As Mother’s Day approaches, it’s important to be that source of encouragement for moms by recognizing their hard work, validating their experiences and finding unique ways to make them feel loved and special.
After adjusting to a year of homeschooling, working remotely and taking on various new responsibilities, moms everywhere have had an incredibly tough year. Working moms were undoubtedly hit the hardest, essentially having to work two full-time jobs throughout the pandemic. Other moms struggled to navigate mass layoffs in a way that they could continue to provide for their families. Additionally, the Century Foundation and the Center for American Progress stated that a lack of adequate childcare caused approximately 865,000 women to drop out of the labour force this past September.
I’ll be the first to admit that adapting to these challenges as a working, single mother has been anything but easy. While I’m still adjusting, it has been crucial for me to surround myself with people who can encourage me when the going gets tough.
Here are five tips to make the working moms in your life feel special and appreciated this Mother’s Day.
Give moms permission to have “me time”
Mothers have been under tremendous pressure this past year, torn between their work and home responsibilities and feeling guilty about taking time for themselves.
One of the easiest ways to make moms feel special this year is simply by giving them space to enjoy some “me time” to relax and unwind, whether that be a spa day or a dinner with girlfriends.
Spend the day doing what she loves
Another way to make moms feel special this year is by spending the day doing the things she loves. The pressures of the past year caused many moms to pull away from their hobbies and made it difficult for them to truly relax. This year, consider treating mom to a meal from her favorite restaurant, watch her favorite movie together, have a picnic or shop her most-visited stores.
Take over the chores for a day
After spending long hours caring for the children and working from home, moms have also had to keep up with all of the responsibilities around the house, including cooking, cleaning and so much more. This year, give mom some time to rest by taking over these responsibilities, watching the kids for a night and giving her time to relax and spend time alone or with friends.
Plan a getaway
With travel restrictions starting to loosen up, vacation has been top of mind for many moms (myself included). Perhaps now is the perfect time to plan that trip she’s always dreamed about, or maybe you can use this Mother’s Day to enjoy a staycation and explore some local attractions and excursions. Whether it’s a big trip or just a small weekend getaway, having something to look forward to can give moms that extra motivation to push through the busy days and weeks ahead.
Be intentional about making them feel loved and special
Keep in mind that sometimes the little things have the biggest impacts. While nice dinners and weekend trips are enjoyable, what moms really want this year is to feel appreciated and loved. Handwritten letters, flower bouquets, breakfast in bed and homemade gifts are sure ways to make moms feel special and appreciated.
Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Mother’s Day, I encourage you to find ways to show the moms in your life that their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.
Lindsay Bertelli is owner and president of REACH, an experiential marketing agency headquartered in Nashville.