Give the Gift of Kindness This Mother’s Day

mother's day

Happy Mother’s Day

Every day as a pediatrician, I get to hear from a lot of moms (including my own) which brings me to Mother’s Day—a time to celebrate mom for the special person she is. This week, therefore I thought I would share with children and dads some of the gifts mom really would like to get for her special day that cost next to nothing but are truly priceless.

Gift Ideas

First, on Mother’s Day, why not consider doing what mom asks the first time she asks you to do it.  While still not surgically possible, moms would certainly enjoy having eyes in the back of their head, and while that operation doesn’t exist, every mom I know already has that talent.

Consider giving mom a coupon good for a “day off” for time to herself on the big day. Let her sleep in, serve her breakfast in bed and let her take over the remote control and pick the programs she really wants to watch.

Institute a whine-free zone throughout your home that should be in place for the entire 24 hours of Mother’s Day and consider extending it beyond Mother’s Day.

Acts of Kindness

Mothers also tell me they do like gifts, but the homemade ones mean the most.  Consider making mom a certificate that names her world’s greatest mom as a means of showing how much you appreciate her.  Framing this so she can hang it up is even better and will last longer than any store-bought gift.

Help with any chores or clean-ups that usually fall to mom. For example, make your bed without her having to remind you. She will be just as happy with these small simple acts, such as cleaning your room or doing the dishes.

Finally, take mom out for dinner and invite the grandparents even the in-laws. Celebrate and thank not only your mom but the other women in your family, such as grandmas and aunts.

In this way, mothers will say wow (which is mom upside down) when it comes to our showing her the kindness, concern, caring and love she deserves so that we can celebrate Mother’s Day not just on May 12 but every day of the year.

 

Lewis First, MD, is chief of Pediatrics at The University of Vermont Children’s Hospital and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont College of Medicine.  You can also catch “First with Kids” weekly on WOKO 98.9FM and WPTZ Channel 5, or visit the First with Kids video archives at www.UVMHealth.org/MedCenterFirstWithKids.

 

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