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Mothers Day presents occupy our thoughts these days. Or soon will.
Mother’s Day is just a few weeks away, right? Are you ready for Mom’s festivities? Still considering your Mothers Day presents?
What! Haven’t even begun yet?
Well, there’s the familiar bouquet of flowers or a lovely potted plant. Or a selection of luxury beauty products or a box of her favorite chocolates. If you’re more ambitious, there’s breakfast in bed. Or you can prepare a beautiful luncheon. (And really, don’t let Mom do the cooking!) Or take her out to a nice restaurant for brunch or take a trip to visit her favorite scenic spot.
If those ideas don’t ring a bell for your Mothers Day presents, here’s my very favorite suggestion. Let’s honor our Moms with Mothers Day parties! If the weather cooperates, host a picnic at home, the beach, or a nearby park. Or maybe arrange a family get-together for your own home-cooked dinner, with Mom’s favorite dessert!
When you were younger, how many parties did Mom give you? For every birthday, holiday, graduation, anniversary, or any special day? Lose count? Well, you’ll love paying one of them back, and she’ll be so pleased.
I recently wrote about planning wedding music or cocktail party music, how to plan a Mardi Gras party or any last-minute get-together. To my mind, the basic steps are all the same, just the details change. Today’s topic is similar — it’s easy to host parties as Mothers Day presents.
Begin by listing all of Mom’s favorite things — food and drinks, music, flowers, costumes, decor, party favors, singing and dancing — everything you can imagine. Create a way to include each one in the celebration. Then create a timeline, and tackle each item, one by one. Track your results, to monitor your progress.
Truly memorable Mothers Day parties needn’t be complicated, but the more elaborate your design, the more you’ll need help. Be sure to ask, and get people involved. That’s half the fun!
Finally, a few more ideas: Have each guest prepare a very special toast. Use one of Mom’s favorite subjects as your party’s theme — like rock music, a movie or TV program, Disneyland, scrapbooking, or gardening. Can someone prepare a PowerPoint slide show? Invite some of Mom’s special personal friends, and include a surprise or two. What Mothers Day presents they will be!
The nicest gift you’ll give Mom, and your entire family, is the precious time you’ll devote to creating Mothers Day presents. What presents will you be giving?
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Thanks for the reminder Robbie. Love all your ideas. The other day my mom sent me a text that said, “There are some days that I miss u so much like today. Luv u.” I was so touched by that…You gotta love your mom. I think one of my favorite things that I gave my mom is when I created her a gift basked with all her favorite things and then I included one of my favorite books I thought she might like.
Alara K. Castell
Your Sassy Spiritual Guide
Hi Alara,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! That gift basket you described sounds PERFECT — a sure winner! Besides your favorite book, remember what else you included?
Robbie
I love this idea – paying back all the parties she organized, prepared for, hosted and cleaned up after. Sweet.
Hi Kerry,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! We’re not really keeping score, are we? But isn’t it about time to repay the favors?
Robbie
This is a sweet idea for the right family. My mother would have hated this, but she just was not a festivities kind of person!! I love acknowledging the people in my life who are mothers. Even though Mother’s Day can fall into the pit of commercialism, I think our genuine feelings make it a meaningful experience for the people in our lives.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com/blog/
My cat owns me, my clutter stymies me, my writing frees me. Word maven loves—and learns from—ordinary life.
Hi Judy,
Thanks for your nice comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! BTW, I agree with you, that over-commercialization can taint everything, including Mother’s Day. However, with some care we can make celebrating the day an experience that pleases everyone’s genuine feelings.
Robbie
I had trouble with the video, Robbie, which was disappointing. Perhaps just me or you might want to check out. But I certainly got the spirit of your sharing from the blog. How refreshing to see a man talking about a party for Mom with such enthusiasm and consideration. I hope you’ve planted some seeds that will grow in the hearts of those who are ready to celebrate their mothers in a festive and honoring way.
Hi Maridel,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! BTW, I checked the video and it seems to be working fine over here. Hope you’ll manage to catch it one of these days. When you do, please let me know. And of course I’m enthusiastic. I know a lot about parties — enough to help make them wonderful.
Robbie
I actually think devoting the day to my Mother in person is the greatest gift. This involves my time, efforts to make or take her a lovely meal, and doing something together that she wants to do…movie, shopping, beach, her choice. In our family it’s always been about our time rather then things. She taught us well!
Hi Irene,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! BTW, I completely agree with your mother’s suggestion. It’s the time you devote, not the things you give, that make your gift precious..
Robbie
Since my mom is out-of-state and we don’t see her often enough, she enjoys photographs of her precious granddaughter. This year I’m printing a tri-fold card with some high-light pictures throughout the last year. For myself, I don’t feel I want or need presents – instead for the last few years I’ve opted for experiences. I love the beach, so last year I asked to go to Capitola and Santa Cruz (I made Mother’s Day into a weekend!) Not sure what I’ll be requesting this year…
Hi Pat,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! BTW, making Mother’s Day into a weekend celebration is a wonderful idea. Thanks for the suggestion. One more for my collection. Here’s one for you: A scrapbook of memorable Mother’s Days.
Robbie
how wonderful an idea! I wonder if I can get my mom out here for Mother’s Day and throw her a party .. my daughter and son would be MOST delighted with it! Thansk for the great idea. Loved the video as well.
Yvonne Hall
http://www.facebook.com/wildforwildtree
Hi Yvonne,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! BTW, any time’s the right time for a party, right? So go for it, and tell me how it worked out.
