COVID-19 has everyone’s sense of time turned upside-down. Here is a friendly reminder that Mother’s Day is right around the corner on Sunday, May 10th.
First, I want to quickly acknowledge what a difficult time this is for so many. Physically, emotionally, and financially. If you are currently suffering in any of these ways, please know that none of us are alone in this difficult time, and we are keeping you in our hearts and praying for better days. If you are currently facing financial strain, the first and last items on my list are free and heartfelt gifts you can give this Mother’s Day.
On an average day, being a mother is one of the most exhausting jobs. Add in a working from home without childcare (or selflessly showing up as an essential worker), homeschooling, cooking every meal, etc. mothers have never been stretched more thin. Here are some ways to treat the mother in your life to a little dose of love on this unique Mother’s Day.
The Gift of Not Mothering
Look, no one loves those babies more than she does but what many mothers really want, especially after being quarantined for two months with their kids, is the gift of a little alone time.
I know you can’t take the kids to the playground or to your parents house right now but if you can carve out a bit of time for mom to lock herself away somewhere in the house while you play in the yard or in another room so she can read, bathe, exercise, watch, sleep, or have a single uninterrupted thought, etc. she will be truly grateful.
If you can’t take the children outside, you can hook her up with earplugs to help block out some of that mom guilt she’ll inevitably feel while she attempts to focus on herself (seriously).
Now, on to the goodies.
Start Her Day Right
Moms need all the coffee these days. Keep her caffeinated in style with a cute mug. If you want to save her from microwaving her coffee ten times, try an insulated option like this Yeti mug.
Consider pairing her mug with a coffee or tea subscription like Atlas Coffee Club that will let her enjoy coffee from around the world.
Loungewear
Chances are Mom has been donning more sweats than jeans these days. Just because she is keeping comfy doesn’t mean she can’t feel cute. Gift her with some new loungewear to keep her feeling her best while homebound.
On a Budget
Splurge-Worthy
are the most comfortable things I own.
Bring the Spa Home
With nail salons and spas closed, we don’t feel as primped as we used to. Here are some ideas to bring the spa or nail salon home.
Face
When you hear face mask these days, you’re more likely to think of your last grocery store run than a day at the spa. Help mom restore her glow and reminisce on the good ol’ days with the kind of face mask that makes her feel pampered (not cautious).
Include a silicone applicator to make the experience feel a little closer to the real thing.
Nails
One of my go-to Mother’s Day treats is a mani/pedi at a nail salon. With that option off the table, here are some goodies to help mom elevate her at-home manicure.
Body
An aromatic scrub followed by a rich body butter pairs a taste of the islands with a spa-like experience from the the comfort of her own bathroom (if the kids can be kept away for 20 minutes that is…)
Feet
Foot peels are all the rage these days. Let mom soak away all those dry patches. (Caution, the peeling process takes a few days and while the end goal is nice and soft, the path there is a bit unsightly.)
DIY
And finally, if you really want to bring the spa home, gift her an aromatherapy eye pillow and a massage (no strings attached…)
Take Care of Dinner
The quarantine has us cooking approximately 2.3 million meals per week. I would take a risk and guess that less cooking and fewer dirty dishes are something Mom won’t miss.
Little sounds better to me than having a fully prepared, nutritious meal delivered straight to my door. Unlike Blue Apron, Freshly meals are fully prepared. Don’t get me wrong, I love Blue Apron but I don’t always love the hour it takes me to cook it. We have our first Freshly delivery scheduled for none other than Mother’s Day and I am pretty excited not to cook.
I will exercise caution by saying this may best be presented as a gift for the family lest your special lady feel as though you have gifted her the equivalent of a vacuum cleaner. If Freshly sounds like a nice break from the endless quarantine dishes, use this code for $20 off your first two orders.
Schedule a Front Steps Photoshoot
Photographers are getting creative with their business models and many have started taking pictures of families on their doorsteps (where a safe social distance can be maintained) to professionally document this unique time in life.
If you have ever had family photos taken, reach out to your photographer to see if you can hire them for this project. If you don’t know where to start, Google photographers in your area and take a look at their social media accounts or website to see if you like their style, then go ahead and reach out!
*While scheduling the photoshoot can be a nice surprise, make sure mom knows about your special plans before the shoot date so that she can change out of her new loungewear (if she wants to).
If You’re Looking to Splurge
It might sound extreme to say that Apple’s AirPods have changed my life but it is no exaggeration. They allow me to take phone calls, listen to podcasts and stream television while leaving one ear free to hear what kind of trouble my kids are getting into while I make dinner.
I have the regular AirPods (seen above) but my mom has the Apple AirPods Pro with active noise cancellation and swears by them.
The Nespresso DeLonghi Lattissima Plus is one of my most cherished possessions. We make 4+ drinks every day and this beauty is still brewing perfect cappuccinos seven years later. If the mom in your life is looking for an upgrade to her coffee routine, look no further.
My husband gifted me the Garmin Vívomove HR over a year ago. I love that it has the hands of a traditional watch but also monitors my steps and heart rate while alerting me to incoming calls and texts.
If Mom is into journaling, up her game with this Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer which uses bluetooth to print 2″x 3″ peel and stick photos directly from her phone.
The Most Important Gift for the Quarantined Mom: Acknowledgement
No matter your personal situation, each of us is facing our own unique circumstance and struggles during this unprecedented time.
If money is tight, one of the most important (and free) things you can give is your acknowledgment of her and everything she does not only during the heightened challenges of the pandemic but in every day life.
A great way to do this is to write your own heartfelt card, your own words of acknowledgement and love will be better than any Hallmark card.
Whether she is an essential worker, working from home, working to care for the family, etc., mothering is a huge undertaking.
Oh yeah, if she is an essential worker, please give her a shout out of gratitude from me. And if finances ever allow, buy her everything on her wishlist!
Truly, I want to thank every essential workers from the bottom of my heart for their courage and selflessness. Including my own sister, a mother and nurse, caring for COVID patients in NYC.
Finally, Happy Mother’s Day to every mother in the world! Biological, grand, step, adoptive, foster, surrogate, bereaved, hopeful, and all the shades between. I wish happiness and peace to you on this day.
And thank you to my two boys for bringing so much to my life, mothering isn’t always easy but it is always worth it.
