Chances are, that if you happen to be human like the rest of us, you probably owe your life to your mother… just like the rest of us. Without mothers, or human cloning, we would probably not exist. So, for those of you who are not clones, these are a few ways to show that very special lady that you love her and cherish her all the days of your life.
- There is a high probability, that at some point in your life, your mom probably fed you. Now is the time to return the favor, if you can cook your mother's favorite dishes and surprise her on days that are not just Mother's Day… then you may be on your way to being a child worth having again. At the very least, make sure you take her to her favorite restaurants consistently.
- Take notes on her favorite songs, artists, and musical pieces. Then, compile an album for her that includes as many of her favorites as possible and leave it somewhere for her to find-almost accidentally-like in the passenger's seat of her car. This is similar to cooking for her, in that music is food for the ears and her favorite songs are her favorite meals. For example, my mom loves the songs from “The Sound of Music” so guess what I would include on her album.
- This one is next to impossible for most of us, try to write a short list of those things your mother did that you will always remember and appreciate. This one is almost impossible because most of us have a very long list. Then, do a presentation for your mom and be sure to explain why each of these things she did made a difference in your life.
- In the event that you are your mother's worst nightmare, treat her to a few days without you. This can easily become a vacation without drama, shenanigans, raising your voice, being disrespectful, etc… You'll be pretty sure your mother still loves you, she just needs some time to herself. If it becomes necessary to send your mother on an all-expense paid trip to the Bahamas… then you're probably not such a bad child.
- Do something you don't necessarily like to do but that she likes to do, together. For some reason, bingo night comes readily to mind, but this can be as simple as enduring a night at the opera or going to a home improvement show or a tractor-pull. All people are obviously different, with many likes and dislikes, and what we do with the dislikes is just as important as what we do with the likes. Doing something she likes, which you may not, also helps to demonstrate that you accept her uniqueness and that a difference between you is not insurmountable.
- Take care of her and pamper her when she's not feeling well or is feeling a bit down or is feeling just fine. This is the equivalent of cheering a person up, a little soup and some tissues can go a long way but so can leaving the person alone so they can have some time to themselves. Comedy is sometimes appreciated, as are gifts and other surprises. The bottom line on this one… is that when you truly know your mother--as much as you can--and love her as she is… you will know what to do.
Caution: These are not things that should be taken lightly, and they are definitely not things that should be done just on special occasions like her birthday or Mother's Day. Your mom should know and see that she is special every day of her life, and not just because she loves you too. For the sake of clarity, mother includes, but is not limited to: your own mother, significant other, significant other's mother, mother-in-laws, your best friend's wife who happens to be a mother, etc…
