Ah, it’s that time of year again, another Mother’s Day is just around the corner. After this reminder, my family and I decided to delve into the fascinating world of this special day and explore the diverse timing of its celebration across the globe. We wholeheartedly embrace the idea of celebrating every Mother’s Day because, let’s be honest, mothers, mums, and moms are the true pillars of our world.
Whether the mother you’re honoring is still in the midst of diaper changes, taught you to swim, or has been navigating the complex waters of homeschooling while balancing office work and three daily meals, one thing is certain – she could use a well-deserved break. Now is the perfect moment to treat her to a luxurious experience and express our deep appreciation, and we’ve got you covered.
This year, we finally have the option to go out and celebrate. Although I must admit, I quite enjoyed the last few years of savoring breakfast in bed and receiving homemade spa treatments crafted by my children during the pandemic. Having my name spelled out in cookies for a delightful afternoon tea was certainly one of the pandemic highlights of my Mother’s Day lunch.
Dear dads and children, please take note: There’s no better way to say ‘I Love You’ than with a thoughtful combination of chocolates and flowers! (Moms, you can discreetly share this link with dad as a gentle, or not so subtle, hint for your special day.)
Why Is Mother’s Day Celebrated At Different Times Around The World?
After some extensive research, it’s still a bit of a mystery to us! While we can’t definitively say it’s all a product of Hallmark’s marketing strategies, it remains an enigma, no doubt.
What we do know is that in several countries, such as Australia, Canada, and the United States, Mother’s Day is consistently celebrated on the second Sunday in May, making it almost akin to an ‘International Mother’s Day.’ However, in numerous other countries, it’s observed at entirely different times of the year. Here in Thailand, for instance, Mother’s Day, or “Wan Mae,” aligns with the Queen’s birthday on the 12th of August each year. In the UK and Ireland, Mother’s Day takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month of Lent, which creates a shifting date, making it a bit of a challenge for the less organized dads, I must admit!
Regardless of the time of year or how it’s observed, the sentiment remains the same across the globe, with children paying tribute and expressing their heartfelt gratitude to their mothers.
Just Let Her Sleep
Having spoken to numerous co-workers and fellow mothers about their Mother’s Day wishes, it turns out that the simplest and most cost-effective gift is also the most cherished: the gift of rest. Be it an additional hour in bed or, in my own household, an entire morning of uninterrupted sleep, this is, undoubtedly, the most popular request!
Home Made Treasures
Reflecting on the years gone by, I’ve come to realize that some of my dearest treasures were crafted with love from an assortment of odds and ends, sequins, stickers, and handmade cards. Creating a gift for mom is a joy that all children relish. It’s a testament to their eagerness to please their parents, evident in the hundreds of paintings and drawings adorning every mom’s fridge or office whiteboard.
So, why not encourage the little ones to unleash their creativity with colored paper, glue, sequins, and images of mom? From footprint cards to paper flower pots and bouquets, the possibilities are limitless. Some of the most cherished handmade Mother’s Day gifts that find a special place in every mom’s treasure trove are those created with finger paints or assembled from plastic containers and pasta pieces.
Additionally, another splendid homemade gift idea could involve pampering mom with an at-home spa experience. Picture it: pink, sparkling toes, a soothing head massage, all while her favorite candle burns in the background.
Looking back over the years, some of my most precious treasures have been made with loving care from bits and pieces, sequins and stickers and hand made cards. Making a gift for Mom is something all kids love to do. All kids just want to please their parents, hence, the 100s of paintings and drawings that cover each Mom’s fridge or office whiteboard.
Get the kids busy with coloured paper, glue, sequins, pictures of Mom and let them be individually creative. From footprint cards to paper flower pots and bouquets, the options are endless. Some of the best hand made mother’s day gifts that are lovingly stored in all Moms’ treasure boxes are painted with fingers or made from plastic pots and pieces of pasta.
Another great home made gift idea could be to set up a home spa for Mom giving her pink sparkly toes and a nice head massage while burning her beloved candle.
Take Over The Kitchen
Another great gift for Mum is to take over the kitchen. You could surprise her with breakfast in bed made up of special treats or arrange a special lunch or dinner and get the whole family involved. A nice idea is for younger kids to plan the menus with older kids, helping create a special Menu card that Mum can keep.
Try setting the table with candles and flower petals and even if it’s just her favourite take away pizza, there are so many ways you can help to make this day special. One of my best memories was coming home from walking the dog to find paper hearts leading into the family room and a cup of my favourite coffee and a heart shaped sandwich waiting for me – perfect!
Always Consider Chocolate!
What’s not to like about chocolate? It just ticks so many boxes, it tastes good, it smells good and makes us feel good even 1 bite in! If you want to keep Mum in a good mood all day, what better gift than promoting her feel-good neurotransmitters with a box of chocolates!
For something more home made, the older and more creative kids could consider making their own chocolate brownies or chocolate protein balls made up of Mum’s favourite dried fruits and nuts all bound together with dark chocolate. Little kids can help make and decorate cup cakes or heart shaped pancakes, naturally with a little chocolate on the side!
Another option is to let the kids do chores all week and reward them with small amounts of money to put towards paying for their own chocolate gift for Mum. Kids love to be helpful around the house (pre-teen that is!) and this allows them to take a little responsibility for how much they earn versus how much they can spend. It’s also a good life lesson to show kids that how hard they work and how much effort they put in, equates to how many pennies they collect!
Never Forget Flowers
There is nothing better, at any time of year, or basically ever than getting a surprise bouquet of flowers delivered to your doorstep. From fabulous flower bouquets to beautiful potted orchids or just order loose flowers and let the kids make them into cute little posies. As any good florist knows, nothing says I love you more than flowers – well, maybe chocolate, too.
Dads, see below for some online florists for your chance to score some major brownie points!
