Celebrating Mother’s Day in a different way

Mother’s Day may look a little different this year. Some families have been spending an increased amount of time with their
moms while others are unable to visit. Both scenarios in consideration, there are still ways to make the holiday special for moms and grandmas alike.

While visitation from family members is prohibited at this time, Madison County nursing homes are making sure the celebrated women feel special on Sunday. Typically, at Tobacco Roots Mountain Care Center in Sheridan, families were invited to a big party and a meal was served buffet style. This year, residents will dine on a steak dinner in honor of the mothers and grandmothers at the care center.

Gail Nelson, activities director at Tobacco Roots, recalled when neighbors used to stake flamingoes in each other’s yards. In lieu of not being able to enter the center, she suggested families take flowers, real or fake, and stake them around the care center. It could be anything really, she said—flowers, posters, pictures. Anything with the purpose of bringing a smile to a mother’s face.

FOR FAMILIES SPENDING MORE TIME TOGETHER THAN USUAL

*Pick a hobby mom enjoys and dive into it with her. Has she been crocheting more while at home? Ask her to teach you the basics. Has she been going on evening walks? Join her.

* Breakfast in bed has never been such an excellent idea. To really put a cherry on top, drop off the breakfast, give her a favorite book and close the door behind you.

*Plan a dinner with an actual menu. Fancy or low- key, use the menu to guide the evening, scratching
in things like pauses for a card game or calling a best friend.

FOR FAMILIES WITH MOTHERS OR GRANDMOTHERS OUT OF STATE

*Send a meal from her favorite restaurant. So many are offering delivery services, you could support local eateries and give an unexpected treat at the same time.

*Make a gratitude video. Film snippets of your family members saying what they love about mom or grandma, reminiscing about memories or retelling hilarious stories.

*Start a scrapbooking project. Go through old photos and either get started on the scrapbook if you have the materials, or grab a sheet of paper and start designing the final product. To make it even more special, call mom or grandma and encourage them to go through their photos too and put it together, together.

FOR FAMILIES WITH MOTHERS OR GRANDMOTHERS IN FACILITIES

*Drop by the residence parade- style. Find some balloons, make colorful signs with sweet sentiments and drive by her nursing home window with the family. Check with the facility first to make sure you will be seen and to discern appropriate times.

*Use arts and crafts time, which you undoubtably took part in if you had younger children home more frequently, to make a Mother’s Day gift to mail. Anything with handprints, glitter and painted flowers will be perfectly acceptable.

* Send flowers. Tried and true, never not lovely. If local flower shops are unavailable, grocery stores generally have options and may be offering delivery services.