Mother’s Day is almost here. The holiday has its roots in ancient Greek festivals honoring Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. The modern American holiday officially began in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May a day to honor all the mothers of mere mortals like us.
1. Deliver the classic Mother’s Day treat: breakfast in bed. Cook her favorite morning fare and tuck her favorite flowers into a small crystal vase. If the tray has slots on the sides, fill them with small presents (or big presents in small packages.)
2. Take your mother on a trip with Mother’s Day sandwiched in the middle during a long weekend.
3. Surprise your mother with a visit if she lives far away. (Just be sure to coordinate your plans with a conspirator on your mother’s turf; you don’t want to travel halfway across the country only to find your mom’s taken off for the weekend.)
4. Deliver her present by way of a treasure hunt. Invite her for dinner and give her an elaborately wrapped package. When she opens the “gift” she’ll find a clue telling her where to look for another package. Lead her on as long a trail as you think she’ll find amusing, with her real present waiting at the end.
5. Honor your mother’s memory if she’s no longer living. Send a donation to her favorite charity or spend the day working for her favorite cause. Do things she taught you to love, whether it’s playing golf, working in the garden or taking your dog for a long walk.
6. Thank the women who produced your favorite people – send cards, flowers or notes to the mothers of your friends.
