What do YOU want for Mother’s Day?
I want you to take ten minutes to think about it.
Hi everybody, it’s Babs.
I want to talk about a very important day: Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day is next Sunday, and I bet some of you reading are moms. Instead of sharing a list of ideas for how to celebrate the mothers in your life, I’d like to take a minute to talk about something I have observed about this day dedicated to moms over the years.
Oftentimes, moms are so busy in the weeks and days leading up to Mother’s Day that they don’t stop to think about what would actually make them happy on their big day. By not taking that minute to ask, “What do I want?” moms are setting themselves up for possible disappointment on their special day. (I think everyone probably has experienced that feeling on what should be a celebratory day.) But your family can’t read your mind. If you're someone who has felt a bit let down on Mother’s Day you need to tell them—specifically!—what would make your day great. If you’re not a mom yourself, but have a mother you plan to celebrate next week, ask her what she wants today (not the day before!). And don’t settle for a vague, “Anything you plan would be nice,” answer.
There are so many different ways to celebrate–and moms all (rightfully) want different things! To some moms, there’s nothing sweeter than breakfast in bed, but to others, that might just sound like a recipe for disaster (don’t be afraid to say so, if that’s you!). A stay-at-home mom of multiple young kids might long for some quiet time to herself, while a grandmother like me might want as much family time as possible. Personally, my favorite way to celebrate is with brunch with my family. My message to you is to not feel guilty about whatever it is you want. This is your day. Whatever path you choose there’s not a wrong one.
I also want to acknowledge that Mother’s Day can also be a difficult day for people who have lost their mothers (or have complicated relationships with their moms). If that’s you, I’m sending you a warm Babs hug, and I encourage you to ask yourself what would make you feel better on Mother’s Day. A nature walk, a morning at the farmer’s market, lunch with a friend, hours reading a good book: Make a plan, so you have something to look forward to. You might also ask yourself if there is a mother figure in your life you want to celebrate instead? Mother’s Day could be a day for lavishing appreciation on anyone who has loved and cared for you.
There’s one thing I think almost every mother wants: Not to have to make a single decision all day long.
So, make your plan now. Decide what you want. When Mother’s Day rolls around next week, you can spend the day doing your (hopefully relaxing!) thing without any decision making necessary.
Did your mother ever tell you… how to make flowers last?
Mother’s Day and flowers go hand-in-hand—unless, of course, you told your family you don’t like flowers (see my advice above). Whether you treat yourself or you receive a bouquet as a gift, I have a few quick tips to make those flowers last.
Using a sharp knife or scissors, remove the leaves from the lower stems. Leaves left in the water cause bacteria to grow, leading to rot, bad odor, and withering flowers.
Fill a vase with room-temperature water–too hot or too cool can shock the flowers.
Add a cap full (or approximately 1 tablespoon) of chlorine bleach to the water. The bleach will kill any bacteria in the water, so those flowers don’t wilt prematurely.
Cut off the bottoms of the stems at an angle with a sharp tool, and immediately plunge the flowers into the water. A fresh cut ensures that fresh tissue is exposed and allows the flowers to absorb more water. Cutting at an angle increases the surface area allowing the cut flower to take in more water.
Fun fact! If you need motivation to splurge on a bouquet, a much-cited study from Harvard Medical Study showed that people feel more compassion, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when surrounded by fresh flowers.
You’re here reading Brunch With Babs, so it should come as no surprise that my favorite meal is brunch, and my absolute favorite brunch of the year is Mother’s Day brunch. In Celebrate with Babs I devoted a chapter to Mother’s Day brunch and today I’m sharing my suggested menu, one make-ahead recipe, and instructions for my favorite brunch cocktail. I hope it makes it easier for you to make one less decision about your Mother’s Day plans!
Babs’ Brunch Menu
Mixed Greens Salad
French Toast Overnight Casserole
A savory egg casserole, like my Perfect Egg Brunch Casserole
Pastries, try my Cheater’s Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
Dessert In my family it’s my Italian Cream Cake
Elderflower Mimosas (see below)
Elderflower Mimosas
Cheers to you on Mother’s Day! This is a delicious twist on the traditional mimosa using the light, sweet floral taste of St. Germain Elderflower liqueur. Once you try this, you might never go back to the original.
TO MAKE: In a champagne flute, mix together 1 1/2 fl oz (45ml) St Germain Elderflower Liqueur and 1/2 fl oz (15ml) orange juice. Top it off with very cold Prosecco.
Q: What is something you did with your mom while she was still alive that you really value?
A: Just listening to her stories. I could sit and listen to family stories for hours. I used to ask my mom to tell me stories about her Mom, and I would encourage you to do the same.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, I also love traditions that help capture childhood. As a mom there’s nothing as special as something that takes me back to when my children were young. When I was a preschool teacher the fill-in-the-blank Mother’s Day printouts weren’t a thing yet, but I have loved seeing the ones my grandchildren have made for my daughters and daughters-in-law. So, I created one for you!
Why not give it to everyone in your family—adults, teenagers, kids, and even the little ones that can’t read and write yet (ask the questions aloud and write down their responses)? I might fill one out myself, so my kids and grandkids can learn a little bit more about my mom.
XO Babs