The whole discussion about the touching ways to show Mom she is loved on Mother’s Day came during a conversation I had with my “adopted” daughter, CG. She kept asking me, “Val what are you doing on Mother’s Day?” I stopped to think about the day, and some of the ways I would really love to spend it.

I knew from the start that I did not want to get entangled with all the other families who were taking mom to a restaurant. I guess being the introvert I am, my ideal way to spend it would have been to be home, having an already prepared meal (not by me), a glass of wine, and the freedom to do anything I wanted without anyone disturbing me.

Another aspect of my personality, is the overthinking I do on any given situation, I started wondering about the “when?” and “why?” of Mother’s Day. So how did it all begin? What I found was pretty interesting.

History of Showing Love on Mother’s Day.

According to the information found on the web, Mother’s Day can be traced all the way to the ancient Greeks and Romans to celebrate their mother goddesses Cybele, and Rhea. Over time, the church in the United Kingdom celebrated this time to encourage their followers to return to the ‘Mother Church’ for a special service.

The celebration soon became more secular, and children were encouraged to give their mothers flowers and other gifts of appreciation and love. In the United States, before the Civil War, a lady named, Ann Reeves, living in West Virginia, helped to start, “Mother’s Day Work Clubs”, to teach and help the local women in her community to better care for their children. It was Anna Jarvis, the daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis, who officially “steered” the celebration to honor the sacrifices which mothers made for their children.

Around the world, the celebration continues to focus on presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers. FYI, there are more phone calls made on Mother’s Day, than any other day of the year(https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day).

“What are you doing for Mother’s Day?” The question was still unanswered for me. I thought about my son, and wondered if and how he was planning to celebrate me. I thought about some of the touching things I would love for him to do, after remembering times over the years when he seemed to have forgotten to reach out to me until very late in the day. Here is a list of the 9 touching ways I would love to experience celebrating the day.

9 Touching Ways to celebrate Mother’s Day:

• Write a touching letter to me. I have always kept every note, or card he has given me since he was a wee tot. I am a collector, and get a whole lot of value from any personally written note. These usually come from the heart, and many years later when I read them, my heart smiles.
• Personalized gift ideas. This can be anything that shows he really thought about it, and he knows it is something that is dear to me.
• A Coupon book. My favorite hobby is creating projects and trying to improve things in my garden or home. A DIY coupon book where he offers his services to help me with my projects. There are many times I am at home working on something and need some manpower to either climb a ladder, or lift heavy bags of soil or cement.
• Cards with meaningful words. Not just a card that says, ” Happy Mother’s Day”, but one with words which seem as if they were speaking words from him to me, and maybe describe a part of our relationship, or a desire for something in the future.
• A live Plant. I prefer live plants because I can eventually plant it in my garden and watch it grow. Cut flowers will wilt and die, but live plants beautify now, and will do the same in the future.
• Come Over and have tea with me. My son growing up was a real boy. Hop, skipping, jumping and doing the things that rambunctious boys do. I never had a daughter growing up with me, and seeing little girls and their mothers and even their dads having tea parties, I desired to experience that. I am a tea drinker, and have so many varieties in my pantry. Just seeing this big hulk of a boy sitting with me and drinking tea from a teacup, would make me so happy. During this time I would remind him of the songs I sang and played for him when he was little.
• Gift of a Spa Day. He would pay for it, take me there, and return me home so I do not have to drive. Driving increases my anxiety. I do not particularly like to be massaged by a stranger, but knowing he would be out there, would allow me to relax more, and enjoy my spa experience.
• Photoshoot with him. He would choose the outfits we wear, get me made up so I would really look good. This picture would eventually be enlarged and put on the wall in my home, and he would also get one to put in his house.
• Give me a book from an author I love. I love reading novels with exciting, mysterious storylines. I have been doing more audio books, but having a hard copy of a favorite book allows me the opportunity to touch, feel and highlight places that speak to me.

I know there are so many other ways to celebrate Mother’s Day, and you can find them all over the internet, in stores, and on the streets when you drive by the flowers sellers on the street side.

The best way to show Mom how much you love her, is to tell her, and celebrate who and what she has been to you over the years.

My own Mom is no longer with me, and every Mother’s Day since she passed in 2019, allow me to celebrate her. I am so thankful I was able to tell her many times that I love her, and would not want any other mother but her. I not only told her I loved her, but I was also able to show her when she was ill.

Out of all the touching ways I listed to show Mom she is loved, the writing of a love letter to her is my preferred choice. I believe overall that the best way to celebrate is -keep doing, saying, showing her you love her, and making her feel proud that she gave birth to you.

I always keep my Promises!

What is your favorite way to celebrate Mother’s Day? Have you ever received a “love” letter from your child(ren) for Mother’s Day? How did it make you feel? I would love to chat.