Mothers are special, not one is the same as the other. They are caring and loving people who work hard for their families, and sometimes they need some down time so here are some ideas to help you come up with something to spoil her.
You know, one of Durban’s most notable features is our ocean and the aquatic life here. We all love seeing colourful fish, playful dolphins and great sharks.
This is for all the sea-loving and adventurous mothers out there. Looking at all the beautiful fish fluttering about in the water can bring out the inner mermaid in any of us. If she’s been wanting to try aquatic activities like scuba diving, snorkelling or surfing, then here’s a perfect excuse for her to do it. Umhlanga has some excellent scuba diving centres, so pop in and check out their deals.
Umdloti has amazing snorkelling sights, with gorgeous water to dive into. This activity is not just for sightseeing. Being in the water can be healing and peaceful, calming the mind and body. This allows your mother to tune out the noise of everyday life and let the current of the water carry her, just like she carries all of us.
So, mom loves the ocean, but she isn’t a fan of getting her hair wet. She appreciates the view, sea breeze and soothing ocean sounds. I’m sure she’ll love grabbing a coffee or a milkshake and heading down to the beach for a slow and relaxing walk. Emphasis on the word slow. If you didn’t know, our mothers are extremely busy people. Since we’re all persistently hounding her with our needs and requests, give her some space. Allow the ebb and flow of the waves to wash over the tension and anxiety. Let her be in the moment, in that spot, instead of having to be in 10 places at once.
Admittedly, the beach is lovely, but that’s not all Umhlanga has to offer! If your mother wants to step out of her comfort zone this year, here are a few alternatives you can suggest. You can give the stress a little “scare” as she leaps off the edge and tries out bungee jumping. Does she have a bit of a competitive side to her? Some laser tag should be a fun way for her to unwind and land some hits on you. As an extreme measure, you could surprise her with a skydiving trip. Just make sure you do a bit of digging first to find out if she’s interested. You can do this with all of the activities. Pitch a few ideas, inconspicuously, to uncover what she’d really like to do.
Some of our mothers are perpetually in their “busy mode”, and, among other things, I believe the previous activities might just send their blood pressure through the roof. Sometimes, they may want to enjoy some simple downtime. You can invite her to brunch for some good food, coffee and quality time with loved ones can do wonders. This idea is inspired by the breakfast in bed we’d make for our moms. Of course, there is nothing wrong with doing t
his as well! Make her favourite breakfast meal and deliver it right to her room. Food made with love will always taste amazing unless you burn it. I’d say the path you take should depend on what your mom likes and wants to do.
Our mothers are always taking care of everyone – their children, pets, friends and family and often they forget to look after themselves too. The classic “spa day” can never go out of style. Don’t wait for her to say no. Lots of places have Mother’s Day specials. We are spoiled for choice with spas on the East Coast. Get her an appointment at her favourite place, with her preferred treatment. A fresh set of nails, cleansing facial and therapeutic massage can make her feel rejuvenated, calm and as spoiled as she deserves to be. We have to nudge our mothers towards taking care of themselves, and Mother’s Day is the perfect excuse. Get her that voucher and make that appointment. Not just because it’s Mother’s Day, but because she deserves to be pampered.
Of course, these ideas can be used all year round. They’re just here for some inspiration. Our mothers deserve to be spoiled at every opportunity, but Mother’s Day is when they let themselves be taken care of! Take advantage of that and make her feel the love and appreciation.
Words: Cristina Govender