Favorite Things To Do On Mother’s Day + DIY Gift Ideas
Here is a list of my favorite Mother’s Day activities along with some DIY gift ideas & special things moms will appreciate. I also have a question for moms at the bottom, I’m interested in hearing your answers ;).
These activity ideas are either things my family has done for me or we did for our moms/grandmas (and were a big hit!). We had the best times when all the extended family gathered together to celebrate the moms, but if no family is around–there are still plenty of nice ways to enjoy the day together.
Since we are so busy with work, sports and activities in my household, my favorite things to do on Mother’s Day are done with the family. An entire day hanging out together is my ideal day, no one rushing off anywhere.
A Few Rules Of Thumb For The Big Day:
- Moms don’t cook
- Moms don’t clean
- Everything is cleaned up and put away before bedtime–no fair leaving the mess for mom to deal with the next day
10 Mother’s Day Activity Ideas
- Bicycle Picnic Trip: Dust off the bikes, strap on the helmets and go bike riding to a favorite park to picnic for the day. Dad: Buckets of takeout are totally OK!
- Day trip to a nearby lake for a wiener roast or picnic
- Take mom out for a family brunch then a leisurely walk along the riverbank. Choose a restaurant that takes reservations and make sure to have one set a few days beforehand otherwise it’s chaos!
- Nature hike & picnic
- Family drive in the country, picnic (watch for tucked away privately owned greenhouses and little antique stands that are open, let mom take all the time she wants poking around). This was always my favorite since we spent hours together in the vehicle chatting up a storm…wouldn’t be suitable with smaller children since the cooped-up time can make youngsters restless and cranky. Teens: leave the cell phones at home.
- Extended family & friends BBQ get together (remember: the moms aren’t allowed to cook OR cleanup)
- Family bowling tournament (it’s a hoot–really!)
- Family softball or soccer game & BBQ (this works with extended family & friends)
- Neighborhood Block Party: This was one of the most memorable Mother’s Days when I was younger…a few dads pulled out BBQs and had hot dogs and burgers sizzling on the grill, kids racing around and moms socializing and enjoying the visit. Lots of laughing, wine and food. We still talk about that block party 30 years later! Times are maybe different now, but for neighbors that are well acquainted with each other–this is a blast and the moms are relaxed and enjoy the social time.
- Afternoon Tea Party: No TV, no iPods, no cell phones, no distractions. Just a big family gathering around the kitchen table with fancy cupcakes or mom’s favorite cake, snacks and drinks. Maybe some card games or mom’s favorite board game too.
Special Things You Can Do For Mom:
- Foot scrub and massage (you have no idea how heavenly this is for mom!)
- Let mom sleep in late
- Serve breakfast in bed (an old idea, but it’s a goody)
- On the day before (Saturday) everyone pitches in to clean the house, all laundry put away, kids rooms cleaned up
- Homemade cards with special notes or poems written just for mom
DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
Threadbanger did a great job putting this list together: DIY Mother’s Day Gifts and notice this 56 free apron patterns list was included (thank you!), if you sew and your mom loves aprons–they make a sweet gift.
A few more ideas:
- Candy Cane Sugar Scrub
- Framed Fabric Panels
- Canvas Photo: This can be of the family, or mom’s childhood home, a photo canvas of each child, a picture of a fond momento
- A large garden container or hanging basket filled with her favorite plants or herbs
- A small water garden
- Make a gorgeous Succulent Ball
- Sew a matching set of pretty shopping bags
- Sew this nifty purse organizer
- Build mom a potting bench
- Make a cozy heating pad
- Make a set of homemade garden pots
- Create a gift basket and fill it with framed photos of the family, kids artwork, 10 Favorite Things About Mom list, her favorite chocolates, movie passes, gift certificates, favorite candies, coffee and tea mixes
- Paint A Room: This is my gift this year, a room I’ve been wanting painted is getting a whole new makeover–yay!
If mom is home every day with the kiddos–she might love to have a break and enjoy some alone time at a spa, treated to an afternoon movie date with hubby or a long lunch with a friend.
Question For Moms: Is it acceptable to receive household appliances as a Mother’s Day gift? I’ll share what I think later today.
I’d love to hear what your favorite things to do on Mother’s Day are too :).
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Posted in Household Tips | 
( 7 )
05 May 2008 at 12:39 pm
Appliances are totally acceptable *if* Mom has been running around muttering “I wish I had a … “
05 May 2008 at 1:34 pm
I appreciate the “10 Mother’s Day Activity Ideas” list because nearly all of them took place outside, and many involved a hike or a ride to get away. As a Dad I know I enjoy the change of scenery, and suspect many Moms would as well (I know my wife does). Nothing beats a short day trip with the family where Dad coordinates the logistics, the food and getting the kids up and ready.
05 May 2008 at 3:42 pm
This is my favorite Mother’s Day event: I get left to garden the whole day if I want, without questions, cooking or any other duties. Usually a meal is prepared (actually brunch is my fave!) and many tears flow from my eyes with the hand-written cards from my children and even my husband, who is incredibly creative. My children are teens or in college, and still make the cards, for me and others.
I have saved ALL of them and love to read them once in awhile in the quiet times.
I actually don’t “like” to receive purchased items as I can buy them myself….unless they are the special chocolates my husband gets for me!
05 May 2008 at 4:45 pm
I clean my Mom’s and Mother In Law’s bathroom, including a “white glove” cleaning of the toilet…it’s not always a pretty thing to give my Moms, but….
05 May 2008 at 10:35 pm
Appliances are definitely OK if Mom has really been wanting it and if it will make things easier for her (dishwashers are great).
I liked the ideas. The painting a room is especially good and I have done this one for my grandmother before. Another one could be to plant a flower garden for Mom if she can’t garden herself (I would like this one myself)
05 May 2008 at 11:39 pm
Christine - that sounds lovely too, spending alone time puttering away in the garden. I forgot to mention another thing I love to do on Mother’s Day: greenhouse shopping!
Barbara - you’re right that it’s not a pretty gift, but it’s an awesome idea! I’d love for someone to come in and scrub my bathrooms from top to bottom with the toilet getting super treatment.
Thanks for the comments everyone :).
For the appliance gifts, my feeling is that’s it’s totally appropriate to gift mom with a small kitchen appliance or whatever household item it is that she wants…but only if she asks or suggests this.
06 May 2008 at 6:46 am
I think the best part of Mother’s day is not having to plan anything. I get tired of being my family’s “cruise entertainment director.”
Having THEM plan the day whether it’s dinner out or in, the day’s activities together or some time alone for me, is heavenly! Makes me feel taken care of, and loved.
I’m with Christine… I really don’t care if there are purchased gifts.