Dear Diane,
I recently watched a television segment where you mention a Mother’s Day gift for daughters. Is this something new or have I been missing the boat for the past several years? My two grown daughters each have children of their own. Should I give them gifts? What do you do in your family?
Sincerely,
Dawn P.
Dear Dawn,
You have not been missing the boat! Mother’s Day is traditionally celebrated to honor “mom”, the matriarch of the family. In recent years, the greeting card industry has expanded its offerings to include “Mommy to Be”, as well as “To My Daughter” cards. You’ll also see Mother’s Day cards intended for grandmothers, sisters and family friends who are “like a mother”. I’ve even seen cards for pet “moms”!
These card expansions do not dictate what you must do to celebrate Mother’s Day. There is no right or wrong when it comes to gift-giving for Mother’s Day, which can include mom, grandma and any special women who have taken a maternal role in your life, as well as those whose “mothering” you appreciate.
In some families, the only mom who receives a card is their own, while other households enjoy honoring several special women in their life, including their daughters who have children. In other words, each family celebrates differently. A gift is not the only way to say “I love you.” Taking your mom (or another special woman or women) in your life out for coffee or ice cream, for a walk on a nature trail, to the theater for a matinee show, or treating her to an afternoon tea are all different ways to let a woman who has touched your life know you are thinking of her regardless of the date on the calendar.
Regarding my family’s traditions, my mother does not give me a card or gift for Mother’s Day, nor do I expect one from her. I have a daughter who is a mommy and Mother’s Day happens to fall near her birthday. I buy her a birthday gift, but also give her a Mother’s Day card. Again, there is no one size fits all to what is appropriate when it comes to gift giving for Mother’s Day or any other family celebration. Each family has its own traditions and they may evolve from year to year as the size of the family grows or changes.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day with the special people in your life.
Best of luck,
Diane
Here are a few more of my Mother’s Day tips:
