With love ...
Mother's day is not just any other day, it is the day devoted to celebrating mothers across the world. When I was younger my teachers told my mom there was no hope for me because I just couldn't fathom the concept of mathematics. It was her who sat me down everyday and taught me. It was because of her that I got full marks in my exams later on. Though we had our differences in the past I realized how much those cold evenings with my maths books helped me. I realized how much she as a person helped shape me into a somewhat acceptable human being. So no mother's day is not an ordinary day and you should not treat her to a half hearted card. It's the one time of the year you should set aside to show how much she means to you.
Replace those boring traditional gifts for something that you know will deeply touch her. Remember pricier is not always better. Often times you will find that it's the simplest gestures that mothers crave. You know your mother's tastes so cater to those. If she's an avid reader give her a book. Not just any book but get her favourite genre or author and if you can manage to autograph it then the pleasure multiplies manifold. The trick for buying her gifts is getting what she prefers. Don't blindly buy the first thing in the shop.
Another priceless gift is taking her out and just plainly hanging out with her. Take her to the spa or parlour. If she has fond memories of Dhaka city as a child, take her out on a heritage walk. Even better take her to her old home and get an ice cream from the neighbourhood shop she used to frequent as a young girl.
Do not take her out on a movie day though. Then you will just spend the day looking at a screen instead of actually talking. You can however get her the complete collection of her favourite actress. Don't whine, this is the digital age. They're only a click away.
If you are on a tight budget, fear not here are some cheap suggestions. You do not have to get her a gift or take her out. Stay at home, give your maid a day off and cook a meal together. That does not mean you will sit around and only set the table. Change the usual roles. Make your mother set the table and you go chop the onions. Cook her the traditional meal her own mother used to make for her.
You'll find that mothers often had to sacrifice eating their own favourite foods because you loved them too. Suppose she gave up eating drumsticks because of you. Give her the drumstick this time. Save her the creamy part of the cake for once.
Another item you cannot go wrong with is photos. Not the digital kind, but the physical copies. The difference is that you can indeed spend hours getting lost in the feel and memories of the physical photos. But the sentiment is not quite the same with the digital versions.
Make an entire album with pictures from her life. Starting with her birth, to her teens and marriage. Find those holiday pictures she cherished and make a complete album based only on her. This will take some digging and trips to your grandma. But trust me she will love this one. If this idea is beyond your reach start a photo tradition of your own. Every mother's day take a picture with her. Store them in a scrapbook and leave them with her.
These are some ideas that will not only go easy on your wallet but also bring a tear in your mum's eye if done right. What could be better than that? Start the mother's day off with a tight hug and follow from there.
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