A Look Ahead to Mother's Day, from Mom's Perspective

Mother’s Day, coming up next Sunday, May 8, falls into that mid-range holiday category, like Valentine’s Day.  Shouldn’t every day be filled with love and respect for the overworking, underappreciated woman running our families? Yes, yes it should. But since we get a national day to bask in our children's last-minute preparations and opt out of cooking and dishes, we’ll take it.

Like Valentine’s Day, it’s also another pressure-filled day of anticipation and possible disappointment.  Moms, how many times have you spent Mother’s Day standing in line, or facing a crowd, tension growing and watching your children’s behavior spiral out of control as you are trying to enjoy the supposed perfection of this day? 

And why are you stuck scolding and parenting and pulling your hair out on a day meant to honor your greatness? 

And who woke me up before 9 a.m. on Mother’s Day?! 

And why can’t someone make me my favorite meal on this one single day of the year!?! 

Enough about me, you get my point.

As a mom, I know a lot of moms.  We tend to bond – go figure.  As we’re all in the trenches of motherhood together, it’s easier to hang with others who know the drill and routine.  So anticipating this Mother’s Day, I asked my mom friends on Facebook to fill in the blank: All I want for Mother’s Day is __________...

The answers ranged from simple to considerable yet all were honestly real.  You can’t get a better idea of what moms want than by them actually telling you.  And they will tell you, if only you’d listen.

Audrey, a mother of two, is asking for “sleep,” as did Elissa and Elizabeth. 

Some want home repair like Carla, a mother of one teething toddler who just wants “a built in microwave”; and in the same ball field, Shelley is dreaming of “unlimited amounts of money to make my kitchen and yard beautiful.” 

Brandy, mother of five, answers “a clean house” while Briana would settle for “two hours to run around Greenlake, then get a cup of coffee.”  

Alesia is simply asking for a day with her family together.

Although these things are noticeably unromantic, it’s the thought and work behind it which is so attractive.  Goes a lot farther than flowers, no?

Instead of the standard handmade card and grocery store flowers – as thoughtful and well-planned as they could possibly be on the night before, I’m calling out all you husbands and families to make this year a day to remember.  Aside from the hundreds of gift and craft ideas for inspiration on the Internet, I’ll simply list a few, easy, inexpensive ideas to help you all on your way.

Time: This one is perhaps the easiest.  Time doesn’t have to cost anything yet goes so far.  Ask any mom and she’ll tell you that a day to herself can be rejuvenating.  This might mean you cleaning the house and then taking the kids out for the day so mom can enjoy lounging around her home, or arming mom with a few gift certificates to encourage a day out - alone.  A coffee, restaurant and favorite store giftcard can be a fun and creative way to personalize her day.  (Psst!  And surprise her with a clean house when she returns!)

Family: Some of us moms really do want that special time together as a family unit.  Many places celebrate mom on this special day.  Consider a breakfast out and then a trip to visit an outdoor garden or the zoo.  Tacoma Parks has a great list of gardens to consider and Point Defiance Zoo is offering half-price the Saturday before.  

Getaways: Day trips might be the easiest to arrange for a family and on a budget, but a weekend away might work too.  Washington and the Pacific Coast have several easy getaways within a three-hour drive.  Indulge mom’s Twilight appreciation with a day trip to Forks or hit the final days of LaConner’s tulips.  Highway 101 makes for a fun weekend trip and will take you to the sandy Oregon beaches of Gearhart, Seaside and beyond.

Pampering: Serene Day Spa, Shine Salon & Spa, Dolce Vita Day Spa among others are all local places of pampering with regular specials and a vast variety of treatments ranging from facials to nail care and massage services that can last half the day.  And while mom is gone, create a fun surprise with the kids.  (Psst!  And clean the house before she gets back.  Notice a trend here?)

Flowers: Windmill Gardens’ beautiful nursery and garden store offers hundreds of ideas for a gardener in your life.  Consider a plant or tools which will last longer than a cut arrangement and allow mom to remember its sentiment.  Buckley Nursery Garden Center also offers a wide range of trees, shrubs and plants.  If you choose a cut arrangement, consider something a little more unusual and surprising like the Uptown Bouquet from Young’s Enumclaw Flowers and Gifts.

No matter what you choose, mom is going to notice the thought and effort involved and will be most happy with the time and considerations spent by her family. 

And if all else fails, there’s always shoes.