My Favorite Mother’s Day Tradition
I love a holiday tradition because it makes a holiday so easy to plan and prep for, plus it gives me something to look forward to without having to reinvent the wheel every time.
One of my favorites is our Mother’s Day tradition of hosting a brunch each year.
I think this will be our fourth year doing it and it makes the whole weekend feel really celebratory and fun for me.
(I totally appreciate that hosting your in-laws on Mother’s Day might sound like the worst tradition of all time for you. If it’s not for you, no pressure from me! Definitely find a Mother’s Day tradition that works for you!).
On Saturday, the day before Mother’s Day, we go to Trader Joe’s and load up on charcuterie snacks – meats, cheeses, crackers, dried fruit and nuts, fresh produce and dips, and chocolates.
On Sunday, usually around 1:00 p.m. (to accommodate for various church schedules), we host Bart’s parents, his 3 sisters and their families, and his brother and his family (when my parents return from France next year, we’ll likely start inviting them to join us too along with my sister and her family). Right now, that puts us at around 25 people.
We set up 3 round tables on our back deck complete with tablecloths, flowers, and our outdoor dishes and the weather generally is perfect for eating outdoors.
We set up all the charcuterie food on our kitchen table inside and it’s such an easy, festive and fun afternoon with people staying several hours to eat and visit.
Someone asked about activities and we plan zero activities – just being together is the event.
It’s been such a fun tradition and I hope we keep it up for many years!
I also asked my audience to share their favorite Mother’s Day traditions – here are some of them if you need some ideas!
- “We have brunch at the restaurant inside our local bookstore and then we all shop around for books! My kids love it and so do I!”
- “We make homemade ice cream for the whole extended family. We have 2 ice cream spinners going at the same time. Kids are playing in the yard. Adults are chatting. We play 4 square together. It’s a fun day!”
- “We take photos together in a local park”
- “I started this last year. I bought a pretty journal and instead of cards, I had my kids and husband write in it for me. I plan on having them write in it every year and then I’ll have a collection of memories from them.”
- “We make crepes after church”
- “My husband and kids plan a “Mom Day” the day before (Mother’s Day) full of activities and food for us to enjoy together. Then Sunday can be totally focused on the other moms in our extended family. I love it!”
- “All I want for my birthday and Mother’s Day is new bookmarks. We have some precut card stock and they draw a new one for me and laminate it. Easy, cheap and meaningful lifetime supply!”
If you have other fun Mother’s Day traditions, I’d love to hear them!
