What Mums Actually want for Mothers Day (turns out it’s not breakfast in bed)
What does Mum actually want for Mother's Day? As I'm travelling overseas on Sunday, we celebrated Mothers Day early last weekend. I told Mum I could make her breakfast in bed, and it turns out she couldn't think of anything worse! I guess crumbs in the bed is a bit of an ick for many of us. We pondered over where that tradition started, then I asked Mum what mothers ACTUALLY want for Mothers Day.
I'm sure this is subjective. Maybe some of you or your Mums would love jewellery, chocolates, hand-made art from your kids…. but according to my Mum (sorry Jodee, I didn't get your consent for this), what mums want is time off! Time to let go of the doing, planning, organising. Time to surrender and let the family take care of themselves. Time to spend doing things for themselves rather than others.
When I was caretaking at the Cape Du Couedic lighthouse keepers cottages in Summer ‘24/25, Mum came down to stay for a week over new years. On our New Years Eve reflection together, when asked what her favourite moment from 2024 was, she said it was right then and there… Having a week on remote Kangaroo Island, offline, surrounded by nature, spending time walking, SUPing, swimming, sight-seeing, wildlife watching, reading, sharing meals, watching sunsets, talking to the ravens…. and why wouldn’t that be the highlight! How can any material purchase, indoor experience or work highlight compete with the awe of being fully immersed in nature?
In the end, our early Mothers Day last weekend didn’t quite go to plan, as Mum woke up earlier than us and prepared a breakfast of omelettes. What a failure of a child I am! Receiving a cooked breakkie from Mum on Mothers Day! - But then again, that's part of her love language.
I realised that everything Mum had said can be found on an enliven experience. Time in nature. Time for mothers to tend to their own needs. Time to actually exhale, be in the moment and be in your body, not in your to-do lists.
So many of my clients have come along to a surf camp/ hike/ kayak/ SUP with me as their first self-care day since having kids. Other clients have booked into an experience solo because all their friends are too busy Mum-ing to spend a weekend adventuring. Some other clients are deep into caring for their Mum's, so they book a weekend for themselves with enliven as respite. Wherever you are in your Mum/ Grandma/ Daughter/ Mum-to-be/ Mum-wish-to-be/ Mum-never-to-be journey….. I feel like all of you (and your Mums) could benefit from a day to not be your title, to not be your maternal-status, but to just be yourself in nature.
So give the gift Mum actually wants (or that YOU actually want) this Mothers Day with an enliven outdoor adventures gift card valid for 3 years to use on any tour/ retreat/ lesson/ camp/ course.
You can choose from the giftcards right here, and have it instantly delivered to your inbox, or to Mum’s.
Love you, Mum xx
