Chocolates and flowers may abound this Sunday, May 9th, but the very best Mother’s Day gifts really are the kind that don’t fit in a box or vase. Want to know what moms truly want? Time off to relax, a sparkling clean house, priceless homemade art, a month long pass to enjoy a favorite hobby, or a pregnancy pedicure from dad. Here’s our list of sure to please presents that green moms will love!
1. Clean the House from Top to Bottom with Eco-friendly Cleaners
Most moms dream of having a clean home that they didn’t have to make spotless themselves! Send mom to the backyard to relax in a new hammock (bonus if you macrame the hammock yourself!), hand her an organic mimosa and this sweet Think & Grow Plantable Journal, which features covers that may be planted to grow wildflowers! While mom unwinds and writes in her journal or takes a nap, gather the kids together and do a clean sweep of the house with homemade eco-friendly cleaning products. Don’t forget to do the laundry too! Or, focus on one area of the house that is mom’s Achilles heel – a crazy disordered coat closet, an eye-sore of an exposed water heater, whatever needs tending to, fix it, and smile when you see the relief and gratitude on mom’s face. Extra points to families who make this the gift that keeps on giving all year long by helping mom keep the house tidy all the time.
2. Craft Priceless Family Tree Art With Your Kids
Rally the kids, get a large blank canvas and decorate it with your family tree. This is a great way to teach children about their heritage and ancestors, and it makes a very special, personalized gift for moms. Get as creative as you want, gathering twigs to use for each branch of the canvas tree, or simply use paint or paint pens. We all have a blank wall in our homes just waiting to display that breathtaking piece of artwork, and a masterpiece of this type is truly priceless. Not sure how to begin? Check out this inspiring family tree art that is stunning in its simplicity.
3. Treat Mom to an Entire Month/Year of Her Favorite Hobby (Babysitting Included!)
Does mom love to go horseback riding but can never find the time? Is she more “zoned” than “zen” because she constantly skips yoga class to care for the family? Has she always wanted to hone in on her rock-climbing skills but she’s too busy watching the kids climb the walls at home? This Mother’s Day, give mom the time and permission to indulge in her hobby by treating her to a yoga studio membership, horseback riding lessons, or a punch card to a rock-climbing studio… and then tell her you’ll babysit the kids once a week while she gets out of the house to enjoy this passion.
4. Pregnancy Pampering Pedicure
If mom is pregnant, one of the nicest gifts dads can give her is a pedicure with a foot and leg massage. After all, she can no longer bend over to reach her own toes, and could really use the help! Green mamas tend to avoid getting pedicures in salons during pregnancy due to all of the odorous chemicals and dangerous toxins inherent in nail polish. Equip mom with a collection of polishes from Polished Mama, a line of non-toxic nail polishes that was specially created for moms-to-be. Shades feature cutesy names pregnant moms will appreciate: Craving, Fourth Trimester, etc. Dads, roll up your sleeves and massage mom’s tootsies and legs, and then give her a pretty pedicure so she can be proud to show off her toes – even if she can no longer see them herself.
5. Start a Roof/Deck/Yard/Windowsill Garden
No matter how expansive or limited your space is on the home front, there’s always room to grow a garden of some variety. This year, instead of giving mom a bouquet of flowers, start a long-lasting garden in her honor. If she loves to cook, put her on the path to growing vegetables at home. Or if she has a soft spot for flowers, start a vertical garden to showcase a variety of blooms. If she’s always wishing she had the right herb at her fingertips while preparing meals, help her grow an herb harden of her very own. Maintaining the garden will also provide mom with a fun bonding activity with her children.
Happy Mother’s Day!