In just a week it will be Mother’s Day and if you are planning ahead (even a little), you may be preparing to send off a Mother’s Day card instead of sending flowers. Alas, even though Mother’s Day is often recognized as the “greeting card holiday,” it is nevertheless very difficult, or even impossible to pick a card that will “match” Mother. (This is true, regardless of where she lives, be it Cleveland, as my mother does, or anywhere else in the world.) So many cards have a have a strained quality or come across as fake or flat out ridiculous.

Just the other day I spent part of the afternoon at our local card shop here in Cleveland. Card upon card fell short. I couldn’t find one that was just right for my mother. One such card had a picture of a young child dancing in a flower garden, while another (who looked to be her sister) brought flower upon flower to their mother who was seated on giant-sized flower sculpture. On the pastel pink background there were the words (scrawled in a loopy script), “Mother, You’re the Center of My Flower Garden.” Inside there was a little poem:

You share your cheer and light up our days,
Your guide me and teach me in all your ways, . . .

And ended with the lines:
And I thank you for all that you do,
And I have to say, I love you too!

Have a Beautiful Mother’s Day!

I don’t know about you, but this is not the type of card or Mothers Day gift I want to send to my mother. Certainly, flowery, poetic cards like this are perfect for some, but certainly not for everyone.

Of course, I don’t want to send my mother a boring, bland, or generic Mother’s Day card, either. Seriously, they are just too boring! While the sentiment may be true, it doesn’t get much more cliche than the example from this card:

On the front of the card:
Thank You For Your Tender Loving Care!

Inside the card:
Happy Mother’s Day!

Truth be told, I think one reason why Mother’s Day cards fall short are that often how one really feels about one’s own mother is so inadequately expressed by a few verses printed on a card.  In fact, often times mothers aren’t sure about how she would  quantify herself, let alone how her husband, daughter, son, mother, grandmother, friend, or other relative would. 

The other day, my good friend complained to me that of the women in his life--his own mother and his wife (who is mother to their six wonderful children), both admit they have no wish to be celebrated or honored on Mother’s Day.  They told him, “It’s just part of the job description: Mother - helping with homework instead of relaxing, getting up early to pack lunches, and tennis tournaments 3 hours away.”  He told me despite this he would like to show them his deep appreciation for, what in his opinion represents the glue of the household.  So he plans to make a big fuss this Mother’s Day.  And he’ll be doing so not with cards but with a bouquet of flowers sent from each of his children to their mother and grandmother who both live here in Cleveland.

OMG - is it really almost Mother's Day? Mother's Day is just around the corner...and I haven't even ordered my Mother's Day flowers yet! Well, thank goodness there are a ton of places to get flowers online and they even have overnight deliverly and same-day delivery! I am a big time procrastinator and I depend on places being open 24/7 and offering fast shipping options. So, don't put it off - order your Mother's Day flowers now!

I am so relieved ... I have finally decided what to send my mother this year for Mother's Day!  Check out the purple bouquet of flowers (above).