Mother’s Day is complicated.
Many moms have lots of expectations for Mother’s Day based on what they think the day should include. Other moms have baggage that makes Mother’s Day really difficult. Regardless of what might make Mother’s Day complicated for you, it’s important that you be open about what would make your Mother’s Day most enjoyable. Your spouse and children cannot read your mind, so tell them what you want to do this Mother’s Day.
If you’re anything like me, a crowded brunch at a fancy restaurant does not top the list. This is definitely the stereotypical Mother’s Day activity, but it’s just not my jam. I’m way more into non-traditional Mother’s Day activities that don’t involve getting dressed up, spending too much money on sub-standard food, and begging the children to stay seated and not use the cutlery as drumsticks.
My day-to-day life as a mom is busy and stressful. What I want out of Mother’s Day is fun and joy. The best way to actually enjoy Mother’s Day is to take the pressure off of having a picture-perfect day with your body snatched, perfectly behaved children. Just get out of the house and have some fun!
Need ideas for how to have fun on Mother’s Day? Here are six non-traditional Mother’s Day activities that prioritize family time and fun on the Sunday devoted to you, moms.
Fun non-traditional Mother’s Day activities
Brewery/winery
Starting off with suggesting a trip to a local brewery or winery might make me sound like a lush, but stay with me. Many breweries and wineries these days are extremely family friendly. They know that they are missing out on a large demographic by not making their facilities welcoming to kids, so many have gone all in. I’ve been to breweries and wineries with great outdoor spaces for kids to run and play, lawn games set up and ready to go, and inclusive beverages and snacks that make the littles in your life feel like they’re getting to take part in a special activity too.
The biggest benefit of choosing to spend Mother’s Day at a brewery or winery is that they are often extremely low-key. They represent an opportunity to spend a fun afternoon trying something new. And if a kid has a meltdown or someone falls and has a face full of blood, it’s easy to pack it up and go home. This low level of commitment is freeing, and really allows you to have more fun because you aren’t constantly worried about the excursion being ruined. So fire up the old Google machine and find your nearest manufacturer of adult beverages at which to spend this Mother’s Day!
Golf
No, you did not read the title of this post wrong. This is about Mother’s Day, not Father’s Day. You don’t have to be a man to enjoy a little golf. You also don’t have to be a golf aficionado to enjoy a little golf. The beautiful thing about golf is that it comes in many varieties. Sure, you can make a tee time and head to a golf course for a round of 18 or 9 holes. You can also head to a driving range to hit a bucket of balls. Or you can channel your inner child on summer vacation and play some putt putt. Whichever golf activity you choose, you’ll probably have a (golf) ball.
Camping
OK, I’m not a camper. I don’t like bugs and indoor plumbing is my answer to the “what would you bring to a deserted island?” question. So, this is a purely hypothetical suggestion from me to those of you who might be more open to such an intense communing with nature.
If you are the correct audience for a suggestion to go camping on Mother’s Day, it has the potential to be a great way to spend your special day. Nature, as we know, is healing. And every mom I know needs a little healing every once in a while. Camping also presents a great opportunity to spend time with the people you love most in the world without the distractions of modern life. No Instagram beckoning from your pocket, no siren song of ESPN calling out to your husband, no iPads or video games preventing your kids from talking to you about their lives. Honestly, I might be convincing myself that I should forego indoor plumbing and take my family camping.
Hike
If you like the idea of having some uninterrupted family time in nature, but you just can’t come around to the concept of no shower, a hike may be the perfect non-traditional Mother’s Day activity for you.
A hike also gives you an excuse for exercise that doesn’t require finding childcare or juggling your family’s schedule. I don’t know about you, but I need all the exercise opportunities I can get after having kids. Heck, even the dog can get a little exercise in on Mother’s Day with a family hike.
To ensure that your Mother’s Day family hike is successful, a little planning is key. Make sure everyone has sunscreen, plenty of water, and shoes that won’t hurt their feet. You don’t need hot, dehydrated kids with blisters turning into the Incredible Hulk in the woods. And for goodness’ sake do not forget the bug spray. Bringing home a tick is a surefire way to make this a Mother’s Day for the ages, and not in a good way.
Baseball game
Baseball is one of those sports that I can’t stand to watch on TV, but I love to watch live. It’s way more about the experience of a baseball game for me than it is about the actual pitching and hitting. You go to the ballpark, grab a beer and a snack, watch the game, and enjoy the day with your family and friends. It’s a great activity really any time during baseball season, but it’s an especially good option for a non-traditional Mother’s Day activity.
If you have a Major League Baseball team near you, it’s a nice splurge that can be a Mother’s Day activity and gift combined. If you live too far from the big leaguers, try to find a farm team that’s within a reasonable distance. Again, it’s not really about the team, but is more about the experience. Take me out to the ball game!
Picnic
As you could tell from the intro, I’m not a big fan of the fancy Mother’s Day brunch option. But you and your family do still need to eat on Mother’s Day. In my house, I’m in charge of meals in the regular course of life, and my typical one request for Mother’s Day is that I don’t want to cook three meals. I love to cook, but it really does get old sometimes, so it’s nice to use Mother’s Day as a reason to take a bit of a break from the kitchen. That leaves my husband in charge of sustenance, which is not firmly within his wheelhouse. But he could handle a picnic. And so can your partner.
Have your partner make a few simple sandwiches (or pick them up at the deli even), grab some fruit, chips, and cookies, and pack it in the cooler. Put that cooler in the back of the car and head to your local park to dine al fresco. This plan gets bonus points if you have a nice park that offers picnic accommodation and playground equipment. You can sit and munch while you watch your kids get their wiggles out. Everyone is happy. And that’s really what moms want on Mother’s Day – a happy family.
I hope you have the best Mother’s Day this year. If you decide to try one of these non-traditional Mother’s Day activities, let us know how it goes either in the comments below or over on Instagram @sarainseason.