What Mother’s Day Means to Me By Joan Lunden
Traditionally, Mother’s Day has always been a day to say “thank you” to all the hard-working moms in this world. Meaningful cards are usually accompanied by flowers and gifts, some which might even be made with glue and Popsicle sticks! But besides the gifts and flowers, and the much-deserved recognition of a job well done, Mother’s Day has become a holiday for families to spend quality time together.
Growing up, I remember we would (attempt to) make my mom breakfast in bed! We would make pancakes with smiley faces for my mom and feel so proud as we marched them in to her room on a tray. As we got older, we would get all dolled up and go out to brunch with endless buffet tables of breakfast treats. Later, when I was an adult (and had my own paycheck!), I would take my mom shopping or buy her something luxurious like a designer bag or matching nightgown and robe. One year, I even gave my mom the gift of a Mediterranean cruise for the special occasion! I always wondered if those outrageous gifts made up for all the sleepless nights I caused her when I was a teenager.
I, of course, remember the feeling of becoming a mother myself and having my children do these things for me… well, maybe not the cruise part! But what a treat it is when they hug you and say thank you like they really mean it.
Every family has their own traditions, but generally the holiday is a day spent with family, often eating and relaxing; and often, we give our hard-working moms gifts of luxury and indulgences.
Recently, I’ve noticed a shift in trends of Mother’s Day gifts. When my daughters discuss what we should do for the day, they talk about getting facials or massages, or taking spin classes or going for long walks outside together. I see this trend shifting more and more towards gifts and activities that incorporate wellness, beauty and fitness. It’s not uncommon to do a “spa day” or go take a yoga class with your mom these days. It’s no longer considered rude or a “hint” to get your mom a cute, new workout outfit, a gift card to your favorite fitness spot, or luxurious skincare. If I ever gave those gifts to MY mom, she would have thought I was calling her fat and wrinkly! The closest my mom ever got to fitness attire was a pair of white canvas sneakers completely covered in gold sequins! She said she felt “sporty” when she wore them.
But today, I am finding that my traditional gift of comfy PJs has turned into the latest trend from lululemon, the earrings have been replaced by a hydrating eye cream, and our pancake breakfast is usually more like egg white veggie omelets followed by an activity.
I still love my cards, flowers, and hugs… and I must say, I am enjoying this new trend. I recently tried a high-intensity spin class with one of my daughters, and it was such a fun bonding experience. My younger daughters are starting to ask me about skincare, and it’s fun to try out all my lotions and potions with them—all by Murad, of course. And my oldest daughter introduces me to the newest healthy eating trends and makes it fun for me to go to the gym with her. So while the day might be fewer carbs and more cardio, it has remained a family day when we stop to appreciate what we all mean to each other and what really counts.
Joan Lunden is an American journalist, author and television host. She was co-host of ABC’s Good Morning America from 1980 through 1997 and is the author of 9 books.
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