Carolyne Roehm

Mother’s Day, May 2006 >> Pampering Mother

A Memorable Mother’s Day
If you are as lucky as I am, you have a wonderful mother who deserves so much more than a stock bouquet of flowers or a canned greeting card to recognize her on this special day. Over the years, I have found that my favorite way to honor my mother always involves pampering. After all, who deserves it more than the person who nurtured me as an infant and child and remains an important constant in my life? A day of pampering requires more planning than money. And details go a long way in saying, “You mean so much to me.” Start her day with a breakfast tray with coffee or tea, a simple pastry or coddled egg, crisp linens and a small bouquet. I love to choose a theme–often a color combination or type of flower–to tie everything together. The more coordinated elements you use, like linens, flowers, stationery, wrapping paper, and gifts, that carry your theme, the more put-together and special all of your planning and presentations become. Elements on the tray, like a bud vase, linens or the tray itself, can become the gift.

Carolyne Roehm

Here are more ideas for making mom feel like queen for the day:

Coordinate the linens and flowers on her breakfast tray with her favorite china pattern. Carry out the theme by wrapping her gift in paper and ribbons that compliment. Top the gift with more flowers to echo the bouquet.
Is there a china pattern she’s always loved but never owned? Help her start a collection by buying individual pieces, like a teacup and saucer and small plate, just right for her morning nibbles. (eBay and Replacements.com are great resources.)
Create a memory book with photos from childhood she will cherish for years to come. Or document the day’s festivities and preserve them in a memory book.
Does your Mother love the theater? Or the spa? Present her with tickets or a gift certificate in a card and envelope that matches the flowers in her bouquet or the linens at your special Mother’s Day lunch. Or stash tickets inside one of these leather envelopes.
Think of all the times your mother sacrificed her own interests for yours… Plan an outing that revolves around her passions like a visit to a flower farm, antique show, or craft bazaar. Or if sports are her passion, accompany her to a game—even if you loathe baseball.