Make Spending Time with Your Mom a Priority in Your Life

Mother's Day is gone and done with, we spent time with the moms in our lives in a special way. And, for a lot of us that may be the only time we get to see our mothers. Maybe she lives out of town or, as in my case, both of you are so busy you rarely get the chance to spend quality time together. So the passing of that special day leaves behind an ache, a sort of deep sadness because you know it will take another whole year, 365 days out of your short life, for it to come around again. It really doesn't have to be that way. Life is way too short to let it pass without showing those we love exactly how special they are, how much we love, cherish and appreciate them.

That goes for everyone in our lives whom we love, not just our moms. But our mothers just happen to be special, they are the ones who gave us life. The ones who stayed up night after night when we were sick wiping our feverish brows with cold cloths, who got up 3 hours early to bake those cupcakes we needed to take to school, who stood over a bathtub with her back aching washing our clothes so we would have something clean to wear to school. She's the one who did without things she needed so we could have those fancy new shoes we wanted just because everyone else had them. She deserves honor, she deserves everything we can give her and so much more. So why is it that we only make time for her on that one day of the year?

Mothers and daughters have a tie that runs deep and strong. A bond that cant be severed by time or distance. But, as in every relationship, you must give it love and attention for it to grow and blossom. Spending time with your mom is very important. Mothers and daughters should get together and try to think of ways that will allow them not only to have fun together, but that will strengthen your friendship. It really doesn't matter where you go or what you do, as long as it appeals to both of you. For daughters, take an afternoon and surprise your mom by 'kidnapping' her for a day of beauty makeovers at the salon, followed by a wonderful lunch at a restaurant she's been longing to try. Or, if finances are a problem, a movie at your home with a picnic lunch on the living room floor. Are one of you interested in a craft? Sewing, scrap booking, stamping, expose the other to your favorite hobbies and just maybe you will both find something you enjoy, something you can take one afternoon a week and do together.

Designate Sunday as a family day, attend church together, go to dinner, spend an afternoon at the park and watch a movie that night. Whatever you chose, the only thing that's important is that your spending time together and bonding. You're developing and strengthening your friendship.

My mom and I make Saturday our family day, we alternate Saturdays making dinners at our home and then we'll plan an afternoons activities. Sometimes its movie night or game night, sometimes we play games like truth or dare or, one we made up called, Oh No. Oh No is a simple game but it opens up many areas of communication.

Sometimes there are issues we are having to deal with that we just don't want to burden people with, even those close to us, in this game you take a hat or a bowl, whatever you have handy and everyone writes down at least 4 things that are bothering them at that particular moment on small slips of paper, someone is designated to be first and pulls a piece of paper out and tries to deal with the problem listed, or give advice on what they would do in the same situation. Its really fun and I've received some very insightful answers from my mom and others.

Spending time with the people we love is important, its really more important than our jobs or any other of the million and one responsibilities we must cater to every day. It really doesn't matter how we do it, as long as we make some time everyday for those we love. For more information on activities to do with your family visit www.familygames.org