Without a doubt, being a mom is the toughest yet most rewarding title anyone could claim! Even the word MOM, if you read it upside down, spells WOW! When was the last “WOW” moment you can remember? What was it that caused you to hear your own voice exclaim, “WOW?” It’s a powerful word, describing a moment in time that is “halted and memorized” simultaneously!
When you think about your mom, common words such as cook, teacher, listener, wage earner, nurse, doctor, coach/cheerleader, gardener, baker, birder, supporter, advisor, and perhaps “best friend” come to mind. All these words describe what she does, but within each one of these words, there’s a story or a memory associated with it.
My mom was a great cook and baker. She had seven kids, a husband, a full-time job, a house to clean, and dinner to put on the table at the end of each day, WOW! She even managed to bake the best chocolate cakes with fudge frosting from scratch to bring to work the next day for someone’s birthday.
As an often hungry 7-year-old, waiting for dinner was something I had trouble doing. Often, I would skip it and just go to bed early, only to be woken up by a loud growling noise in my tummy! Like a mouse, within minutes, I would find myself nibbling mom’s freshly baked cake. Just one little bite became a bigger bite, and so on. The next morning, Mom would yell, “Danny, Becky, and Robin, come down here!” With residual evidence of chocolate still covering my face, she need not ask, “Who got into my cake?”
Mom passed at the age of 56 due to cancer. It was the single hardest thing I had ever experienced. My best friend was gone, so who was going to teach me how to be a great mom one day? Thank goodness many of her life lessons remain in my heart. I do, however, regret never recording her voice if only to play it back for my grown children today.
We celebrate our moms in May. It’s just one day out of the year, yet we have trouble deciding “how to do it?” Will it be flowers, a card, and lunch at her favorite eatery, or something different? What would you do if you had 90 minutes with your mom? Here are some ideas:
Spa day for you and mom at Spavia in Minnetonka. Relax and unwind with a personalized treatment from Spavia’s expert therapists and estheticians. https://minnetonkamn.spaviadayspa.com/
Treat mom to a Mother’s Day Sparkling “Schrampagne” Tasting event at Schram’s Vineyards, an interactive sparkling wine tasting with a spread of mini pastries and desserts! https://www.schramvineyards.com/
Rosé all day at Red Cow in Wayzata. For all the moms, enjoy free rosé on Mother’s Day. https://redcowmn.com/wayzata/
See Cabrini, a spectacular true-life movie that you’ll both love! Or rewatch your mom’s favorite flick!
Enjoy an evening out strolling through the incredible exhibitions at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, or snag tickets to one of their upcoming concerts. https://www.hopkinsartscenter.com/
Create a book of memories with Storyworth. They’ll help you create a beautiful and meaningful keepsake for your mom. http://buy.storyworth.com
Asking your mom what she would like to do on Mother’s Day is something you probably do every year. Have you ever considered celebrating that special day on a Tuesday or a Saturday, and then just with mom only? This wouldn’t work for small children, but it would make the occasion even more special for your mom. Carving out a non-traditional time from your schedule says she’s very special!
Back to that chocolate cake story, I've tried to recreate my mom’s recipe many times without the same success. If I could have 90 minutes with my mom, I just might spend that time in the kitchen asking her to show me what wasn’t on the recipe card. How did she fold in that “WOW” factor? After that, I would snap a selfie of the two of us together, punch the video button, and ask her to reveal her thoughts, her fondest memories, and any advice on how to be a great mom. Oh, and one more thing, I would gently take her hand in mine and whisper softly, “Thank you, Mom, for being my best friend and for showing me that being a mom is the greatest accomplishment of my life." Happy Mother’s Day to all moms. We would not be here without them!