The Mormon Channel has launched a fun initiative to see how much we can give back to Moms in 48 hours, starting on May 8 and culminating on Mother’s Day. The official site lists five specific ideas to help get you started:
- Write a note to Mom
- Give an hour to Mom
- Get to know Mom
- Record a memory of Mom
- Give back to Mom
We’re going to take it a step further! Here are some in-depth resources and ideas to help you make the most of #TimeForMom.
Write a Note to Mom
While some have the gift of writing, others may find penning a note to Mom a little more difficult. Here are two sheets full of writing prompts, one for children and one for adults, to help you know what to say. You can print out these sheets or decorate your own cards or letters together.
Give An Hour to Mom
Each Mom is different, so what one Mom may want with an hour may be the opposite of what another Mom wants. Take some time to determine what your Mom needs right now. If you’ve got young children or relatives, gather them together to be a part of the discussion. This is a diverse list of how you can give an hour to your Mom:
- If your Mom needs a vacation by herself, send her to do something fun while you do basic chores at home. You can send her to a movie, a salon, a spa, or one of her favorite stores with a gift card.
- If your Mom wants some tender loving care from the family, plan a fun night in! Make your Mom a good meal and pamper her from the luxury of your own home. Let her choose a movie, put on a talent show for her, or just spend time doing her favorite activity.
- If your Mom lives far away, spend an hour with her on the phone or Skype. Ask her about her life and how she is feeling.
- If your Mom is elderly and in an assisted living facility, get dressed up and go visit her. Gather relatives, grandchildren, friends, or anyone else who will make her feel loved. Bring a gift that makes her feel special. You can watch old home videos, sing her favorite songs, or do a craft together. Many facilities have activities you can join in on.
Get to Know Mom
There is a great article in the May Issue of the New Era called “Thirty Things You Never Knew About Mom.” It is designed to help children, especially teenagers, learn some great things about their Mom. However, it is fun for anyone! You can read the article here and print off the fun questions!
Record the answers with a phone or voice recorder. You can then go to FamilySearch.org and upload the files (.mp3 and .m4a up to 15MB) so your Mom’s voice and memories are preserved forever.
Extra Tip: Are you serious about preserving the memories of your Mom and other family members? Consider looking into StoryWorth.com! The first place winners at the LDS RootsTech Innovator Showdown, StoryWorth emails your loved one question every week about their life. You can select them from the hundreds of questions they’ve already written, or you can write your own.
Your family members then record their stories by email or phone (StoryWorth will call their phone and automatically record the story like a voicemail). Try it for free this Mother’s Day!
Give Back to Mom
Many Moms around the world live in unfortunate circumstances, but somehow continue to find the strength and faith to be amazing Moms. Mormon Channel is working in conjunction with LDS Charities to help give back to Moms. Instead of everyone buying a present, give one simple gift and donate the money you would have spent otherwise. You can learn about donating to LDS Charities here.
If donating isn’t an option, consider doing service to Moms in your community. You can reach out to a family member or friend struggling with infertility, visit elderly Moms spending Mother’s Day alone, or look for service opportunities for sick Moms and babies at your local hospital.
Tell Her You Love Her
Elder M. Russell Ballard tells us the greatest thing any of us can do for our mothers:
“Most of all, you can put your arms around your mother often and tell her you love her.”
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day and don’t forget to share your experiences online with the hashtag #TimeForMom.
