A Mother’s Day in Quarantine

By Ann Kirsten May 4, 2020 | 4:46 PM

In the past, celebrating Mother’s Day was as easy for dads as heading to mom’s favorite restaurant for a meal with the kids (Mother’s Day is traditionally the busiest day of the year for the restaurant world). But, this year that won’t work. Nor will giving her a spa day. Most of them are also closed for the quarantine.

Sorry, dads but you’re going to have to get creative this year. And, if you’re anything like my husband, that thought leaves you with more than a little anxiety. So, we thought we’d give you guys a helping hand and share some ideas.

First of all, skip most of the Mother’s Day displays in stores. The mugs with cheesy sayings, plastic flowers in plastic vases and stuffed animals that say, “I love mom” are the last things we want or need. They reek “last minute panic buying” and don’t convey the love you meant to express.

Schools are closed, so we won’t be receiving any macaroni frames or handprints in clay either (if you’re handy and can help your kids make something, go for it, those really are a mom’s favorite gifts and we cherish them forever).

But, for those dads who don’t have the time or talent for handmade gifts, here are some awesome ideas:

A digital frame filled with family pictures. This one is available on Amazon.
A new iPad for moms who have zoom meetings. This new model is supposed to have a bigger screen and a better quality resolution.
For moms who love to read, how about a book of the month gift? They usually have 3, 6 and 12 month plans for you to choose from.
Is mom tired of cooking? Let her try one of the many meal delivery services. Here is just one example.
I love Republic of Tea and I bought this gift for myself for Christmas. It’s a hand-picked sampler of 24 teas and I loved them all! If hand-picking tea is not your cup of tea (ha!) they also have Mother’s Day gift packs.
I personally will accept See’s chocolates for any holiday! Arbor Day, George Washington’s birthday, Wednesday …
Dad’s, there’s this site called Etsy and it’s amazing. I don’t know a mom who hasn’t found something she wanted on there. Unique jewelry, clothes, at home spa kits, they have it all. And you can simply get a gift card and let her choose her own present.
Go to the hardware store and fill a basket with new gardening gloves, a hand shovel, seed packets and a couple of plants. Bring the kids. They love to pick out seeds and mom will get some extra quiet time.

We’ve covered gifts, now for some more ideas:

Help the kids clean the house. Make sure to do the chores mom hates the most.
Watch the kids so she can take a bath, go for a run or just take a nap.
Get take-out from her favorite restaurant so she doesn’t have to cook.
Set up a video call with her mom and sisters or friends.
Take the kids out for a walk so she can have the house to herself for a while.

And, a final note for moms: Let your family know how you’d like to celebrate your special day. They aren’t mind-readers. Don’t be shy. Let them know what would make you happy. Trust me, your husband will appreciate it.

Happy Quarantine Mother’s Day!