Birthdays, anniversaries, holy days and even Sundays, they all feel pretty much the same....
celebration
These days, it’s a little hard to keep track of time as the days just bleed into another. It feels as though time has taken a snail’s pace but sometimes it feels like it all went by in a blink. While these stringent measures are necessary to keep the viral spread at bay, it’s undeniable that people are slowly succumbing to anxiety and stress. For many, including myself, it is hard to keep a track of what date it is – especially since my job requires me to work in advance. This distorted perception of time has really stripped the charm away from the days that mean special to us. Birthdays, anniversaries, holy days and even Sundays, they all feel pretty much the same.
While we are in these unusual times, our mothers are doing their best to bring a semblance of normalcy. This means that you have to stretch your mind beyond your usual way of to come up with something exquisite to make your mother feel like the queen she is...
First off, we need a distraction from the doom and gloom. If you are someone who is working from home and time escapes from you, keeping a reminder for the day might be a good idea. Whether she’s watching a video on WhatsApp or engrossed in a chore, just pop in to wish her and maybe hug and kiss her. Even if you feel there is an onslaught of a flying chappal for the constant reminders, wish her ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ a gazillion times and no less. There is also a high chance of you hearing things along the lines of, ‘baqi dinon main bhi ammi ki baat sun liya karo’. (Listen to your mother during other days as well) I’d like to believe that this is universal desi mom behaviour, but I am sure at least the Millennials will relate to this. The whole point of this little gesture is to add some playfulness to the day. If you live away from your mom, make sure to give her call, send a voicenote or a text several times a day, it will surely make her feel special.
Let moms put their feet up
During the pandemic, many mothers nowadays are on double-duty. Let your mom take a full day off from all sort of housework. If you have siblings, ask them to join you in taking charge of the household responsibilities. Moreover, if you have a family member who is a working mom with little children, offer to look after the children and the house for the day. It may not sound like much but would mean the world to them.
Since you can’t go out for a special meal and a delectable dessert, order it in from your favourite local shop or small business. Not only will you be treating your momma to a great dinner, you will also be supporting the small businesses that are currently facing economic instability.
For those who are living away from their moms, they can try and send a gift online with a note. Most of the online stores are operational and some are even having a Mother’s Day sale. However, make sure to do some research on what may or may not arrive on time since deliveries can be delayed.
For basic gift ideas, you can opt for an Eid dress or accessories. A useful gadget, depending on your budget, will also do – from a pair of headphones to a tablet – you can place orders online. If you are looking for something different, consider building a spa-themed or beauty basket to remind her to take a moment for herself. If you are looking for organic and eco-friendly products, there are small companies that might interest you (like Codegreen, calm&balm, Gavrilev etc).
Our mothers are always so busy taking care of us, sometimes they forget to take care of themselves. Oftentimes, they let go of their pursuits just so that we can fulfil ours. This present isn’t as tangible but an invaluable one indeed. Talk to your mother and find out if there was a skill that she always wanted to master or a career she wanted to take up but never could. Depending on what she likes, you can make her an activity-themed basked filled with everything she needs to learn a new skill – like embroidery, gardening or candle making etc. This will be a more of a show of support for your mom to follow her pursuits.
If you are not in a position to splurge on a gift, now is an opportune time to get creative with what you might do for your mom on her special day. A present put together with love and care is often incomparable to any expensive gift you can get your hands on. You can put together an album of her best memories together. You can either do it digitally (there are apps on iTunes and Playstore that will help you create one) or better yet, if you can, put together a physical album. It will be something that she will always cherish and look back at.
If you still haven’t been able to, spend quality time with her. Grab a boardgame and have her play with you. Listen to her narrate stories about her childhood, learn about her experiences and her wisdom. This is the perfect time for you to make wonderful memories. In our fast-paced life, we often overlook such moments or even stop to lend an ear. Don’t take it for granted, take this time to cherish and love your amma!
