Being is a mom is one of the most extraordinary yet exhausting callings in the world. Dr. Bill says, “What a baby needs most is a happy, rested mother.” Easier said than done right? For loved ones reading this (ladies, let us make a pact to send to all your friends’ husbands and older kids.) This Mother’s Day is the perfect time to help your beautiful mama feel happy, rested and loved. Most moms out there will agree that they want two things on their special day, to feel loved and to get some rest! And feeling loved by spending quality family time and getting rest by taking a “mommy time out” from the normal household duties.
While you can never go wrong with the classic flowers, chocolate, or jewelry, keep it simple and thoughtful. Here are some more ideas for ways to honor mom while at home or practicing appropriate social distancing.
Quality family time and thoughtful gifts:
- Her favorite coffee ready first thing in the morning.
- Homemade cards
- Backyard picnic brunch
- Make a “why I love mom list”
- Wash her car
- Family hike (have everything planned for her)
- Use sidewalk chalk to write messages to her around your property for her to find throughout the day
- Make the kitchen a “mom-free zone”
- Order take out from her favorite restaurant
- Stage a beautiful dinner date night for Mom and Dad. Have older kids cook and serve
- Backyard campfire with s’mores. Have everyone go around and say three things they love about Mom
Ways to help her feel rested:
- A one-hour kid free bubble bath
- Order an at home facial for her to enjoy
- Dad take the kids out for a nice long walk while she naps (this may be the most requested item!)
- An IOU for childcare while she goes to her favorite day spa
- Dad/older kids set up a nice family picture
- Plant her favorite flowers/plants for her
- A pledge for a “day with no sibling arguments”
- A NAP (thought that needed to be in there twice)
Martha is the mother of Dr. Bill’s eight children, a registered nurse, a former childbirth educator, a La Leche League leader, and a lactation consultant. Martha is the co-author of 25 parenting books and is a popular lecturer and media guest drawing on her 18 years of breastfeeding experience with her eight children (including Stephen with Down Syndrome and Lauren, her adopted daughter). Martha speaks frequently at national parenting conferences and is noted for her advice on how to handle the most common problems facing today’s mothers with their changing lifestyles. Martha is able to connect with both full-time, stay-at-home mothers and working mothers because she herself has experienced both styles of parenting. Martha takes great pride in referring to herself as a “professional mother” and one of her favorite quips when someone voices their concern about her having eight children in an already populated world is: “The world needs my children.”