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Mother’s Day, and every day, is looking quite different this year. Each year, we all gather around and celebrate with the women closest to us that help shape our lives.
Since becoming a mother myself, Mother’s Day is more important to me than ever. As 2020 has already presented its challenges, it has really challenged me as a mother…and I know all of you moms out there are likely shaking your heads ‘yes’ with me. Staying home means more cleaning, more home-cooked meals, more piles of dishes — and don’t even get me started on homeschooling. Props to all the teachers reading this, you are stars!
With or without children, these times are straight up HARD. Some mornings, I wake up and I feel ok. I go through the day and just tackle it, and find a lot of joy in this temporary normal. I enjoy exploring nature with my kids, playing new games, completing puzzles, baking new treats and so on. Other days, my anxiety is through the roof and it takes all of me to not walk outside on my balcony and scream at the top of my lungs.
I keep reminding myself that it’s okay to feel this way. I sometimes get angry when I remind myself of all the things I should be grateful for: my beautiful family, the roof over my head, the food in my pantry, my job stability…I could go on. It doesn’t seem ‘fair’ to be anxious when so many others are struggling in ways I can’t even imagine. But at the end of the day, this is uncharted territory for us all. It’s scary, it’s lonely, it’s just hard. Regardless of our privileges, anxiety and fear knows no boundaries. I am constantly counting my blessings and I am constantly trying to complete my own checklist of things that make me feel my best: moving my body, eating healthy, drinking water, and BREATHING.
So how do we celebrate Mother’s Day when this is all so tough? How do I celebrate my mom and mother-in-law when I can’t embrace them? We just do. We celebrate, even though it’s going to look completely different than years past.
Here are some of the things I plan on doing to celebrate Mother’s Day this year:
- Cook. Okay, some of you may say NO WAY, I am not cooking on my day but cooking brings me joy, so I am going to cook!
- Not Clean. HOWEVER, I am going to tell my sweet family to get the heck out of my kitchen and do the things I don’t want to do: make the beds, tidy up the playroom, clean up the house a bit so that I can cook us a lovely brunch without interruption. So you can find my kids and husband cleaning up like little angels while I have Kacey Musgraves and other songs from the Defined Dish Playlist playing in the kitchen while I cook brunch.
- Set the Mood with Flowers from The Bouqs Co. Sutton and I will set the table. Having these more formal family meals is something that I am very fond of during this time at home. Sutton has so much fun going through my linens and picking what she wants to use to decorate while I set out plates and silverware for her to use. We will also decorate our table with beautiful flowers that I’ve ordered from Bouqs (find more information below about Bouqs).
- Get Dressed. I never thought I would look forward to getting dressed up at home, but after wearing every single comfy workout + loungewear outfit that I own day after day, it’s nice to wear something pretty. We did this on Easter Sunday and it was a lovely change of pace.
- Make Time for Family. I have already set up two separate zoom calls for Mother’s Day — one with my side of the family and one with Clayton’s. We also did this on Easter and it was lovely! I tell everyone (minus the kids) to make a cocktail and we all catch up.
- Count my Blessings. Being a mother is the hardest job on the planet and I am so grateful that God gave me the opportunity to be one. I also am so grateful to have a loving, caring mother that I’ve always looked up to and has always set a good example for me. My mother-in-law is freaking amazing as well and I am so grateful for my relationship with her.
Okay, so that is my intention and mindset behind this year’s Mother’s Day and I hope it inspires you. As far as recipes go, I have a fun round-up of recipes below INCLUDING this new, fantastic (and super easy to make) Gluten-Free Quiche!
I also ordered flowers from The Bouqs Company (shown in all these photos) for my mom, my mother-in-law and my sister. Their farm-fresh Bouqs are shipped straight from their sustainable, eco-friendly farms in North and South America. Not only are their flowers beautiful, but their website is easy to use and you can order + ship them nationwide. Celebrate all the special mothers in your life by sending a beautiful bouquet of flowers and use code DEFINEDDISH20 for 20% off when you order.
In a world where hope and kindness is in more need than ever, let’s take this Mother’s Day to celebrate just that. And my heart goes to all of you that cannot bear children or if you cannot be with your children today if you have lost them. You are loved.
To KiKi and GoGo,
Thank you for your love and kindness. For all the joy and tender care you provide me. Just knowing you are there for me always brings me peace and hope each day. Your love for me and my family means the world to me. Thank you for all that you sacrifice and do for us. I love you. Happy Mother’s Day.
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