Mother’s Day Gifts for a Healthier Mom and Family
As Mother’s Day approaches on Sunday, advertisements suggest that we honor moms with cards, flowers, massages, brunch, chocolate, clothes or whatever! You name it – stuff is supposed to make mothers feel happy and valued.
While sparkly jewelry and roses are certainly appreciated by many women, gifts of a different sort may be what moms really need to feel good and even improve their well-being. Surveys show that women report feeling more stress than men. And mothers report higher stress levels than fathers. More moms than dads also report feeling exhausted, laying awake at night or experiencing headaches, worry and sadness because of stress.
So, as you work to make Mother’s Day a special occasion, consider a few these ideas that might improve the well-being of moms and the family.
- Moms want time to themselves, as well as time to spend with the family. But make sure
it’s not just one Sunday a year. Instead, help Mom make time for herself and the family several times each week. - Spend some time as a family taking a walk or playing outside. Make it become a weekly habit for everyone to get active 3-5 days a week so the whole family benefits.
- Most moms work, and then come home and work more inside the home. On Mother’s Day — and everyday — make an effort to share or rotate some of the responsibilities at home. Get the kids involved with chores too!
- Make time to grocery shop, prepare meals and eat together as a family. This not only cuts back on some of Mom’s workload. It helps teach your children how to make healthier food choices.
- Protect time during the week when the family can be alone together for quality time. Turn off the TV and ask each other about their day. Play games, go for walks, let your imagination run wild with new things to do together.
- Sometimes Mom just needs time away from kids. Whether time with her friends or with a significant other, a date night, long walk, fun movie or short trip can be restoring.
Remember, when moms feel healthy, their well-being improves, and that benefits mothers and the whole family.
Photos by cybertoad and okilic (at flickr)
And for us empty nesters with grown children, give us a photo or better yet several of yourself. Maybe one of those facy frames that go through a album of pictures if you can afford it. Or just post photos in an email. Once you moved out and away, I don’t get to see as much of your beautiful faces as I’d like too.
And for those whose mothers are elderly – get out the camera and take family photos together. We take boat loads of photos of babies but so few of the grandparents.
Happy Mother’s Day to all.`-`