How to Write A Personal Message in a Mother's Day Card

Mother's Day is, in theory, a time for your children to tell your spouse how much they love her but it is also a time for you to acknowledge your spouse and how she cares for your family. (Father's Day is the same idea and comes a month later so doing something nice in May can insure receiving something nice in June.)

Encouraging your children to write their own personalized cards is a wonderful idea but taking a few moments to pen some words of your own is a great way to tell your wife that while you may not tell her each and every day that you appreciate how she makes lunches/folds laundry/fills out school forms/car pools/insert great mom task here, you certainly do appreciate it at least as much as your children and perhaps more given that if she were not sharing the parenting roles, more responsibility would fall on you.

Creating an original poem is not necessary (although if you're feeling creative it would most likely be much appreciated) but simply signing a store bought greeting card does not smack of true sincerity. Most cards have an entire blank page on the left hand side right beside the cute little poem on the right. Use that space to (in no particular order):

1. remind her that you love her

2. tell her that she's a great mom to your children

3. thank her for all of the things you don't thank her for daily

4. use specifics (ie. Thanks for remembering that the kids had a play on the week we were thinking of going away.)

5. tell her that you're glad she's your partner

6. if she's the main caregiver, tell her you know how hard she works

7. if she's a working mom, tell her you know she has two jobs and that she's amazing at both of them

If you have encountered any hardships in parenting over the past year, this is a great time to take a minute to address these hard times and to tell her, in writing, how you are there for her and are glad that she has been there for you.

The best time to write these words is generally any time before Mother's Day. If your wife sees you scribbling something that morning (or worse, that afternoon), she will not feel you have really put a whole lot of thought into your message. Again, June and Father's Day are not long after May and Mother's Day.

Ultimately, whatever you tell your partner will be appreciated as long as it is sincere and legible. We don't always remember to use words aloud throughout the year and the card is a great time to take a minute to put them on paper.