For most people, celebrating mom's big day means taking her out for brunch, making a phone call, or perhaps giving some flowers. But there are folks who, for whatever reason, don't look forward to Mother's Day. Maybe they have a terrible relationship with their mom, never knew their mom, or are dealing with the loss of their mother. What then?
Just because there's a day set aside for mothers doesn't mean you can't use it to celebrate the other women in your life instead. Here are some ideas to turn Sunday into a happy event, no matter if you have a mom in your life or not.
Celebrate the Women Who Mentored You
If you didn't have a good role model growing up, you probably gravitated toward women who became a mentor or other important influence in your life. Sunday is the perfect opportunity to honor these women, either with a phone call, heartfelt letter, or even blog post.
I personally think that writing publicly about the positive people in our lives helps us all during those times when we need encouragement and can't seem to find it in the people around us. Knowing there are folks out there who offer kindness gives hope to everyone.
If you chose the phone call or letter route, that's even better, because you're letting that person in your life know exactly how much you appreciate them. We always think the people we love know our feelings, but even so it's nice to remind them.
Honor Your Friends
Girlfriends help us in so many ways, and even if they aren't mothers themselves, they can provide us with nurturing and love. So why not let a close friend know you appreciate her? Do something small but thoughtful for her, and tell her "thanks" for all those times you cried on her shoulder or laughed hysterically.
If one of your friends is an amazing mother, be sure to tell her that, too. There's so much criticism in the world, and people seem to freely walk up to another person and give their opinion on everything from their clothing to mothering style. Why do we criticize each other?
Instead, tell your friend times that her kid has behaved well, things you love about how she mothers her children, or how much you learn from her example.
Let Your Past Go
If your mom is around today and constantly criticizing you, take a step back and realize how sad she is to choose that path. She could have a wonderful relationship with you but instead has chosen to put a barrier between the two of you in the form of her negativity. Change the way you react to her by praying for her or shrugging off her harmful comments.
If you grew up with a woman who was more concerned with herself than you, it's time to let go of all that anger and appreciate the person you've become. At some point, it doesn't matter what happened when you were a kid because you're the adult now and in charge of your life. So take a moment to pat yourself on the back for thriving despite the challenges you've faced.
Let this Mother's Day be about all the women in your life who deserve a kind word and some acknowledgement, and don't forget to be good to yourself today as well.
Related:
- How to Be Nicer
- 5 Simple Fixes to Improve Your Relationship
- What to Do When You and Your Siblings Disagree About Mom's Care
