How low has the bar been set that mothers are often more impressed by receiving a gift on Mother’s Day than they are by the actual gift? This past week, I gave my mom some early Mother’s Day orchids. Overjoyed and unfortunately surprised by the gesture, she shared with me what she expected would be the heartbreaking truth. She told me she and her friend had laughed at the idea of getting a gift on Mother’s Day – both grown women with virtually grown children, probably trying to soften the blow of being underappreciated on their own holiday. 

At 19, I cannot say I have made an excellent effort every year. And despite having a couple of challenging teenage years with my mom, I wish I had done more. She had sacrificed her body, her relationship with my dad and her identity as an individual to become a mother. I pray to someday understand what it feels like to be so committed to caring for someone besides myself. A soul that is not my own, but not entirely separate either. 

In support of my efforts to do better in celebrating all of the mothers in my life, I wanted to share some ideas on how you can, too. 

1. Bake something sweet. My mom’s favorite is anything chocolate or citrus. Baking is a labor of love; it takes time and patience, and if you’re making something for someone else, it’s arguably selfless. 
2. Invite her on a hike. Spending time in nature with someone you love is an intimate act of love, especially if you can leave your phone behind. Hiking with someone is about struggling together and sharing encouragement, without needing to say much.
3. Watch a live show. Experiencing the same rollercoaster of emotions with someone is a beautiful bonding experience. Dance to music and let loose together, or watch a dramatic play and cry together. 
4. Treat them to a spa day. This is something you can do together, or a gift to send someone out of reach. You don’t need to go out for a spa day either, buy some face masks, nice candles and relax on the couch together. 
5. Go out for a meal. Motherly figures are used to nurture and feed others. Give them a break and buy them a meal they love.
6. Buy her flowers. A gift from the mother of outside beauty, Mother Nature, to the mothers who taught you about internal beauty. There is something about receiving beautiful things that makes a woman feel beautiful and seen.
7. Write her a card. We live in a digital world, a text takes two seconds and zero focus. But writing and gifting a letter takes intention and time. Give ten minutes of your day to pick out or make a beautiful card and write something special that she can cherish.

This Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 7, I hope I am not alone in the excitement to celebrate all the mother figures in my life. A simple text or call to say, “I see you, I appreciate all you have done that you thought went unnoticed,” is enough. I am lucky enough to live close to my mother, stepmother and one of my grandmothers, so I will be sure to tell them face to face. But for those who can’t be physically with their mom, grandma, aunt, sister or whoever fills the motherly role in your life, I hope you can find a way to be present with them on this special Sunday.