As spring approaches, most New Year’s resolutions are a distant memory. Whether you stuck to them for one month, one week, or only one day, making resolutions is essential. Taking stock of our lives clears away the cobwebs and puts many of our goals and dreams back on the table.
While the dawning of a new year challenges us to look at every aspect of our lives, Mother’s Day is about one thing: mothers. Why not use the annual tradition of honoring mothers to set resolutions that nurture you, nurture your own mother, and nurture your relationship with your children?
This Mother’s Day, make a resolution for each role you play:
Mothering Yourself
While it’s lovely to have breakfast (even if it’s burnt) in bed and a homemade card on Mother’s Day, no gift can repay you for the beautiful, tireless mothering you provide to your children. Even if your mother is still alive, you need to give yourself some of that care and nurturing.
Commit to self-care this Mother’s Day. Choose one thing you have always wanted to do and make plans to do it. Whether your secret desire is to take French lessons, tour all of the museums in your city, or have a private chef make a meal for you and your family, make it happen.
A happy, contented mother is better able to respond to the demands of her children, so do not feel guilty about taking the time to care for yourself. Consider a monthly time out for you, where you can do something different every time. Or, perhaps you would like to do the same thing – a massage and a movie sound good to you?
Being a Daughter
Now that you’re a mother, you have a better idea of what your mother experienced and her deep love for you. Make a resolution to honor her by doing something special this year beyond the requisite lunch and flowers.
It’s a safe assumption that your mother would love to do something fun with you to celebrate Mother’s Day. Perhaps you cannot commit to an activity precisely on the day, but make a plan and present it to her as a gift. Choose something she would enjoy or something new to both of you. Perhaps a drive to a quaint town for a day of antiquing and wandering about?
Another resolution to consider making is a gift of forgiveness. If there are old resentments between you, commit to letting them go in favor of a stronger, deeper relationship with your mother. Even if you decide to keep your resolution to yourself, your mother will indeed feel the effects of your decision.
Being a Mother
Mothering your children so often is focused on keeping them safe, fed, warm, dry, and clothed. But if you are like most mothers, you probably have values and beliefs you would like to pass down to them. Commit to fostering those values and traditions in your children this Mother’s Day.
For example, hope to raise children with a commitment to charity. You might resolve to start a family charity project or even instill the value through your volunteerism.
Another gift to consider giving your children this Mother’s Day is changing how you treat one or all of them. Perhaps you have been long on advice and short on listening, and you would like to switch that up so that your child can feel heard. Habits are hard to break, but when you start changing your behavior, you will see immediate results in how your children relate to you.
Resolutions are easier to keep when they are small. Remember, even the tiniest change can make a huge difference in your life. Commit to all three areas of your life – mothering yourself, honoring your mother, and nurturing your children in a new way – but begin by taking care of yourself. The other resolutions will be easier to keep when you feel rejuvenated and relaxed.
Whatever you resolve to do, make Mother’s Day resolutions an annual tradition, a time to check in, regroup, and make simple changes with lasting, positive effects.
Your Thoughts
How special do you make Mother’s Day? Have you created a tradition that celebrates all the mothers in the family? If you are not a mother, do you have friends who are mothers that you could observe for them?
Women’s Group Topics
Many women in a group could be mothers, so why not discuss what Mother’s Day means to everyone – share all of the feelings and thoughts that flow through our minds when we think of this day.
Be well,
Pat
“To fully enjoy the ‘richness’ of our lives, we need to stop long enough to visit with ourselves.”
(Pat Brill)
Other Topics You May Be Interested In
Motherless Daughters
Make Meal Time Special
How You Speak About Yourself Has Power Over Your Life
Do you want to download a PDF copy of both of these books, then go to:
