What mom really wants for Mother’s Day
What does this mom want for Mother’s Day? To sleep in late, go running with my friends, return to a delicious breakfast prepared by my family (in a cleaned-up kitchen), and then to not be interrupted or rushed as I shower and dress.
And, just in case you’re remotely interested, here’s what I don’t want to do: Prepare (or plan) a meal, wash a dish, do a load of laundry. You get the idea.
What about gifts and cards? I love homemade cards and have saved every one I’ve ever received, even though I am notorious for prematurely recycling kids’ artwork. If I had to choose something money could buy, a gift certificate for a massage would top my list. Or perhaps, that money is better spent on dinner at my family’s favorite restaurant.
I wondered, though, if I’ve been writing about sustainability for too long or if this is how other moms feel. So, I shot an email to a group of friends (some of whom wouldn’t be caught dead carrying a canvas bag) and posed the same question.
To sum up their answers: Less stuff. More experiences. Everyone wanted time to themselves as well as quality time with their well-behaved families (no bickering or full-blown fighting allowed).
In short, the gifts that many moms will truly appreciate are light on the budget and the planet (and heavy on gratitude).
Sleeping late was the clear winner. Here are some of the other suggestions that come straight from mothers:
- Make mom a meal (or two). Breakfast in bed was most popular, but it depends on the woman. If she is the type who wouldn’t laugh over spilled coffee, then it’s best to pick something else.
- Insist that she take the day off. Walk the dog, take out the trash, or take on any of mom’s regular chores.
- Accompany mom to her favorite places without complaining. Some ideas: take a bike ride, pack a picnic, go on a long walk, visit a museum, or bring her to a movie of her choice.
- Let her take an afternoon nap or curl up with a novel.
- Make her a card. For older children, write her a poem or a letter. My friend Ellyn had a terrific idea: “If I could have anything in the world, what I’d love most is a long handwritten letter from each of my children (21 and 19) about what they are thinking, feeling, and looking forward to at this point in their lives.”
- Bring her a flowering potted plant, such as azaleas, instead of cut flowers. She can transplant into the garden (with your help) or continue to grow it indoors.
- Buy her a gift certificate from her favorite spa, yoga studio, or restaurant where she might like to take a friend. Give her a homemade gift certificate for four weekends of dog walking, family dinner out the first Sunday of every month, or family supplied tech support on demand for a year.
If you could have anything in the world for Mother’s Day, what would you most want?
Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green’s users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.