I know that a lot of us are struggling to come up with an eventful Mother’s Day activity, but this easy-to-follow list will help you come up with some ideas for the ultimate Mother’s Day weekend for mum.
True story, my mom comes to visit me weekly and she never ceases to annoy the ever-living snot out of me.
But then again… We cook together every Sunday, watch a new episode of our current favorite show, from Bridgerton to Lovecraft Country, and we enjoy each other’s company, laughing and giggling the whole time.
We plan trips together, and then we don’t go on those trips because we’re too busy planning other trips.
The thing about my mother, though, what can be frustrating to me at times, is that she’s suuuper aspirational. She wants to do and experience everything that the world has to offer, but when your to-do list is a mile and a half long, it can be hard to follow through with things. One of the reasons I work so consistently on this blog is because she passed that habit of leaving things unfinished down to me and we both struggle with it still.
On the other hand, my mom is funny, kind, strong-headed, strong-willed, and outspoken. She’s a huge inspiration in my life, and she’s a doting grandmother to my nephew, who himself is the greatest little kid either of us could ever ask to help raise.
Looking forward to Mother’s Day, I know I’m one of the lucky ones.
I still have my mom and we have a close relationship, even if our relationship can get a bit rough at times. Everyone isn’t as lucky, and I count every day I have my mom at my side as a blessing.
Because of that, I want to make sure that I spend as much time letting her know how much I love her. And I know that as Mother’s Day comes closer it’s imperative to showcase that in various ways (and not just in chocolates, a mug, and flowers).
So, I’ve compiled a list that I believe a lot of you will love and appreciate. Obviously, pick and choose what will work for you and your mother – I hope your moms have a happy mum’s day!
If I have any ounce of advice for you, that I hope you take away from this list, as you search for something to do with mom, don’t take her out on Mother’s Day. Appreciating your mom either the week before or after the day is your best bet.
Practically everyone loves their mom and practically everyone takes their mom out to a restaurant on the day.
Restaurants are absolutely overloaded, rushed, and definitely understaffed (even if they think they have enough staff) Mother’s Day weekend. Your food won’t be at its peak and we want to give mommas the best the world has to offer! Burned salmon, where? Not here!
If your mom is no longer with us, and you still want to show her appreciation, I’ve got a small section especially for you. ♡
Table of Adventures
Things to Do With Your Mom
You’re obviously here because you’re struggling to find a valuable thing to do with your mom for Mother’s Day.
Fair enough.
If you’re into art in some way, how about taking her out to a paint and wine night where you can recreate a painting and sip on wine (usually bring your own, but check with your local area).
OK, say you’re more into water sports though, thankfully for most of us Mother’s Day is in the Springtime (sorry, England), which means that the temperatures are starting to warm, and cold lakes, rivers, and oceans are warming up as well. Take her to the beach, spend time on a paddleboard, and just experience the sun and the waves together.
You could always hire a boat with a watersports company and go wakeboarding or how about just taking her canoeing or kayaking if that’s her vibe, too.
Is your mom a baker or a cook? Spend some time in the kitchen creating an extravagant meal together. You get to learn with mum and she gets to show off her skills and school you on the best way to frost that cupcake.
Watch a movie together and create a fort and roast marshmallows together.
My thought is that even though you’re both getting older, spending any amount of time together, childish or not, will be worth the world to her.
Maybe momma is a shop ‘til you drop kinda gal – take her shopping! I’m sure she’ll be down for hopping to grabbing everything you have to offer. Promise you that. 😉
However, if this just doesn’t whet your appetite the way you want, how about a few activities below?
- Horseback riding
- Scuba diving
- Dance class
- Rock Climbing (if she’s adventurous, I say hit up outdoor climbing with a guide – if you’re in the Northeast looking for someone try Nate with Ascent Climbing)
- Go to the park and bird watch, people watch, just enjoy the weather
- Take her to a concert
- Cirque du Soleil
- Have a picnic in your backyard (or elsewhere)
- Afternoon tea
- Walk around your city/town and check out places you normally wouldn’t
You could always just ask your mom what she wants to do as well.
Spend a day in the shoes that she would love to be treated to (granted you’ve got the funds for such a fun, and possibly expensive, excursion).
Moms all over the world would most likely prefer spending time with their children than being given another mug saying World’s Best Mom and another set of flowers that she’ll most likely have to throw out because they’ve wilted beyond measure.
Presents to Get Your Mom
If you’ve got the funds to be extravagant with your mom don’t just buy her a bottle of expensive wine and a night out at a five-star restaurant, you can do that for her birthday, or any other day of the year to be honest.
Spend money on a trip. I hear Walt Disney World is pretty fun and a great amount of fun for anyone of any age (*squee*). However, if you’re in the US take her overseas.
There are four Disneyland’s based outside of the USA. Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, and Tokyo.
In one fell swoop, you can take mom to another country, to Disney, and then have time to explore a specific area of the country you traveled to! Sounds like a win-win to me.
However, if that’s too big of a budget, don’t worry, I’ve got plenty that can appease mommy dearest.
Here are a few ideas that may help you to get her something she will cherish for years to come:
Mint & Lily is a jewelry brand based in San Francisco that specializes in creating simple bracelets and necklaces for women. Their Remember Mom, I Love You Cuff Bracelet would be a beautiful and thoughtful addition to your mom’s jewelry collection.
