15 ways to appreciate your Mother or “Other” for Mother’s Day
As someone who’s gone through divorce, I am often one of the first people to hear from friends and acquaintances when their marriages are ending. Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve probably heard the latest statistics that the quarantine is significantly impacting divorce rates with mediators seeing as much as a 50% increase in consultations. I believe this pressure cooker is likely the “last straw” for marriages already on thin ice.
I had a conversation with a referral partner today — his young children screaming in the background. As hard as this time is for me, running a business from home, I am grateful my children are older. It’s people with young children at home I feel bad for. He shared it was hardest on his wife and he probably needed to do a better job of appreciating her.
Showing someone appreciation can go a very long way. Which gave me an idea about ways to make Mother’s Day meaningful while “sheltering in place”.
Here are a few ideas for your mother, grandmother or significant other:
Breakfast in bed
Master of the remote
A picnic — outside, in the dining room
Give a coupon for a massage
Give a coupon for a foot rub
Tackle the “honey-do list” or make a coupon book for chores
Take the kids for a long car ride or hike to give their mother some space
Offer a bubble bath (for one or two)
Make a slideshow
Write a love letter
Write a poem
Write a song
Schedule a family Zoom call
Make a Powerpoint presentation about why your loved one is so great
For a printable coupon book, look online at sites like this one. https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/free-printable-love-coupons-1358215
This societal pause has given us time to slow down and hopefully reconnect.
Everyone ultimately desires and needs to feel accepted, cherished and loved. Hindsight is 20/20. I’ve had five years to reflect on ways I could have done better when I was married. Though my marriage can’t be saved, I’ve always found sharing lessons learned the hard way makes the tough times we’ve gone through better for others.