Mother’s Day is coming up on May 11, 2014, which means it’s time to put your thinking cap on a come up with a present that’ll knock Mom’s socks off. But it’s harder every year, isn’t it? Flowers are nice, but obvious. Brunch will be hectic. And you know she doesn’t need another gift basket full of bath products.
We bet what your mom really wants for Mother’s Day is time with her children — and if you can make that time unexpectedly fun, even better. That’s why we’ve rounded up this list of 10 of great ways to spend Mother’s Day around the country, which can help inspire you wherever you may live.
No matter if your mother’s the massage type or up for an adventure (or both!), we’ve got an idea for a Mother’s Day she’ll be talking about for years.
Mother's Day Ideas
Coding Workshop: Ladies Learning Code is a non-profit that runs workshops on topics like HTML and Wordpress, for both adults and children. This year for Mothers Day they’re running mother-daughter workshops in multiple Canadian cities — it’s a great chance to spend time together, support a good cause, and gain a valuable skill.
Spa Day: Spending some time at a spa together is a classic choice for a reason, because who would turn down a chance to relax and beautify with Mom? Spas around the country will be offering specials on and around Mothers Day, like Interlude Spa in Halifax, which has a variety of packages, both to share and to give Mom some time on her own. As well, WaySpa.com gives you access to over 100 spas from across the country, and is currently offering 15 per cent off gift cards in honour of Mother's Day.
Yoga Class: Exercise and relax together by teaming up for a yoga class — maybe as a way to burn off some of your Mother's Day brunch? There are studios in B.C., Quebec, Toronto, and Calgary that offer a variety of mother-daughter classes from babies on up, but you could also just pick a favourite style and book you and Mom in.
Tea: If you’ve never taken the opportunity to really enjoy tea, whether it’s high tea or a more contemporary ceremony, Mothers Day is a great time to try it. Consider high tea at the Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto, or truffles and tea at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Get charmed at The Dove's Nest in Calgary, or take in a Japanese ceremony at Nitobe Memorial Garden in Vancouver. Plenty of hotels have similarly spectacular offerings.
Theatre: You could see any variety of theatre shows with your mother on the second Sunday in May, but if you’re in the Kingston area, one event in particular sounds great. The city’s Grand Theatre is hosting an event on Mother’s Day that invites locals to get on stage and celebrate their own mothers, which should make for a personal and varied afternoon. Not nearby? Check local listings for large or small-scale productions that suit your mom's tastes.
Volunteer: How about spreading some love around on Mother's Day by teaming up with your mother and doing some good work in the community? Many organizations could use a hand, so think about a cause that speaks to you both and make some calls. If you have the ability, you may even consider volunteering abroad together as a long-term project, like this mother-daughter duo did in Kenya. If you’ve got children of your own, this is a great way to expose them to the value of helping others.
Adventure: If you and mom are the outdoorsy types, you’re probably not going to want to spend the day getting pedicures. How about taking the chance to explore some of the natural beauty in your area instead by booking in a day tour? For example, in the St. John’s area you can go on day-long tours to visit nearby outport communities or see local birds — but in a country as vast as Canada, your options are endless.
Do A Run: There are walks and runs all over the country on Mother’s Day, which means the chances are good that there’s one near you. Several of them fundraise for charities, including the SportChek run/walks in Calgary and Edmonton and the Breast Cancer Society of Canada’s events across the country.
Go To The Zoo: Oogling mother-baby animal combos is fun no matter where in the country you are, but if you’re in Saskatoon you have a chance to add some value to your Mother’s Day visit to the zoo, across the generations. The Saskatoon Zoo Society offers the chance to follow along with the feeders, followed by breakfast.
Watch The Ballet: The Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s final performance of the season happens to fall on Mother’s Day this year, which makes it a great chance to both soak up some of the country’s best culture and give Mom an unforgettable Mother’s Day.