That day of ‘Saluting your
Mom’ is here people and I hope you’re all set to make it ‘special’ for her.
With just a couple of days to count down to Mother’s Day this weekend, take
your hand off the panic button and breathe, as this pointer aims at giving you
not just directions but also the ‘soul of celebrating’ Mother’s Day.
First let’s define ‘special’
before we decide on how to make it special for your mom. A popular survey
conducted last year among moms asking them what they wanted for Mother’s Day
revealed startling facts about how moms define the words ‘special day’. Here
are excerpts:
§ Majority
wanted an ‘NQA Day’ – a ‘no-questions-asked-day’. They just wanted to be left
to themselves where they do their own thing without having to check with family
first or give explanations later. When asked what they would do in that time, a
big chunk of them said they wanted to stay in bed all morning and have breakfast
in bed; get a facial, manicure, pedicure, and massage done at a parlour; meet
friends over lunch at a fancy restaurant; stroll in malls and do some mindless
shopping; watch a movie of their choice; and quickly return home and cuddle-up
in bed and read magazines and take a nap. Some even wished that their homes got
sorted and tidied-up before they returned home. Get the idea? The ladies want
rest.
§ Some
moms just wanted to be relieved of their glorified life-long careers of the ‘CEO
of the household’ for a day: which meant no waking up at dawn and cooking for
the whole family; no setting the ball rolling for everyone in the house early
morning; no decisions to be made regarding what food to be cooked or what
chores to done for the day; no packing your lunch; no dropping-off kids or
grand kids at school; no entertaining your guests by cooking ‘maa ke haath ka
mazedaar khaana’; no watering the plants and walking your dogs which she didn’t
want in the first place. Basically, she wants ‘Time-Out’ from the daily grind.
§ Many
moms wanted to be treated like a Queen. They wanted to be pampered and be made
the centre of all your family’s attention for the day. They wanted to be hugged
and spoken to. They wanted gifts, gift-coupons, flowers, chauffeur-driven car
for the day, some spending-cash, lunch with friends and dinner with family –
both in plush 5-star hotels. These ladies have got style.
§ Few
moms wanted quality family-time - with all cell-phones off! Family meets at the end
of the day in the living room; laze around talking about everything; browsing
through photos shot recently when on a vacation or on a business-holiday; discuss
important decisions to be taken collectively as a family; eat some nice
home-delivered food; take photos together; invite close friends and relatives. Some
moms also wanted their siblings and parents invited to the home-dinner. Craving
for quality family-time says there isn’t enough of it right now. So get the
drift.
§ And
some said – and this is interesting – they wanted to do something different and
be someplace different. They are talking different latitudes people.
Nett nett….your mom has a
mind and choice of her own. On this day, let her have her way.
You can now fairly
figure-out your mom and make a fairly good decision as to - what to gift your
mom on Mother’s Day?
And as for moms who want to
do something different and be someplace different – gift them the much-needed
holiday. You could top it up with an extra ticket for her dearly beloved or her
dear friend.
Here are a few suggestions:
1.
If your mom’s an adventure-seeker and has the
knees and lungs for it then explore this.
2.
If your mom would give an arm and a leg to
visit her favourite Temple / Church / Mosque but just can’t get time or family to go with then
check these options.
3.
If sea beaches and rivers excite her then
this is where she ought to go. http://www.hoparoundindia.com/water-gateways-in-india.aspx
4.
If she’s one with a green thumb and loves
serenity and cool climate, this should be your pick.
5.
If you want to surprise her with the real
wildlife other than the ‘wildlife’ she feels she's got at home then….here you go.
6.
If she digs history and anthropology then
send her here with a map and a spade.
7.
If your mom explicitly prides the national
heritage all the time then plenty of options here.
8.
If your mom seeks no-stress – no-plan simple relaxation
outdoors then here are some options spreading across different types of landscapes and
altitudes.
So let’s get two things
straight - the words ‘special day’ mean differently to different people. And
your mom’s special day need not involve you or your family in it. And let’s be ok
with that coz we’re in ALL of the rest of the days of the year.
The grand question here is –
do we pack all the goodies in one day (which by the way lasts just 15 hours
tops from day-break to her shut-eye time) or can we as a family take away few daily-tasks
from her and clear out her calendar all year long and give some of her life
back to her? She’s also got a life you know! Let’s help her live it up folks!
Cheers to Moms!