Robbie
I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to plan these things, right now, I’m still the one to plan the celebrations 🙂 Thank you for the suggestions!
Brandy Mychals
Speaker, Author, Communications Coach
Creator of the Character Code System
Hi Brandy,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you enjoy a great one! BTW, you realize, don’t you, that this is your chance to set an example for the gifts your daughter will plan for you. She learns from EVERYTHING you do, so prepare for some great gifts in a few years.
Robbie
I get the feeling that Mother’s Day is celebrated in a much bigger way over your side of the pond. Our Mother’s Day was last Sunday and I got breakfast cooked for me by my eldest son and 2 bunches of flowers which was lovely.
Fiona Stolze
Inspired Art and Living
http://fionastolze.com
Hi Fiona,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and it sounds like you enjoyed a great one! A gift of a special breakfast and bunches of flowers, now that would make ANY day stand out from the rest. I guess a massive celebration isn’t necessary to make a day remarkable, huh? Often the smallest gestures seem to be the most telling, and that’s what counts most, after all.
Robbie
Hi Robbie. Thanks for the reminder that Mom organized so many parties for us, it is only fair to put some effort into a great day for her. Your suggestion that everyone write a toast is a beautiful one, and I’ll give it a try.
Hi Dorothy,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you enjoy a great one! BTW, about the toasts, or anything else you try that works out well, please let me know. I’m always collecting new ideas, you know.
Robbie
Love you videos, Robbie! You are so expressive and fun to listen to! I love your ideas for the Mother’s Day parties…I may forward this to my daughter to watch! : ) This year will be challenging because my Mom is so far away (Idaho) and Mothers Day this year happens to be the day after my daughter’s graduation from college down in So. California, so we will be very much sidetracked with that! Hopefully I will not be forgotten in all the chaos! I like your thought about having more parties and no wars! I think that is what Heaven will be like….
Hi Donna,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! Talk about a frantic schedule! Bring along your cell phone, and keep everyone in touch, wherever you go — Idaho or southern Cal, or anywhere.
Robbie
My mum is in the UK and Mothers Day was last Sunday – so no such plans for me. She’s also away on a trip so I couldn’t even send flowers. We really don’t make such a big deal of these things in the UK to be honest and I don’t let my girls make too much of it either. We are giving her the best gift she could ask for this summer anyway and taking my girls to visit.
Louise Edington
Finding YOUR Freedom
http://louiseedington.com
Hi Louise,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! How nice that your visit this summer will create memories that EVERYONE will cherish.
Robbie
Thanks for some great ideas. I wish my mom were still here to celebrate. She died 2 1/2 years ago. Maybe you could send this to my sons!! Alas, they don’t live in the same city as I. I am lucky to be treated very specially by a wonderful husband on Mother’s Day and even though I am not his mother, he appreciates the mother I am to our children.
Susan Berland
A Picture’s Worth
http://www.susan-berland.com
Hi Susan,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! You and me both about the 2 1/2 years ago, and you have my permission to forward my blog to your sons. Good luck!
Robbie
I’m afraid it would be a bit too obvious if I forwarded it to my sons! One of these days they will figure it out. After all, they are only 40 and 42! 🙂
…and you’re STILL waiting? OY!
OY is right. I’m a Jewish mother. You’d think they’d know better! Where did I go wrong? hehe
My mother day revolves around me and my kids, not so much my mom due to lots of family “stuff”. Some great ideas, though. I’ll have my 16 year old read this! teehee
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! It’s never too late: 16-year-olds can prepare some terrific gifts, I’m told.
Robbie
Great ideas…I may do something really special for my mom this year…she is one of my best friends and a fabulous mom.
Darcie Newton
Discipline for profit, none for jammy zins or memorable necklaces
http://www.mywealthspa.com
Hi Darcie,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and you mom enjoy a great one!
Robbie
Robbie,
I enjoyed your post and the enthusiasm you displayed in your video and in your ideas. Mother’s Day was always spent with my mom, just enjoying our time together. She has been gone now for over 10 years and I miss her dearly. Now that I am a mom myself, I enjoy the handmade cards or the carefully planned “breakfasts” my kids make for me!
Carrie Hansen
Snuggery Style
http://www.SnuggeryStyle.com
Hi Carrie,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you enjoy a great one! BTW, I guess nervousness looks like enthusiasm these days.
Robbie
Like Louise, Mothers day was last Sunday for us.. I spent a long time on the phone with my mom and she told me a story about when i was about 6 and me and my siblings pooled our money and bought her something…she could not remember what, But the thing she did remember was that there was tuppence left over and we had used that tuppence to buy her some carrots! She said that had made her cry.. That we used the chage to buy her carrots so she could make a stew….I didn’t remember the event at all but it was wonderful to recap that story with her.
Julie Labes,…The Fierce over 50 feels much younger point and click junkie loves to travel does not use a jogging stroller and before you ask this is NOT my granddaughter..Woman
Hi Julie,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you enjoyed a great one! BTW, thanks for that wonderful story. Interesting the things we remember, for reasons that meant SO much then but we can’t recall today.
Robbie
When women take over the world! Nice!
I never thought about a party for Mother’s Day. I usually do spa days or trips to Napa. I think it’s a great idea, especially around milestone birthday years!
Speaker, Author, Self-Publishing Expert
Creator of Bestseller in a Weekend
Hi Alicia,
Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts about Mother’s Day, and I hope you and your family enjoy a great one! Spa days? Trips to Napa? Sound like wonderful settings for a party, right? Please tell me how it turns out. I’m always collecting new ideas.
Robbie