She’s amazing, isn’t she? That woman who makes your world go round. The one who loves, nourishes, and protects. Whether she’s your wife, girlfriend, or baby mama, Mother’s Day is coming up, and I want you to get it right.

So fellas, the pressure’s on. I know you’re stressed, and I don’t blame you. Women are tough, I get it. In our minds, you’ve been thinking about how to make this the most epic Mother’s Day of all time for weeks now. But the truth is, you forgot it was even happening until you read the title of this post. It’s ok man, I’ve got you covered. Now pay attention…

Early To Rise

Your wife should not have to lift a finger from the moment she wakes up, to the moment she goes to bed on Mother’s Day. Today, you are mom. That means you wake up early, get in a good stretch, and start the coffee (be careful not to be clunking around, as you don’t want to wake mama).

Next, wake the children and make them presentable. If you’re going off to church later, put together the best darn church outfits you can. As a matter of fact, take a moment this Sunday to snap a pic of how your wife does it, that way you have a reference point to work with. You will be off to a smashing start the moment your sleepy-eyed wife sees those ready for the day children.

Breakfast

 Here are some options for breakfast (none of them involve your wife cooking).

• Head out to breakfast or brunch. Be sure to call for reservations ASAP, and don’t want to begin the day with a 1 1/2 hour wait time.
• Breakfast in bed. This takes a bit of planning, so think about what you want to make at least the day before so you can run out and grab what you don’t have. I suggest investing in a breakfast tray. Here’s a link for one at a great price. They’re handy to have a round, and hey, you might just get yourself breakfast in bed in a month or so. Finally, send one of the kids out to pick a little bunch of flowers from the yard, stick them in a double-shot glass, and present mama with her feast. (Btw- it actually doesn’t have to be a feast. If she didn’t have too cook it, chances are she will love it.)
• My personal favorite: Slap a mimosa in her hand and let her watch you cook breakfast. Fellas, listen; there is nothing sexier for a woman than watching her husband cook and clean. Nothing. Chopping wood is nice. Working on the car is good. But when we see you rolling up your sleeves to fry eggs, and THEN clean it up afterwards… oh nelly! These are the things we fantasize about.

Mother’s Day Gifts

Don’t stress too much about gifts. It’s not Christmas or her birthday, so don’t overthink it. As a general rule of thumb I would suggest a card, flowers, and something handmade from the kids. Every year Matt takes an afternoon to help the kids make something special to give to me on Mother’s Day. They’ve made signs, candles, stepping stones adorned with tiny hand prints, and this beautiful wooden sign (I love this one).

An additional gift can be nice to, but again, keep it simple. Think of things your wife would like, but maybe wouldn’t get for herself (because she is living the selfless life of a mother who puts the needs of everyone around her ahead of her own, hence, the reason you are celebrating her).  Here are a few ideas:

• A personalized, iconic KJP Bracelet.

  

  I don’t wear a lot of accessories, but when I do, I think sweet, simple, and classic. (Matt Light I know you are reading this.)

• Gift certificate for a massage. As moms we often have a hard time carving out time for ourselves, but if you schedule it and cover childcare, she’ll have no excuse. My New England area pick for massages is The Right Touch Day Spa in North Attleboro. The owner, Kerry Manter has been Matt’s massage therapist since his rookie year with the Pats, and is serious about hiring a first class staff at her spa. Want in on the action? They do couple’s massages too!
• A tree (no, seriously). This may sound weird, but this Magnolia tree was one of my favorite Mother’s Day gifts ever. I love watching it grow and blossom every year. Think small, decorative, blooming trees.

  

•  A subscription to fabfitfun. I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume you have no idea what that is, and that’s ok; you shouldn’t. fabfitfun is kind of like giving your wife a subscription to the jelly of the month club, except she’s not going to despise you for it. Instead of jelly, every season for the next year, your wife will receive a box containing what you may consider to be “crap”. Each time a new box is delivered it will be like another mini Mother’s Day. These are just a few of the items I received in my Spring box:

  

As an added courtesy, I’d like to give you a little advice on what not to get your wife on Mother’s Day. 

• Something she needs. If she really needs something, of course you should get it for her. Just don’t try to kill two birds with one stone. For instance, I really need a new dishwasher. However, if Matt Light presents me with one on May 14th, we’re gonna have problems.
• This t-shirt.

  

  It is my own personal testimonial that this is not a gift you want to give your wife on Mother’s Day… or any day. I’ll leave it at that.

What’s next?

The rest of the day’s activities will depend on your wife. Let her decide what she wants to do. Personally, I like hitting up the nursery to grab my flowers to plant the following week around the house. Dinner out is always nice, just be sure to have reservations ahead of time. Since I’m a bit of a homebody, I like take-out and KEEL cocktails around the pool.

For the perfect Mother’s Day cocktail, try this recipe from my sweet friend Shari. She’s a KEEL Vodka fanatic and has never had a bad idea in her life… so trust me on this one. These are delicious!!!

The ShariTini

What you need:

• Strawberry Raspberry “Rossini” and/or some Peach “Belinni” from Trader Joe’s (another little TJ’s treasure)
• KEEL Vodka
• fresh or frozen peaches and/or raspberries
• ice

What to do:

• Fill glasses with ice and fruit.
• Add 2 parts “Secco” and 1 part KEEL Vodka.
• Stir and serve to mama.

Finish Strong

Whatever you decide to do, remember to be vigilant on your quest to make mama’s day burden free. If the kids start fighting, sort it out. Someone spills something, clean it up. All the way till bedtime, stay focused my friend… it’s one day.

On a side note, Matt wrote the book on making Mother’s Day special. For as much as I complain about his love affair with hunting, he always hits it out of the park when it really matters.

Also, if it seems like your wife is a little bummed by the end of the day, don’t be alarmed. This is just the moment she is realizing that in the morning she will be knocked off her royal mama pedestal and thrust back into reality. If this happens, just know you have done your job!

Don’t Forget Your Mama!

While you are thinking of ways to honor the woman who is raising your children, don’t forget about the one who raised you! Grab her a card (or make one, that would be even better), order her some flowers, and make sure to let her know how much you love her! She’ll always be your mama and undoubtedly appreciates being thought of, no matter how old you are.

Happy Mother’s Day!