Use “Love Languages” To Celebrate the Women in Your Life This Mother’s Day

The older you get, the more you see the truth in the phrase, “Your mom never stops being your mom.” But no matter how much you love each other or how close you are, finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift can sometimes be a challenge.

In the end, it’s not the price tag that matters—it’s that your mom feels loved. And what better way to make her feel loved than to speak her “love language.” “Love language” is the philosophy that different people prefer to express and receive love and appreciation in different ways. Understanding someone’s love language and expressing it accordingly to them allows you to do so in a way that the other person finds meaningful.

Let’s look at some possible Mother’s Day gift ideas based on the five love languages!

Mother’s Day Gifts for Acts of Service Love Language

If your mom feels most appreciated through acts of service, schedule some time to help her with a task. It could be gardening or yardwork, going through boxes of mementos, or reorganizing her living room. Spending the day bonding while you work and having a celebratory meal or snack when you’re done may be just the perfect gift for her.

If your mother lives far away, that doesn’t mean you can’t provide an act of service for her. Find a nearby service that can help with something, and purchase a gift card or a specific task. Common services include yard care, cleaning services, meal deliveries, and laundry services.

Mother’s Day Gifts for Physical Touch Love Language

Don’t make it complicated. When you see your mom, give her a big old hug and tell her, “Happy Mother’s Day!” You may want to accompany that with a tangible gift as well. Focus on sensory items—a soft or fuzzy item of clothing, a massage pillow, or a luxurious lotion.

If you are unable to physically see your mom on Mother’s Day, this love language might seem difficult to accommodate. Why not send a hug? You could send a stuffed animal with a sweet written or recorded message about how you’re hugging her from afar or a “friendship” lamp that lights up when you touch the other lamp in the set (which you keep) to show your mom when you’re thinking of her (and vice versa).

Mother’s Day Gifts for Quality Time Love Language

If your mom feels most appreciated through quality time, celebrate Mother’s Day by (you guessed it) spending some time with her!

• Participate in one of her hobbies—playing a game, taking a cooking or art class, going to a museum, etc.
• Plan a picnic to enjoy some time in nature together. You can go to a local park or just spend an afternoon outside on the lawn.
• Sometimes senior living centers have special events for holidays like Mother’s Day. Ask if these events are open to the public and make time to attend with her.

Quality time is easy when everyone is close by, mobile, or able to travel, but what about when you live far away, or your mom is unable to leave her home? Thankfully, there are solutions for that, too!

• Plan a virtual event like an online class, wine tasting, or an activity like an escape room.
• “Get together” on a platform like Zoom for a family meal or game night.

Mother’s Day Gifts for Receiving Gifts Love Language

Having a mom who feels most loved when she’s receiving gifts might seem like the easy way out for Mother’s Day, but that’s not necessarily the case! You want to make sure your gift feels like something truly special.

If you can physically be with your mom on Mother’s Day, host a “favorite things” party that’s all about your mom! Invite your family or a few people who are important to your mom, and spend the day celebrating and gifting her favorite things. You could:

• Get lunch from her favorite restaurant (and maybe get her a gift card to enjoy later).
• Set the ambiance with her favorite scented candle (which she gets to keep, of course).
• Decorate with her favorite flowers or items in her favorite color. (Who doesn’t love getting a bouquet?)
• Participate in one of her favorite pastimes.
• Watch her favorite movie or show with a snack bar of her favorite treats. The opportunities are truly endless!

If you need to celebrate your mom from afar, think about gifts that will make her feel close to you throughout the year:

• A digital photo frame that family members can update with images of new adventures or accomplishments.
• A gift basket with some of her favorite items from where you live.
• An item that reminds her of an activity you like to do when you are together—a puzzle of a place you’ve visited, a book by an author you both love, etc.

Mother’s Day Gifts for Words of Affirmation Love Language

This one is fairly simple, regardless of whether your mom is near or far this Mother’s Day. Tell her, whether face-to-face or over the phone, how much she means to you or how she has made a difference in your life. If you want her to be able to hear your words over and over again, you could put your praise and gratitude in a letter or send a recorded video.

If you want something even more lasting, you can send a gift that echoes your sentiments, like:

• A customized “Reasons I Love You” book.
• A framed poem, whether it’s one you found or one you wrote.
• A piece of jewelry with a meaningful message engraved.

Tips and Reminders When Planning Mother’s Day Gifts

You’re putting a lot of thought into your Mother’s Day celebration. Consider these tips to help make the day just as special as the woman you’re celebrating:

• If your mom is living at an assisted living community, check with the community to ensure you respect its limitations—visiting hours, limitations on bringing in food or activities, etc.
• Don’t know what your mom wants? Ask! Let your mom know that you want to celebrate her and ask her how you can best do that. If the response is the dreaded, “Oh, I don’t know,” then rest assured that the thought behind whatever you choose will be appreciated. What matters most is that she knows how much you love and care for her.
• Remember that Mother’s Day can include your chosen family, too. If you are not in a place to celebrate your mom, or if you know a caring woman who doesn’t have someone to celebrate her, we encourage you to widen your circle and celebrate other special women in your life this Mother’s Day.

Right at Home Wants Seniors To Feel Appreciated Every Day

Right at Home provides compassionate care for seniors and adults who have disabilities. We know everyone’s needs are different, so our care plans are uniquely tailored to each individual. Our trusted and reliable caregivers are trained to assist with all types of needs and to deliver an exceptional care experience in a variety of settings to make your older loved one feel comfortable: at home, in an independent or assisted living community, or elsewhere.

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