Mother’s Day Isn’t Just for Moms with Little Kids

I feel like as my kids have gotten older, Mother’s Day just feels different. Granted, Nathan and Autumn are still living at home, but I can already feel the shift. Sure, we still go to church and enjoy brunch together with my mom and family, but the rest of the day feels different now. It used to be filled with homemade gifts and their undivided attention, and now they have their own responsibilities, schedules, and lives. I figure this is just the beginning as they continue to spread their wings more and more. I also have friends whose kids live out of state now, so Mother’s Day may look like a quick visit if they’re lucky, or sometimes just a phone call. Every season of motherhood looks a little different.

It can feel a little bittersweet at first, but there’s also something really special about this season of motherhood too. With fewer little-kid responsibilities, there’s often more freedom to spend the day exactly how you’d like. Whether that means a relaxing afternoon at home, a fun outing, spending extra time with your own mom, or treating yourself to something special, moms deserve to feel celebrated in every stage of motherhood. Sometimes embracing this new stage simply means finding new ways to make the day feel meaningful and special.

If I could go back to one Mother’s Day, it would probably be the one in 2013. We had a little time before lunch that day, so we stopped to take photos by a bridge over the river. The kids were both at such sweet, adorable ages, and my parents were still doing fairly well health-wise. Looking back at those photos now (I even have an entire blog post from that day), it all feels so incredibly bittersweet. It somehow feels like it was just yesterday, yet also a lifetime ago at the same time. Do you have a special Mother’s Day memory you’ll always treasure?

While I’ll always treasure those earlier Mother’s Days filled with little-kid magic, I’m also learning to appreciate this new season too. Motherhood changes, and so do the ways we celebrate it. If your kids are older, out of state, or starting lives of their own, Mother’s Day can still be meaningful, relaxing, and even really fun. So today I thought I’d share a few ideas for ways moms can enjoy Mother’s Day during this stage of life.

Cozy & Relaxing Mother’s Day Ideas

• Try a new coffee shop, or go to a coffee shop that has flights so you can find a new favorite
• Reading on the patio
• Treat yourself to a facial at a place like The Only Facial. Or, find a new facial DIY recipe on Pinterest and make one at home!
• I have a friend and she makes Mother’s Day her big gardening day! She buys all her flowers and takes her time planting them.
• Stop at Walgreens or Quik Trip and get a couple movie snacks and a fun drink and watch a movie. I’ve been wanting to watch Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix), I read the book and loved it and I’m so excited to see the movie.
• Afternoon tea
• A bookstore date, I always love to buy some Spring magazines!

Fun Outings for Mother’s Day

• Visit a winery or brewery
• Find a brunch spot close to some cute stores and make it a brunch + shopping trip!
• Botanical gardens to check out all the Spring blooms 
• Antique shopping or flea markets
• A hotel day with new silk PJ’s, room service, spa, etc.
• Farmer’s market stroll
• Girls’ day with friends/sisters or spend time with YOUR mom (she will LOVE it!)

Ideas for Moms with Adult Kids Far Away

• Schedule a FaceTime coffee date
• Have flowers delivered to yourself (honestly!) or step outside and snip a few blooms from the flowers growing in your yard to create a colorful, one-of-a-kind bouquet.
• Plan a solo adventure, something you’ve been wanting to do and you haven’t had the time or excuse!
• Write down favorite motherhood memories in a journal
• Go somewhere you normally “save for special occasions”

Active Mother’s Day Ideas

• Go for a scenic walk or run with a coffee after
• Take a hot yoga class, I recently took one and LOVED it!!
• Rent bikes somewhere scenic
• Hike early for the sunrise or later for the sunset
• Picnic in the park after a workout, just pack up a cooler! (I love the cheese and snack selection at Trader Joe’s!)

At-Home Mother’s Day Ideas

• Charcuterie board night with fresh baked brownies
• Backyard dinner (I have my husband grill the meat and I do the sides and a delicious dessert!)
• Cozy takeout night outdoors with twinkle lights
• Bake something fun and share it with someone
• DIY flower arranging
• Start on your Summer Bucket List!

Motherhood may look different as the years go by, but that doesn’t make it any less meaningful. The little hands that once made homemade cards and woke you up at sunrise eventually grow into busy teens, young adults, and lives of their own. While that shift can feel bittersweet at times, there’s also something beautiful about embracing this new season and creating new traditions along the way. Whether your Mother’s Day is filled with family, a quick phone call, brunch with loved ones, or simply a peaceful afternoon doing something you enjoy, I hope you find a way to make the day feel special. Because moms deserve to be celebrated in every stage of motherhood.