BY NORBERT RUG
Sunday, May 12, 2019 is Mother’s Day. This holiday is celebrated every year to honor mothers and motherhood. In the United States, the observance of Mother’s Day started early in the 20th century.
Mother’s Day is one of the most active holidays for phone calls, and Father’s Day is the busiest day for collect calls. Typically, 30% more is spent on Mother’s Day gifts than on Father’s Day gifts reports the Wall Street Journal.
Mother’s Day is also the most popular day of the year to dine out in the United States with almost 40% of consumers doing so according to http://www.restaurant.org. Accordingly, it is also the busiest day of the year for KFC according to Chris Fuhrmeister on http://www.eater.com.
You may be at a loss what to get for Mom and around this time of the year lists come out filled with jewelry, appliances and other high cost items to give her. It doesn’t take a whole lot of money to show Mom you appreciate all she has done for you though.
Sometimes, presents for your Mom that involve just a little work are much more effective than big expensive ones. Pop some popcorn and dim the lights. Grab a copy of a movie she loves, her favorite liquid beverage, and a box of Kleenex (if needed) and have a “Watch Party” with her. Make sure she knows that you will clean up afterwards, that way she will be able to relax.
Your mother might be thankful for some help. Depending on her abilities she might welcome it if you vacuumed her carpets or did some yard work for her. Spend the whole day doing the laundry or trimming the hedges for her. Giving her the gift of your time is irreplaceable.
Take her a hanging plant and hang it for her. Every time she sees it she will be reminded of how much you love her. Don’t forget to stop back in the fall before the snow flies to take it down so it isn’t there all winter.
If your mother drives, take her vehicle and have it washed and detail the interior to get rid of all the debris and trash that has accumulated over the winter. You can get a “New Car” deodorizer for about $6.00 and get her ride looking and smelling like new.
Take your mother grocery shopping. She most likely does this by herself and would probably enjoy the company. When you are done, pay for her food too.
If she likes to walk, go for one with her. This will give you a chance to chat with her and catch up. Speaking of chatting with her, if you and your mother live a distance apart and you can’t go see her, she would probably appreciate a phone call. If your mother has a computer with a camera, you can video chat using Skype or even Facebook. You can also video chat with a Kindle using JusTalk among other programs.
Gift cards are always appreciated. You can get them from the grocery where she buys her food at, a favorite restaurant, a clothing store or the coffee shop that she goes to. You can also get a debit card from your credit card company or your local bank.
Cut out paper hearts and hide them around her house. My granddaughter did this and I think we are still finding them. Tuck them into a mirror frame, the front of the TV or in a cupboard. When she finds them, it will remind you of how much you love them.
Cook a meal for her. This is especially helpful if she lives alone. Older women are prone to be two times more likely than men to live alone. Many times when they cook a meal they have to eat it for 3 or 4 days. By taking over a meal, your mom will have someone to chat with while she eats. When the meal is done, wash the dirty dishes for her.
Take her out for ice cream for dessert. She might just enjoy a hot fudge sundae. I have a suggestion that is out of the box though, if they have soft serve and a “Flavor of the Week” like raspberry, cherry or pistachio, these make an excellent hot fudge sundae.
If you are good with words, write her a poem and frame it. This is a gift from the heart. If you don’t have a frame, I suggest the dollar store because they always have simple frames available for just $1.
Give Mom your Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon Prime account password. This is free for you since you’re already paying for your subscription and you’re usually allowed to add someone to your account. So, why not let mom enjoy it? Bonus points if you set it up for her, too!
But honestly, the most priceless gift that you can give the woman who has devoted so much of her life to raising and nurturing you doesn’t cost a penny. An uninterrupted visit is something only you can give your mother. So shut off your cell phone and go see the person who raised you.
Norb is a freelance journalist from Lockport.
Be the first to comment