How To Celebrate Mom From Afar
Between the stress from finals week and the costs of a plane ticket, going home for occasions like birthdays or Mother’s Day isn’t always a practical thing to do for college students.
If you don’t want to spend the holiday without properly celebrating arguably the most important woman in your life, no worries. Here are some ideas of how to celebrate Mother’s Day from a distance.
Give her a call
It should go without saying, but the woman who birthed and raised you deserves more than just a text to celebrate Mother’s Day. If you haven’t done so in a while, use the holiday as a reminder to pick up the phone and give your mom a call or, even better, FaceTime with her. If you already do that regularly, mail a handwritten letter and catch her by surprise with your personal note home.
If you really want to go the extra mile, plan an activity you can both do while you talk, like watching your favorite movie or eating dinner together. Although it might not be the most labor-intensive way to celebrate Mother’s Day, sometimes it really is the thought that counts.
Send her a care package
Show mom how much you love her by sending a care package stuffed with the things you know she’d enjoy, things you’d enjoy together, or things that remind you of her. Her favorite movie snack, a spa kit with all of her essentials, something related to a hobby of hers, a good book, cute décor pieces, a picture of the two of you — the possibilities are endless, and it can be truly tailored to fit your mom and her personality.
Try a delivery service
Services like 1-800-Flowers, Edible Arrangement and Harry & David pride themselves on offering a way for people to give gifts from a distance. When she opens the door to a delivery guy holding a bouquet of flower-shaped fruit, your mom will be so surprised and delighted! It’s also a fun way to show you remembered Mother’s Day despite not being able to be there in person.
Alternatively, reach your mom from your college dorm by sending her dinner and dessert via Grubhub with a movie rented on Hulu. You can also try a subscription service, like Birchbox, which is only $10 a month. A recurring subscription service is the gift that keeps on giving, providing her something to look forward to every month as well as reminding her of you each time she receives a new one.
Plan something for later
Looking forward to actually being able to celebrate in person? Let her know by purchasing an experience from Groupon or LivingSocial for an activity you can do together next time you see each other, like a cooking class or a wine and art night. Not only does it promise you’ll be together soon, but it gives you something to look forward to for your upcoming reunion and a chance to bond as you share stories from the past few months.
Give her an original song
If you can’t be there in person, relive your favorite childhood memories through a one-of-a-kind song, written just for her. Team up with your siblings and tell us all about your favorite memories, experiences and inside jokes, and we’ll transform your mom’s story into a custom song that she’ll treasure forever. Now every time she misses you while you’re away, she’ll have something to listen to that reminds her of you.
