Mums.
They really are the unsung heroes of every family, no matter how big or small your family unit is. They are the ones who make the world a better place, they love you, take care of you, and sacrifice for you.
Make the most of Mother’s Day - it's a special day that honours and celebrates the hard work and dedication of mothers all around the world. It is a day to recognise their unique qualities and show our appreciation for everything they do for us.
Do you know the significance of Mother’s Day?
It isn't just a celebration that dates back to ancient civilisations where the ancient Greeks and Romans honoured their mother goddesses, Rhea and Cybele.
In the early 20th century, Anna Jarvis, an American woman, campaigned for a national holiday to honour mothers. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Roll forward ten years to 1924 and you'll find after the terrible losses of the first world war, Australia's first Mother's Day was held. Janet Heyden, a Sydney woman regularly visited a friend at Newington State Hospital and noticed the significant number of lonely older mothers - a lot of whom had lost their children or husbands in WW1. She campaigned for gifts to be given to these ladies from local businesses and schools and thus, Australia's Mother's Day was born.
Mother’s Day reminds us of the importance of mothers in our lives. It is a day to acknowledge the unconditional care, love and support given freely to us by our Mums. We honour their hard work, patience, kindness and strength in raising us. We show our gratitude for all they have done for us.
Not one mother is the same as another, and we should recognise their individuality and distinct qualities. Some mothers are strong and independent, while others are nurturing and caring. Some mothers are creative and artistic, while others are analytical and logical. No matter what qualities our mothers possess, it is essential to not only recognise their uniqueness but celebrate it. What better time to do this than on Mother's Day?
How do you recognise the uniqueness of your mother? Spend quality time with them. Ask them about their dreams, interests, and passions. Ask them about their life experiences and how they became the person they are today. Listen to their stories and experiences. I guarantee, if nothing else, you will gain a deeper understanding of your mother and just may garner a little more respect for them along the way.
Mother’s Day is a perfectly wonderful opportunity to show our appreciation for everything our mothers do for us.
We can show our gratitude by giving them thoughtful gifts, such as flowers, cards, or personalised gifts. We can also plan a special outing or activity, such as a breakfast, lunch or dinner out or a spa day. We can give the gift of memories - brought to life with old photo's or by arranging for new family photo's. Aroma's, such as fragrant candles or perfumes can evoke old memories while new memories can build and have strong associations to scent.
Probably one of my most favourite tokens of appreciation is to do something special for our mothers. To put in some effort!
The thing is - there are lots of people who say unless you're doing it yourself, it's meaningless. Let's just think about that for a minute... I am certainly not a plumber, and while I could watch a few YouTube videos about changing some tap washers and give it a red hot go, the fact remains that my time and my Mum's sanity are probably best preserved by organising a plumber.
The simple truth is this, - whether you are doing it directly or organising for it to happen, it is being done. Great, if you are able to physically do it (and you know what you are doing!) Your Mum wouldn't want you to be stressed out doing something for her, and these days - well, it seems we are all busy and scrambling for time, so don't feel bad for not doing it personally. Be proud of yourself for organising it to be done.
Some Mother's may not realise how hectic your life is, what your skills are or just what you have on your plate, so it is probably a nice idea to explain why you have organised something to be done.
It's very easy to upset someone even with the best of intentions, but explaining yourself from the outset can go a long way. Sticking with the plumbing example, someone could have found it offensive - they might think you don't think they are capable of arranging someone, or they may not want a stranger in the house. So to bypass any misunderstandings, be clear about what you organised or are doing and why. You don't need to be dramatic, or overly detailed but you do need to be clear.
Something like "Mum, I wanted to make your life easy and do a little something, and I know it's something you could have easily done, but I have arranged for a plumber to service your taps and replace any washers. It's not something that I know a lot about doing and I have a lot going on at the moment, but if you and the Plumber can fit in to my schedule I can even be there when they are!"
Voila - you have let them know they are capable, you want to do something, but you want it done properly. You are busy, but you want to be there for them. A little love really does go a long, long way!
Here are some ideas that you can do yourself or organise to have it done for them:
- prepare their favourite meal, get their favourite takeaway or take them to their favourite restaurant
- clean the house, or their favourite part of the house
- if they enjoy spending time in the kitchen - think about something for the kitchen
- tidy their garden, or even just offer to trim a plant, weed a garden bed or do the edges
- buy a pot plant or a larger shrub or tree that will grow for many years and form a perfect reminder
- take them to a show, visit an art museum, or walk with them through their favourite parts of town
- put some time aside to watch their favourite movie or TV series with them. If you can't physically be there - you can watch at the same time using a party streaming service - it's native with providers like Netflix, Hulu, Prime, Disney+ as long as you have accounts. For a solution that lets you have a chat session as well as up to 10 people in a session look at Scener - it's free but everyone has to have an account.
- write a special note to them reliving one of your dearest memories, it could be when your Mum has helped you, or a time you both enjoyed together. If you're memory is a little fuzzy on the details, concentrate on describing the emotions you felt
It's a fact - we can't all be great accountants, doctors, cooks, gardeners, or cleaners, but by making the effort, by doing something special for our mothers, we can show them how much we care and appreciate everything they have done and continue to do for us.
Finally - never under estimate the power of a lovely cuppa in bed - tea, coffee or hot chocolate, or simply spending time with them - it really is the thought that counts 😊
Mother's are forever, we carry them with us even when they aren't!