We have Mother’s Day because a daughter wanted to honor the hard work she witnessed and the enduring love that she felt from, and for, her mother. The first official Mother’s Day celebrations took place over 115 years ago when Anna Jarvis organized a church service at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in West Virginia to honor motherhood. Since 1907, it’s become a day that’s observed in countries across the world, albeit sometimes on different days (in North America, it falls on the second Sunday of May).
Today, we take that opportunity to acknowledge and thank the maternal figures — whether that’s our mom, granny, aunt or any other special woman — in our lives who helped raise us and mold us into the people we are today. Making Mother’s Day unique for that lady requires a fair amount of thought and planning, and we’re here to help you do just that!
Here are a few of our favorite ideas for things to do on Mother’s Day that you can use as a starting point to customize your gifts and festivities based on what you know will make her happiest. Let’s have a look:
Our moms and female caregivers are often solely responsible for cooking and feeding their families, and that’s a lot of hard work! So, give your mother a break by taking her out to her favorite restaurant, or preparing brunch at home (and be sure she doesn’t have to lift a finger when you clean up afterward). Most restaurants name Mother’s Day as the busiest time of the year, so make your reservations early. If you opt to go with the homemade version, be sure to decorate the table with a gorgeous centerpiece. We adore the blush tones in the Beauty in Bloom and Garden Rhapsody arrangements.
If the weather’s nice, take her for a picnic at a local park. We’re well into spring, so there will definitely be some new flowers blooming! Or, if you know she enjoys art or historical artifacts, a gallery or museum visit will be right up her alley.
As for gifts, Moms are definitely a challenge. How many times have you heard: “Oh, you don’t have to get me anything.” Flowers are classic, instant-hit, can’t-go-wrong presents. A beautiful bouquet of fresh-cut flowers – roses, lilies, alstroemeria, orchids, carnations, daisies, whichever flowers are her favorites – shows how much you love her and is a treat for the senses. With striking color, scent and texture, flowers are also a gift from nature, reminiscent of a mother-child bond.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a mother who doesn’t like flowers, so order a stunning Mother’s Day bouquet as a surefire way to put a smile on her face. Roses are always a safe bet, and carnations are the official Mother’s Day bloom. An exotic orchid or plant is perfect if your mum has a green thumb, and tulips are ideal as they symbolize deep and perfect love. Make your bouquet of choice even more meaningful with a special card expressing your affection and gratitude.
What better way to spoil your mother than with a box of her favorite goodies? Sign her up for a subscription box of the treats she likes most, whether that’s bath and beauty products or foreign and fun snacks. On that note, we have a variety of flower, plant and gourmet food gift baskets, and there’s sure to be one or two that will tickle her particular fancy! From poinsettias and primrose to cheese and chocolates, there’s something for every lady.
As for other gifts, here are some ideas that make excellent accompaniment to a bouquet or gift basket:
• gardening or flower-arranging classes
• special flower vases or keepsakes
• membership to a botanical garden or museum she enjoys
• house-cleaning or lawn service
Be sure to order bouquets and other gifts well in advance. That way you can cross that item off your to-do list and you won’t have to deal with the stress of scrambling at the last minute. Also, when buying flowers, remember any new mothers or members of your family and social circle who have recently lost their mothers.
No matter how you choose to spend your day, the most important thing is to let Mom know you care and that you love her. For many of us, nothing expresses that more perfectly than beautiful flowers and quality time together. Check out our Mother's Day Gift Guide for more great ideas for Mom!