Mother's Day

On Mother's Day, flowers and lunch would be lovely, but in reality, I really just want more space and more time. It seems that the more stuff I collect, the more time and energy I have to spend maintaining it. As such, I would love some coupons from the husband and kids for helping clean up the clutter. If you feel the same way and decide to get a jump start on your work, the City of Minnetrista is holding their semi-annual recycle/clean-up day tomorrow Saturday May 9, 2009 from 8am - 3pm at Minnetrista City Hall. Unlike clean-up days in some cities, you do not have to be a resident of Minnetrista to participate.

But what if the woman you are honoring has no clutter and you haven't ordered the flowers or made reservations yet? When you are done bemoaning the fact that she did not pass on the organization genes, you can quickly do something else to let her know you love her. For example:

• The Minnesota fishing opener is this weekend. If you have an outdoorsy mother,declare her queen of the boat/dock. Bait all her hooks and remove all her fish. And, when you get home, clean them and fry them while she hits the shower.


• If poetry is her thing, peruse the work of Nicholas Gordon who offers his series of Mother poems on-line for free.


• Get sentimental. Visit your local thrift store and purchase an old picture with an amazing frame. Remove the picture and replace it with one of you and your mom. Accompany it with a handwritten letter (remember these?) telling her your favorite memories with her and/or why you love her.


• Make weeknights easier for her. Throw together a pan of lasagna or other one-dish dinner for your mom to put in her freezer. Or, if she is alone most of the week, bake it ahead of time and divide it into single serving microwaveable containers.


• Acknowledge her needs. Visit your local thrift store or look around your house for an interesting container. Fill it with dirt, add a Thyme plant from the local nursery and add a coupon for an afternoon of work.


• Help her be a kid again. Whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, place it in a container, and tie a spoon into the bow.


• While not the cheapest idea, if you have a mom who is always on the go, show up early, 'steal' her car, fill it with gas, give it a good vacuum and take it through the car wash.


• The musical mom may appreciate a custom Mother's Day song which you can download to make a customized CD.


• For the woman who has survived breast cancer, help her make a sassy in-your-face statement by whipping together a "fight-like-a-girl" bra purse.


• If her heart is set on flowers, give her seed packets and an afternoon to plant them or hit Costco where they have huge hanging baskets of flowers for around $12.

But however you spend it... Have a Happy Mother's Day!