Mother’s Day Ideas for Busy Moms Who Need a Real Break
Considering the way this Mother’s Day has begun for myself and I’m sure for many other moms around the world, I thought I’d share a few thoughts. If you are unsure what the mother you know really wants today, let me tell you. This mom would love to have Mother’s Day off – from mothering.
My day today started like many others, but it has been a little rougher than some. My little guy is really struggling with his teeth this morning and we have been up since 5. One of my friends, a single mom of 3, has been up all night with at least one sick child.
In order to stay sane through the trials this morning, I have decided to adopt a humorous approach. I see Mother’s Day this year not as a day for rest or celebration. It is an opportunity to reaffirm my dedication to motherhood. Today, I choose to be the mother my son needs. This is different from the mom I would like to be. Motherhood is about learning to go with the flow.
The good news is, you can choose to pull up a canoe and paddle alongside her today. Just having someone to help navigate the meltdown rapids can make this day one to remember. Seeing the humor in the capsizing moments also helps.
The Gap Between Gifts & What Mom Really Needs
We should take a moment to actually see what Mom wants. By doing so, we would discover that most purchased gifts are about us feeling that we have recognized our mothers. Its usually a lot less about getting them the thing they really needed or wanted.
Flowers are beautiful, but they don’t get the dishes washed. Cute little quotes printed on signs are adorable, but they don’t feed the family. Books about motherhood are useful, but they don’t finish the laundry.
Moms, for the most part, love what they are given. They are appreciative and gracious in their acceptance of anything offered in honor of the day. You know what they are doing in that moment? Mothering. Loving whatever is offered and seeing the intent behind it, no matter what it is or what she really could have used..
Motherhood is beautiful, joyful, and hilarious. It is also exhausting, mostly thankless, and messy. It is non-stop and feels never-ending at times.
So the question is, what would the mom in your life really love for Mother’s Day?
She would probably like to be able to put her feet up for a minute. She would most likely love not to make dinner today. Perhaps she would enjoy not having to clean the kitchen after the young ones made her breakfast. Possibly, she would really appreciate not having to do it all again today.
12 Ways to Lighten a Mom’s Load This Mother’s Day
If you aren’t sure what to do to show her you care, here are a few Mother’s Day ideas for busy moms who probably aren’t getting a break:
- Feed and care for yourself today. If you are working, pack your own lunch or buy it. If you are home, go fetch food or make your own. Do what you can today to not add your needs to her list of priorities.
- Be a house fairy. There is no need to offer, just do one little thing you have noticed she usually does. Not having to fill the dishwasher today can be life-changing. Realizing that someone has already wiped down the kitchen counters is a relief.
- Handle the morning chaos. If you are able to be home and you have small ones, get up with the kids before she has a chance to. Take them to breakfast to keep them busy and return them home fed! She will love having a morning to get up when she’s ready.
- Leave her a love note. Write a few things you love about her on sticky notes and post them around the house for her to find. She will probably find them long after the day is over, but it will be exactly the smile she needed just when it means the most.
- Give her the gift of solitude. Take the kids to the park and leave mom at home to relax. She might get bored (or she might get 300 things done), but one of the best gifts you can give a momma is some time to herself.
- Simplify mealtime. Bring home pizza or cook a few simple grilled cheese sandwiches, minimizing cooking and cleanup time. Believe it or not, eating out (at least with small kids) is often more stressful for mom than just staying home.
- Give her a solo escape. Offer to watch the kids while she goes out of the house, alone, to do whatever she’d like for an hour or so. She loves her kids, but for one day it might be nice if she didn’t have to be “Mom” every single second.
- Clean while she’s out. Send her to the grocery store (alone!) and give the house a quick clean while she’s gone. She will return to exclaim in delight, even if all you managed was to sweep the kitchen.
- Tackle the car. Vacuum her vehicle and clean the carseat(s). This might not be something you think is on her list, but I assure you, it is. It’s a monumental task that always lingers near the bottom of the list.
- Stay home. If she has small children, don’t subject her to a day of running around to visit your mother, her mother, or any other mother… unless she begs you to. There is nothing more exhausting than honoring people who used to do your job while you are literally on that job.
- Take full ownership. Take over the care of the children for the day. Dress, feed, and change them. Do all the mundane daily maintenance of the small humans so she can have at least one day this year that she didn’t change every diaper and feed them every meal.
- Watch and listen. Above all, what a mother appreciates most is being seen and heard. If you want to know how you can show her you care, anticipate her needs and help without having to be asked.
Take things off her to-do list without adding to it, and she will truly feel loved.
Buy less; show and tell more—just like we did when we were children and had no bank account. 😉