For everyone who has a mom or is one, Mother’s Day can be a delightful occasion.
Gifts, flowers, fruity desserts and cards are the order of the day, while moms just get to sit back and soak it all in like a sweet slice of southern pound cake covered with syrupy strawberries.
Sometimes You Can’t Be There
But what if you’re not actually able to actually BE with your mom on the second Sunday in May? Of course, you would be if you could be.
Yet, there are times when it can’t happen.
One young girl I know is so sad she can’t get home this weekend to see her mom, but she’s studying for a huge exam on Monday and can’t afford to spend the long hours in the car that it would take to get home.
Another friend has limited vacation from work and limited funds for a cross-country flight.
Others are blessed to have two or three moms and grandmothers in their lives and have to decide which one they will celebrate with this year.
What to Do for Your Mom
Here are 5 ways you can let your mom know she’s loved and adored on her special day even if you can’t be with her to say it in person.
Send a Meaningful Card
One sweet person in our family is as creative as she is thoughtful.
Her handmade cards are treasured works of art, not because they would ever be hung on the wall of a museum, but because of the individually inspired sentiment so evident in each card.
(Here are some ideas for making your own pretty cards using the wildly popular Cricut.)
Photo – 100 Directions.com.
FaceTime or Skype
Stay close to your charger and have a virtual Mother’s Day.
If you remember the bag phones of Y2K, you’re surely as awed as I am by the iPhone technology of today.
Who would’ve thought we would be able to talk to our moms on the phone and be able to see them at the same time.
Make your FaceTime even more special by virtually drinking coffee together or looking through old photos while you visit.
Do Something Nice for Someone Else
Isn’t it so easy to get down in the dumps when a special occasion rolls around and it seems like everyone else in the whole world is enjoying it but you?
Your own mother will be happier if she knows you’re not sitting around moping, so forget all your troubles and forget all your cares for a few hours by helping to make someone else’s day brighter.
Gather some moms whose kids aren’t around and fix waffles. Or maybe serve lunch at a homeless shelter.
Be sure to take your selfie stick. Your mom will love to see what you did in her honor.
Send a Surprise
I’m the world’s worst when it comes to planning ahead for a Mother’s Day gift to send.
However, when I start looking online for the just-right thing, I’m always inspired to do better next time. There are so many great choices! Here’s a link to Shari’s Berries – one of my favorites.
What are your go-to’s when you need to send a gift?
Photo – Shari’s Berries.com
Make a Donation
If your mom would be honored by a gift to her favorite charity, this is a wonderful time to give.
Also, lots of churches have scholarship funds set aside to help kids go to summer camp.
Get a pretty card and write something like this inside it: “Dear Mom – Thank you for the sacrifices you made to send me to church camp every year. This Mother’s Day, I’m honoring you by sending a kid whose mom might not be able to help him get there.”
Woo hoo! You might even be the favorite kid for a while when you make this charitable gesture for your mom. 
It’s Still the Thought that Counts
According to etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, it’s still the thought that counts. “A memorable Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be elaborate; the simple sentiments often make the biggest impression on mom.”
So, when you can’t be in the chair next to your mom, don’t stress.
It’s still the thought that counts the most.
Encouraging a life filled with everyday intentional adventure, and a whole lot of love for our moms,