Candles (and soap) are all the rage (and for good reason – they smell great and are easy to use). But what about getting her a candle (or soap)-making kit so she has full control over what she makes? This would be an ideal gift for a mom who enjoys her home to smell great every day and enjoys taking refreshing baths.
This candle-making kit from ShopCraftBud on Etsy is an arsenal of goodness.
But wait, your mom has taken up new hobbies during the last year? Has she tried looming? This beautiful (and large) loom kit may be right up her alley.
I know a lot of people truly love animals. How about adopting to take care of her favorite animal for a year? There are a lot of organizations that do exactly that (and we’re not talking Tiger King style). Head to Google and type in ‘adopt + [animal mom adores here]’ (e.g., adopt lemur) and you should be able to find a sanctuary aiding in adoption.
My word of advice is to do a little sleuthing to make sure that the organization you’ll be donating money to is reputable and is doing what they say they’re doing for the animals. We don’t want to give money to shady businesses using that money to pay their CEO and nonessential overhead costs.
Throw a Mother’s Day Celebration!
Depending on how you feel about celebrating your mom this year, throwing your mom a party to celebrate how much you appreciate her outside of her birthday is a beautiful option.
Pulling together all of the mothers in your family is worth seeing the smiles on faces at a celebration meant for them.
One way to do this is by giving them a chance to relax. Be thoughtful and do a pampering spa party.
Make sure there are enough cucumbers, mineral/sparkling water, mud masks, nail polish for manicures and pedicures, and mojitos, and you’re set.
Or, celebrate your mother with your family and her friends with an outdoor dinner party with wine flowing and soft music playing. Imagine the beautiful laughter that you’ll have together. ♥‿♥
If anyone asks why, just look at them and tell them, “My mom is the best and I felt like doing it, duh.” Period.
Pulling a party together is a little bit more involved, but, you have another option like putting together an …
Intimate Mother’s Day Brunch
If you’d just like to have something for a few of her favorite people, try for the quintessential brunch for Mom’s Day. She’ll appreciate not having to cook for breakfast (which she shouldn’t have to do anyway!) and you’ll get to put together a semi-fancy breakfast full of items you normally wouldn’t eat on a regular basis.
Create the ultimate brunch menu that’ll impress her by far, which would look a little like this:
- Cocktail (or Mocktail)
- A dish full of all the carbs
- Some kind of meat & egg dish
- There’s gotta be something with greens
- A delicious sweet number, and
- Something fruity (solely fruits or an actual dish)
Put together some classic mimosas (that’s orange juice and champagne, for those who are still in the dark about this famously delicious drink), eggs benedict over her favorite kind of English muffins, add in some meat options if that’s her thing, and a bowl of free-flowing fruits.
There’s a new food item on the scene called “Nature’s Cereal” that your mom may like if she’s really into fruits.
Created by vegan Tik Toker (@natures_food), the bowl of cereal is made with coconut water, blueberries, blackberries, pomegranate arils (seeds), and ice. You can switch up the berries more to your mom’s liking of course – you’ve got options like strawberries and raspberries, for starters.
If you’re looking for inspiration for ideas for brunch try these websites listed below. There’s something for everyone.
100 Best Brunch Recipes to Try Now // 7 Fabulous Mocktail Recipes
Make sure to put together a beautiful table for her with fresh flowers (buy these in advance!), and real cutlery and plates. A charcuterie board, like a waffle board, or simply cheese and crackers, will elevate your brunch.
Make sure there’s a coffee station, too! Don’t skimp on mama.
Appreciating Momma Long Gone
Your mother holds a special place in your heart and for Mother’s Day, it should be of no exception that you still appreciate how much you love and adore her, no matter where she is.
If it’s possible, visit the gravesite and have a picnic with her. Bring her fresh flowers, some photos of your favorite memories of the year, and curl up on a blanket and just gaze up at the sky and reminisce with her. However, if you can’t visit, still have that picnic, but have a framed picture of her beside you and just have a chat.
Make sure to bring her favorite foods.
Write your mom a letter and stash it away for later times. It’ll be a great way to let her know how you’ve been and you get to look back on them as a reminder that she’s always around to listen.
I love the tradition of letting something go into the sky, however, to be eco-friendly and sustainable, birds, lanterns, and balloons shouldn’t be used. Gather close family and release paper confetti into the blowing wind, blow bubbles as a fun moment of silence, or instead plant something in her remembrance like a bush to attract butterflies.
Conclusion to A Day (or Weekend) With Mom
Just because Mother’s Day weekend comes and goes, spend time with your mom.
Whether it’s grabbing a present for her, or taking her out on a trip across the seas, or throwing her a little brunch or party, no matter what – Mother’s Day this year, and all the years to come – there will always be full of opportunities to show how much we love the strong woman who brought us into the world.
Every waking moment is important.
Call her – you have no excuse. There are many ways to talk with her from FaceTime to Zoom to Facebook video. And even if you don’t have anything to say just being able to see each other can give you the battery boost you both need.
And to all the moms out there reading this for their mother, Happy Mother’s Day to you!