As you well know, Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12th. For some reason or another, brunch has become the activity of choice to celebrate this holiday. I don’t know about you, but I much prefer DOING something with my mom instead of sitting around, gluttonously devouring my second (fine, third) mini ginger lemon scone. Partaking in an activity, whatever it may be, can be so much more rewarding and memorable than any quiche can ever be. Sharing an experience. Building a memory. That’s how I want to spend Mother’s Day. Here are some suggestions for active ways to celebrate Mother’s Day, albeit depending on your geographic location.
1. Explore your local park.
Go to your trusty friend Google and search state parks near…and plug in your hometown. Chances are you’ll be surprised just how close these state treasures are. Trails.com is another excellent option. Catch up with your mom on what’s going on in each others lives by hitting the trail, slowing down your rushed lifestyle, and spending quality time with each other. If you absolutely MUST include food, pack a picnic and enjoy the sunshine. 🙂
<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/hthrd/2465765305/” title=”mother daughter photo op by hthrd, on Flickr”><img src=”http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2152/2465765305_71b6ee7ded.jpg” width=”500″ height=”375″ alt=”mother daughter photo op”></a>
2. Get on the water.
Water is a calming medium, it helps us to relax and clear the mind. Think about taking a sunset cruise with your mother and enjoy the sunset together, away from the stress of the everyday grind. For the more adventurous, Stand Up Paddleboarding is incredibly easy to try and can be loads of fun. Done on a lake, ocean (or even river), try something new with your mother that I guarantee you’ll both remember forever. Sea kayaking can also be another low-risk, soft adventure activity to try.
Just think, it’ll be like being back in the womb. 🙂
3. Play a game.
Chances are, you’ll be celebrating Mother’s Day with your father, other siblings and maybe even the grandkids. Why not organize a fun tournament that everyone can partake in? Bocce or croquet can be perfect if you have a large, open field and is suitable for people of all ages. Badminton is one of my personal favorites to play on a Sunday afternoon. If active games aren’t an option, think about your good old fashioned board game such as Scrabble, Pictionary, Scattergories or Bananagrams.
4. Take a class together.
For years your mother has been talking about wanting to learn how to cook French cuisine. Instead of spending $50 on brunch, why not buy her an introduction to French cooking, and join her for the class? Better yet, maybe there’s an activity that you think she’d enjoy but wouldn’t do on her own, like an art class or writing workshop. Sign up for two and attend the class together. No matter what happens, you’ll have spent time together and created a meaningful memory.
However you choose to celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, just remember; it’s about celebrating your mother and spending time with her. Enjoy the time, hug her, tell her how much you appreciate her. If you choose to do this over croissants and coffee, great, but consider how much more memorable it may be to go for a bike ride, head out for a hike, or take a class together.
Mother daughter photo hiking courtesy of Sean Dreilinger on Flickr.
Kayak photo courtesy of hthrd on Flickr.