Coronavirus does not cancel Mother’s Day

Mother's Day is a celebration honouring the motherhood and the influence of mothers in the family and society. It is celebrated mostly on the second Sunday of May every year in many parts of the world. It complements other celebrations honouring family members, a mother in this case.

This special day usually celebrated with family outings to brunch, spas or family get-togethers in homes and accompanied by plenty of in-person hugs, kisses and gifts. However, as the coronavirus pandemic restricts where we can go, and makes wearing of facemasks and social distancing new norms, many of these traditions will have to wait for another year.

In March 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Most countries are in lockdown and since then businesses are undeniably withstanding the worst of day-to-day life. Unemployment numbers have surpassed 500 million globally due to the COVID-19 crisis. With so many households without paychecks right now, splurging on expensive gifts for mothers could be out of the question.
Mother’s Day is about not only the money and gifts, but it is about the gesture and the thoughtfulness that the family and society show towards motherhood. These are unusual times to stretch our minds beyond the usual way of thinking about holidays and special occasions like Mother’s Day. This is an opportunity to get creative with what we might do for mothers on their special day.

Whatever your situation, there are plenty of opportunities you can try to make a mother remember this day. Here is how families and society can show their appreciation and gratitude to mothers this year, in ways that are both affordable and safe.

Do not gift a face mask if a mother already has a few of her own.

Try to avoid gifting pandemic-related items on this special day. Use the opportunity to think outside the box and give her something that will not only show her your appreciation but also will put a sense of normalcy back into her life even just for a day.

Consider houseplants.

Flowers are great, but they usually do not last much longer. Now that most of us are all spending more time at homes, consider gifting a houseplant that will last much longer. In a recent survey, the National Retail Federation’s annual Mother’s Day survey finds that 64% of respondents are planning on purchasing flowers, the second-highest category behind greeting cards.

Support her hobbies or help cultivate new ones.

It will be a while until life goes back to normalcy; you could use a few hobbies to keep yourselves occupied at home. When thinking of a gift this year, consider sending something to mom that will support her current hobbies or help her develop new ones.

Put together a memory keepsake.

Think of the last time you gifted something that you made with your own hands. Gather your favourite family photos and putting them together in a scrapbook of some kind as a gift. Another option, edit a short video/slide of the family photos. Here, the effort really counts.

A video call could be the answer to spending some virtual time together.

This is an option for families separated during quarantine/lockdowns. Since the pandemic began, multiple aspects of daily life have transitioned to online video meetings, like happy hours or workout sessions on Zoom, Skype or Google Hangouts. However, you need to lower your expectations on video calls since it can get crowded easily and internet connections can get fuzzy. In addition, not every mother is tech-savvy enough to have mastered how it works. A better solution is you have a voice call with a mother.

Cook her favourite meal or order one.

Since taking mom out for dinner or lunch is not likely to happen this Mother’s Day, see what special meal you can pick up or have delivered. You will be saving her from cooking and even helping your local business community at the same time if you prefer ordering a packed meal.

Handwritten letter.

If spending money is out of the question, and if your family is not equipped with the tools needed to spend time together online, there is still a way to show your gratitude and love if you are not able to be with your mother or the mother of your kids on their special day. I recommend the old school way; sending a handwritten letter. This kind of gift is worth its weight in gold. An actual letter will be much more important and meaningful than a text or an email. I recommend you starts by acknowledging that things are different this year and then expressing how it gives you the opportunity to sit down and really think about the meaningful times you have spent together with her. In addition, try writing about one or two memories you have together and what you remember the most or appreciate the most about them.

Mother’s Day this year will not look like it usually does, but the feelings can be just as strong. The coronavirus pandemic has forced us all to rethink and readjust how we usually do things. Instead of letting that discourage us, we all have an opportunity to be creative and make holidays and family occasions more memorable during this time, and perhaps even more special, than they were in previous years.
Remember that mothers will appreciate every gesture. They will appreciate a handwritten note, a phone call, and the gestures of love— whatever it is. It is the effort. This day honours mothers and women who have brought peace and improvement to the world; it will forever serve as a reminder of what mothers do for us. Even though we are able to spoil mothers on any day throughout the year, the denoted day gives us an excuse to express our utmost gratitude.



I dedicate this article to my mum (Elizabeth J. Ruto) and every other woman (a mother or a mother to be). Motherhood is where all the love begins!
 
Read the latest news:
 Senior High School Students in Wuhan Back to class
New Antiviral Coating that protects surfaces for 90days
Coronavirus Live Updates
2020 Democratic Party Presidential Candidate, Joe Biden’s 12 VP Prospects
First Patients injected in UK Coronavirus Vaccine Trial
the Wuhan laboratory leak theory
how COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the informal sector in Kenya
Kenya's capital Nairobi plus other counties go to a mild lockdown
Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories 

Published on May 9, 2020, 1825 EAT

---

Ruzeki is a blogger at SHADOW WOKA NEWS  specializing in politics, internet culture and propaganda, as well as writing about climate change and other things science-related. He graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University with a degree in Mining Engineering and he resides in Nairobi, Kenya.
Shadow Woka News is the platform where tomorrow is realized. An essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation.
©2020ShadowWokaNews. All Rights Reserved.