Moms are celebrated on more than just Mother’s Day (as they should be). Here are some ideas for creative ways to honor and spoil your mom on any holiday, whether it’s Mother’s Day, her birthday or any day at all.
Learning to Live with Grief on Holidays
Every year, like clockwork, my body reminds me of its stored trauma by resurfacing the pain of those old buried wounds as if they were freshly injured.
Especially right before any holidays, when there is a busy energy in the air, with many of us trying to hustle through whatever work and personal tasks need to be done to enjoy our holiday breaks, if we’re lucky enough to have one.
My head wanders so far up in the clouds of everything that needs to be done, that I inevitably end up shocked and confused when I have a total physical meltdown (usually in public, and usually triggered by something seemingly insignificant).
And then comes the waves of shame. It’s been 10 years, I think to myself. How do I explain to people that I’m still reeling from a loss from a decade ago? What if it never goes away? How will I explain myself then? Why am I like this?
Lessons of Love & Loss for Motherless Daughters
It’s taken me this long to truly understand and accept that grief is not something that “goes away.” It’s energy to be transformed into one of your greatest powers–-to heal. Like the seasons come and go, so does your grief. And each season has its unique opportunities for transformation, whether it’s planting new seeds of change, harvesting the fruits of your inner work, or resting and restoring your energy.
The gift of grief comes in the form of lessons. Whenever the pain of an old wound resurfaces, it’s offering another lesson to be learned. Sometimes these lessons get forgotten due to the outer forces of life and need to be relearned. And that’s ok.
If you struggle to move through grief sometimes, try these journaling prompts to work through your thoughts and emotions, and check out these books on healing.
If you’re lucky enough to still have your mother (whether biological or chosen), or multiple mother figures, here are some ways to celebrate Moms and enjoy quality time together. If you are without a mom, you can still do these things with and for yourself in honor of motherly love. You are your inner child’s mother/father/parent, and that is worthy of love and appreciation.
Ways to Celebrate Mom:
- Take her to the theater / ballet
- If your mom is a seasoned cook, where she maintains a collection of recipes, cook a feast of her prized recipes to show you interest and support for her passion
- Clean the house for her. If she points out a particular messy area a lot, make sure that gets some extra attention
- Hide thoughtful notes around the house where she would look, like her jewelry box, makeup drawer, laundry room, etc.
- Take her on a shopping spree (that you can afford)
- Take a cute photoshoot together
- Hire a private chef for an interactive dining experience
- Take her to the spa, or hire an at-home massage therapist
- Interview her on the major stories of her life and transcribe or memorialize her stories in writing or a work of art
- Write a collection of “open when” letters for when you’re apart
- Send a handwritten “thinking of you” or “just because” card in the mail
- Send her flowers when it’s not a holiday
- If she’s crafty, take her to a craft class like pottery or jewelry making
- If she loves her libations, take her wine tasting or to a mixology class
- If she’s arty, take her to an art gallery
