Plan Your Mother’s Best Birthday

It’s said that God couldn’t be everywhere so he created moms.  With Mother’s Day around the corner we’re sharing some ideas to celebrate the person that brought you into this world on her birthday.

After the many years of mom planning your birthday parties it’s time to let her relax and enjoy being with the people she most cares about.  Think about who she would most like to celebrate with, what she would most like to do, and pull together her best birthday ever.

Thinking about a party... pick a date, place and time that works for your mother - giving at least three week’s notice.  Invite the people she will want to see.  Serve her favorite foods, and of course, birthday cake.  Play her favorite tunes, decorate with her favorite colors in flowers and balloons.

Surprise Mom with a Celebration Stadium candle holder.  A candle for every year - just like she used to do on your birthday cakes.

Consult with mom to find out what she actually would like.  But if it’s a surprise act normal so she doesn’t catch on.

Clean up after the party, no chores for mom please.

Moms are usually the givers, rarely the receivers.  Her birthday is a chance to show your appreciation with a gift that matters to her.  Our family has a tradition where the siblings come together to think about what mom would really like and pool funds to plan and buy  something more significant than we could each do on our own.  (Mom loves that we're actually talking to each other.)

One of the best gift ideas in our family was a recipe book archiving much-loved dishes from all branches of the clan.  You can personalize adding stories and family photos along with the recipes.  Our family recipe book has become a well-used, treasured keepsake with copies made for all the siblings, kids and grandkids.

Looking for more ideas?  FTD created a list of 62 ways to say “thank you mom.” It includes nice things to say to your mom and ways you can spend quality time together, plus images to share with her to show her just how much she means to you.

1. Be her chauffeur for a day for all those times she drove you
2. Cook her favorite meal for all those meals she fed you
3. Listen to her problems for all those times she listened to yours
4. Show others respect to show her she raised you right
5. Take care of her when she’s sick for all those times she took care of you
6. Support her hobbies, even if you don’t enjoy them yourself
7. Throw a get together for her and her friends for all the times she hosted yours
8. Be patient with her for all those times she showed you patience
9. Never give up to show her she taught you how to work hard
10. Clean her house for all the times she cleaned up after you
11. Go visit her to show you value her company
12. Encourage her to follow her dreams for all the times she supported yours
13. Treat her to a relaxing spa day for all those times you stressed her out
14. Comfort her when she’s upset for all the times she comforted you
15. Carry on her family traditions to show her how much they mean to you
16. Send her flowers to let her know that you’re thinking about her
17. Put others first to show her she taught you selflessness
18. Write her a letter so she can constantly be reminded of how much you appreciate her
19. Send her photos of you doing things she taught you to show her you listened
20. Make her laugh for all those times she cheered you up
21. Ask her questions and take her advice to show that you value her opinion
22. Remind her you love her and acknowledge the unconditional love she’s shown you
23. Send her inspirational messages for all the times she inspired you
24. Bring your whole family together to show her you value family time
25. Bake her her favorite dessert because she’s always so sweet
26. Make her a recipe book with all of her favorite dishes in it for all of the delicious things she made for you
27. Spend time doing what she wants for the endless hours she spent on you
28. Be a good host when she visits for all the time you spent under her roof
29. Make her a playlist of all the songs you like to sing along together
30. Run her errands for her for all the times she ran yours
31. Buy her a gift that she’s been talking about buying herself forever to show her how much she deserves it
32. Give her your favorite picture of you two as a daily reminder of how much you love her
33. Create a memory jar to remind her of all your favorite moments together
34. Take her to her appointments for all the times she took you to yours
35. Compliment instead of criticize for all the times she built your self esteem
36. Take her on a mother-daughter trip for all the fun vacations she took you on
37. Recreate your favorite childhood snapshots to show her you’re still her little girl/boy
38. Give her a hug for all those times she embraced you
39. Take her to a sporting event so you can cheer on her favorite team together
40. Leave surprises around her house as spontaneous reminders of how much you care
41. Turn off your phone for the day to show her she has your undivided attention
42. Take her shopping for all those hours she spent with you at the mall
43. Gather a list of all the things you, friends, and family members appreciate about your mom to show her she is loved
44. Take her out to dinner to give her a break from cooking
45. Ask her to tell her stories from her childhood to show her you’re interested in her life experience
46. Teach her something new for all the things she taught you
47. Sign up to take spin classes together to keep each other healthy
48. Host a family board game night for old times sake
49. Give her a book filled with all the best advice she’s ever given you, because she probably needs to hear it too
50. Take her out for coffee for all those times you tired her out
51. Give her a back rub to help her de-stress
52. Watch your favorite superhero movie together and remind her she’s your hero
53. Volunteer together to remind her that she taught you to be giving
54. Go on an outdoor adventure to show her she taught you to respect nature
55. Apologize for all those times you made her life difficult when she was trying to help you
56. Take her to the theatre for all those school plays that she watched
57. Have a mother-daughter photoshoot to capture your special bond
58. Go to the farmer’s market together to show her she taught you how to value quality food
59. Let her know you always have her back because she always has yours
60. Create a piece of art for her for all of the times she inspired you
61. Take her somewhere she’s never been to introduce her to something new
62. Tell her that she’s the best mom in the world, because she is!

No matter what you do mom will appreciate the thought!  She was there for you from the beginning - it’s probably impossible to say thank you enough.