Mother’s Day is only celebrated one day out of 365, but how can we give Mom a gift that says “I love you” all year long? Here are a few of our favorite ideas:
Spending Time.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “In family relationships, love is really spelled t-i-m-e.” What better way to say “I love you” to Mom than with a gift of time. And this is a great opportunity to think about what Mom would like to do. Does she enjoy being outside? How about a surprise picnic lunch at the park? Maybe she likes to bake. Decorating a cake together can be a fun and creative date. The best gift may be the part where YOU clean up after! Has she always wanted to learn to paint? Take a class together to give her a gift she can enjoy for years to come.
Mother’s Day can also be one of the best times for sharing old memories while making new ones. Looking through old photo albums together or helping Mom organize and digitize years worth of pictures can inspire a spontaneous trip down memory lane, maybe even an adventure! A gift like this is as special to the giver as it is for Mother.
Give Mom the Day Off.
Not everything about breakfast in bed makes Mom feel happy and restful—think tall glass of orange juice on clean sheets. But EVERY mom appreciates the thought of someone taking over her chores for the day. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught that “no love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child.”
We can show our appreciation for her Christlike love and emulate her example by serving the way she does. Simply doing the dishes without being asked or taking over the laundry folding for the week let’s Mom know we appreciate all that she does behind the scenes and that we want to be like her.
Gifts from the Heart.
Giving gifts that can be daily reminders of our love and appreciation is another way we say, “I love you.” Handmade cards and ceramics become some of Mom’s greatest treasures. Personalized items, like throw pillows, allow us to give something unique and sentimental. And a framed print of Mother’s favorite quote or painting can inspire her daily and serve as a reminder of her eternal importance to her family and loved ones.
No matter how we choose to say, “I love you,” this Mother’s Day, with a little thought and preparation, we can let Mom know of our love and appreciation all 365 days of the year.