If Mother’s Day is all about Mom, why does this holiday seem to cause so much stress for the 85 million mothers in America? As nice as Mother’s Day sounds, it is a day that can bring anxiety, tears and frustration to Moms and families alike. Let’s stop to consider the reasons:
- Mother’s Day is always on a Sunday. Traditionally, Sunday is a day that centers on schedule. Church, sports, and kids’ activities take place on Sundays, and who is usually in charge of dressing, transporting and feeding on Sundays? You got it! Mom.
- All mothers also have a Mom. We all want to celebrate our own mothers, but we sometimes forget that many mothers also have a Mom that they would like to see on Mother’s Day as well. Being celebrated and celebrating someone else on the same day is challenging to say the least!
- Celebrating Mom can be a guessing game. Whether you are planning for your own Mom, mother-in-law or step mom, mind-reading is always a challenge. You want to surprise her, but you want to plan the kind of day that she will enjoy.
May is not only the month that we celebrate Mom, but it is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Over 20 percent of Americans will be affected by a mental health issue at some point in their lives, and stress plays a major role (Source: Huffington Post). Let’s all commit to making Mother’s Day 2016 a special day for our mothers, wives, daughters and friends by remembering a few guidelines:
- Plan early. Ask your Mom or wife about how she wants to spend the day. Get a general feel for how she wants the day to progress, but plan out the specifics so she can be surprised. As a family, discuss which family members need to be recognized. Purchase cards and gifts and get them in the mail. If you want to spend time with other special ladies in your life like a grandmother or mother-in-law, incorporate that time slot into the schedule of your day.
- Focus on the positives. This is a day to honor Mom for all of her best qualities. Not everyone feels close to their mother, but Mother’s Day is a day to say “thank you.” No relationship is perfect. Be generous of spirit and choose to dwell on the happy memories today. Resentful thoughts and anger can create mental and physical stress that is detrimental to your digestive health.
- Keep it simple. Mom would rather see your face or hear your voice than receive an elaborate gift. Cook a special brunch, make a homemade card, print some pictures from when you were little, or tell stories about the good ol’ days. If you are relaxed, she will be too.
- Treat yourself. Maybe your children are not good gift-givers to you on Mother’s Day. Maybe your own Mom can be difficult to be around. Maybe your mother-in-law did not like the restaurant you chose. When the day is done, treat yourself to something relaxing. Take a bath, read a good book, make a healthy snack from one of the Butt Seriously Blog recipes, or go for a run. You are doing the best you can, and that deserves a healthy treat.
Have a Happy, Stress-Free Mother’s Day!