Day breakfast recipes to suit all sorts of wonder women.

Create a scrapbook or photobook

Gather some of your favourite photos together and create a scrapbook filled with memories. Add handwritten notes and captions to make it more personal. It could be a physical scrapbook or a digital one. There are usually some great deals on Grabone or shop around. You could even combine arts and crafts with a little research and a whole lot of quality time by spending the day telling your mum’s story as a family. Use old family photos, your mum’s own recollections and the internet and make a sort of life storybook. She’ll love getting to re-tell some of her favourite memories and you’ll love getting to know her even more.

Create a family recipe book

Again, this could be a physical book or a digital one. Ask around the family, particularly the older members, and put together all your mum’s favourites. I know many women who really cherish their own mother’s, aunties’ or grandmother’s recipes and this is a lovely heirloom gift.

Sort out her devices

Let’s face it: very few people over the age of 16 actually, truly enjoy mucking around and sorting out devices. So, take the time to set up your wonder mum’s laptop, phone or TV. Do the updates, sort out the apps, load streaming accounts and get all the technology in her life working properly. More importantly, show her how to use it and maybe write down some notes together so she has got

some understandable references. She’ll love you for it and chances are, she may even stop driving you bonkers!

Get out and about

If your wonder woman loves shows, concerts and events you can still do these things for free. Why not organise a great day out in the city for her? If you live in Auckland, here is a list of free events. Then, make sure she has some free time and set a date.

Mother’s Day is about gratitude, love, and respect

Many people assume Mother’s Day is just a made-up day for retailers to make money, but it goes back to 1908 when the daughter of American Ann Jarvis, who fought for sanitary accommodations for women in the Civil War, organised a church service to remember her mother on May 10, 1908, the anniversary of her death. It was a time to remember all mothers and has since turned into the Mother’s Day we know today: a time to celebrate the women who have nurtured and cared for us and to acknowledge all their hard work and sacrifices.

The woman who created Mother’s Day wanted us to thank our mothers, not spend a load of money we can ill afford. Mother’s Day was intended to be a heartfelt acknowledgment of what mothers mean to their families and to be a day of sentiment. So, instead of feeling bad because you haven’t got the money for an overpriced bunch of flowers, remind yourself that what most wonder women want is something that money can’t buy: appreciation and time. With a little creativity and effort, you can make it a memorable and meaningful day and show your mum how much you care, without blowing your budget.