When Mother’s Day rolls around, most people tend to focus on their own mothers and grandmothers. But if you are married or engaged, it makes a lot of sense to include your mother-in-law in your Mother’s Day celebration. After all, she’s the mother of your husband and the reason he’s alive!
I’m fortunate to have an awesome mother-in-law, but I know other women who don’t have the best relationships with their in-laws. Whether or not you and your mother-in-law get along, consider some of these ideas to plan a nice Mother’s Day that celebrates each of the special moms in your life.
Plan an Event for All the Moms
If you’re the type who wants to visit with all the moms in your life on Mother’s Day (your mom, your grandmas, your partner’s mom and grandmas, etc.), why not plan an event that’s agreeable to everyone? This could be a trip to the beach, a spa day, a shopping trip, etc. This could work either as a day just for the moms or it could include your husband and kids as well. You could also consider inviting everyone over for a Mother’s Day brunch.
Give a Thoughtful Gift
Try to think of items that will be meaningful to your mother-in-law. Does she have a favorite poem or quote? You can get her Mother’s Day gifts with personalized messages. Maybe she has admired something of yours recently like a clothing item or a fine jewelry piece? Try to get one for her or give her yours if you can’t find another and you’re feeling generous!
If you and your mother-in-law don’t have so much in common, try to think of the things that you have bonded over before. Do you ever talk about books or movies? Or maybe a hobby you have in common? Try to find something that will be a good way for the two of you to relate with each other.
If you’re still having trouble, consider the things your mother-in-law likes that you don’t know so much about. Is she into knitting? Buy her a gift certificate for her favorite yarn shop and ask her to go with you to the shop so she can help you start your own project and teach you how to make it. She’ll appreciate your taking an interest in her interests and it will present a good opportunity for bonding. An even better idea is to get your own kids involved, too. If you can get one of your kids interested, bring them along for the knitting lesson.
Get Your Partner Involved in Brainstorming
Your husband probably already has a plan for what he will do for Mother’s Day, but that’s no reason he can’t help you brainstorm for your idea. After all, he knows his own mother better than you could, and he’ll probably appreciate your interest in bonding with his mother.
If a landmark event is coming up or has just passed, think about making this the focus of your gift. For example, if you and your partner just got engaged or married, go through your wedding photos and find some good ones that include your mother-in-law. Make these into a photo album or a photo collage. Include nice messages about how thankful you are to be welcomed into her family, about how much you appreciate her help in your wedding, and about all of the ways you can tell that she has been a great mother to your partner.
Other major events to highlight might include:
- Thanking her for being such a good grandmother after the birth of your first child.
- If your partner just turned 35, maybe it marks the 35th anniversary of her being a mother. Work with your partner to find photos of them at different ages, especially pictures with their mother, for a photo collage.
- A significant work event like an anniversary or a retirement.
Get Crafty
Between you, your husband, and your kids, you can come up with some really fun DIY gifts for all of the mothers in your life. Have the kids draw pictures for their grandmas or write down the reasons they love grandma. If your kids want to make several, you could bind them into a book or frame them individually.
If you have any crafts that you do, you could make something for all of the mothers in your life. For example, if you paint or do calligraphy, you could paint keepsake boxes with portraits of their kids and grandkids, favorite scenes or landscapes, or names and birth dates. Have the kids help you decide what items will go into the box when you give it to her. You could consider items like:
- Nice soaps or hand lotions
- Photos
- Perfume
- Potpourri
- Make-Up
- Jewelry
Building a Happy Mother’s Day
Moms give love and what they usually want most is love in return. Finding ways to show the moms in your life how loved and appreciated they are is the key to making sure they all enjoy their Mother’s Day. Just consider for yourself: what were some moments my mom, grandma, or mother-in-law did something really important and meaningful for me? Then, find a way to emulate these moments make your loved ones feel just as special as you did.
Do you have special plans for the moms in your life? Or what have you done in the past to celebrate your mother-in-law?
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