Mother's Day ideas for those who can't see their Mother.

Mother's Day is usually a big lunch for my Mother (and my husband celebrates with his Mother for lunch with all the extended family). However, this year is cancelled.

Both our Mothers are high risk (and my daughter works in a fast food chain so I feel we are high risk carriers) so we can't see them.

I've been looking for gift ideas to make up for the lack of visits and celebration. Feel free to add other ideas in the comments.

I love this idea, but unfortunately they both live out of the delivery area. The Tea Cosy in The Rocks is delivering high teas. See here for details.

The fabulous people at Two Good Co. have two Mother's Day hampers, that include the new essential, hand sanitiser (made in conjunction with Young Henry's, so you're keeping those guys employed too) as well as luxury items. Part of the proceeds go to their commitment to the South Coast Bush fire  affected shelters. Note also they're doing takeaway (and these meals provide meals to domestic violence shelters as usual, and employ vulnerable women to make the celebrity chef meals. I think this month was designed by Kylie Kwong).

Gift a meal. Pick their favourite restaurant and get an order delivered. Keep those guys in business.
Get some cocktails delivered from their local restaurant, fine diner or bar.
Indu https://indudining.com.au/
Long Chim https://www.longchimsydney.com/take-away-menu/ (and note the meal packs)
Kid Kyoto https://kidkyoto.com.au/
Mr Wong https://merivale.com/venues/mrwong/
Pilu https://pilu.com.au/
Stanbulli http://stanbuli.com.au/
Six Penny https://www.sixpenny.com.au/
These restaurants are all doing takeaway (though some require pick up, so you might need to deliver yourself or make arrangements to keep your Mum at home!)

Kakadu Plum has a Mother's Day hamper that gives back to the Indigenous Bush Food Project.

Gift theatre tickets. Redline Theatre has a great live reading coming up and the proceeds will support the theatre community in both  NSW and Chicago.

A number of fabulous markets are now online. See Finders Keepers, The Rocks Markets and Kirribilli Markets to support small local stall holders.

If your Mum is Marie Kondo-ing through the lockdown, give her a clothes recycling pickup with Manrags. For $25 you can fill a box to 10 kilos of shoes and  clean clothes (not underwear) for recycling or if damaged, the materials are recycled. Or look at their great range of socks for women!

I'm still working out what to give to the mothers in my life to make them feel special on this Mother's day that is bound to feel like a disappointment.

What are you doing?

Linking with #LovingLifeLinky because even though I can't celebrate properly, I refuse to let it be a fail!

The Other Mother's Day

My Mother's Day is fine, long settled in the routine of me seeing my mother to celebrate her and my husband seeing his mother at her lunch. So I am lucky and we have no issues, but even I was irritated by the weekend magazine with it's barrage of 'why I'm so happy in motherhood' articles, and endless ads for presents to give. Enough already, it's really not that interesting!

In a facebook group, someone asked for a support group for parents with estranged children and in true Facebook form, I'm now getting the relevant ads. So in a Mother's Day post with a difference, I'm posting for the mothers that find themselves out of the Hallmark card cliche.

Firstly, unbeknowst to me, until last Sunday, the Sunday in May before Mother's Day is actually International Bereaved Mother's Day. It's a day to celebrate the motherhood of mothers who have lost their child. I thought this article on the morning tea held has some important sentiments worth remembering.

Secondly, to all the people whose Mothers are no longer here to celebrate. I am luckily not in that boat yet but I know Father's Day felt hollow without the great man at the table, so I feel for you and I hope it's not a painful week with the overwhelming advertising and I hope Sunday brings peace in remembrance with it.

Lastly, the support groups for those whose adult children no longer contact them. This must be an extraordinary tough time to have the shops and newspapers ramming happy families on you at every turn. I am not affilitated with any of these, and know little about them so please investigate first. However, I hope you find comfort and even more, hope your child returns to your life. One site did mention that years later people will see your posts in the closed forums, so a pseudonym might be a good idea for privacy, and I think that is well advised.

Australia: Beyond Blue

UK Stand Alone

This is a website that came up, while trying to find the local support groups. Not sure where it is based. https://www.rejectedparents.net/ and I think this is in the US http://www.estrangements.com/groups-and-blogs.html

There are also a number of FB groups. However, I struggled to find local groups that meet in person, so if anyone knows any details, feel free to add to the comments below. I hope this information helps in one way or another, if only not to feel so alone.

Lastly, a big shout out to Prince Harry for his comment “How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension,” ...“I’m so incredibly proud of my wife.” which I think has made every woman on the planet want to high five him. That is the attitude you want to hear after giving birth. That's what needs to be in the Hallmark cards.

To everyone, may your Sunday be pleasant no matter what it means to you.

What do you want for Mother's Day? (ways to celebrate)

Mother's Day for me tends to be about my mother and my mother in law, And that's fine. But year after year, I have to come up with gift ideas. I struggle, as it follows on closely after birthdays. So here's a few ideas, if you're also in the same boat, or if you want to celebrate a little differently this year.

1. Traditional gift.

There are a few shops I would head to if I was after something a little different. Daddy, I want a pony & Oxfam for unique little luxuries or if looking online Rafiki Mwema has cute tshirts, bags and even laptop skins.

2. Do something together.

Groupon has been pushing the high teas and massages all week - and they're always a great idea. Or for Sydneysiders, some of these day trips would be fantastic, and you can bring the kids too, so it's winning all round.

3. Remember, it's just another day. There are 364 equally important days of the year to tell your mum you love her. Just because someone put a universal sign on it, doesn't mean you can drop the ball for the next 11 months. Maybe start a tradition of a weekly coffee date,monthly lunch or card, or even lengthy email packed with news and photos. Whatever you aren't doing now, add a new tradition. Make that your Mother's Day gift.

4. If the budget extends to it, plan a girls weekend away. With money no object, I'd pick The Rift, Bowral or at least a trip to the Day Spa at the Langham. Time and attention is the best gift of all.

As you can see, the list is short, so throw me your ideas. What are you giving your Mother/Mother in law this year, and what do you want?

PS I think my RocknRoll adventure was my Mother's Day present. Having fun with the teen, a rare event at the moment.

Linking with #MummyMondays