Seeing as I run a company dedicated to gifts for new mums, I am not going to pretend I don’t love the concept of Mother’s Day. I believe mums should be celebrated.
However, I do dislike certain aspects of it. For example, I have some friends who are single parents with young kids. Who will get their gift? I don’t like the pressure and expectation Mother’s Day puts on us to have a day off and relax. For many of us it’s just not practical.
So, while I hope many people will buy and receive Mum’s Back hampers, I also hope we treat ourselves and not rely solely on others to help us celebrate our worth! I have also put together a list of gifts we can get for ourselves. They’re mainly little acts of self-care, which I think we all deserve. In many ways I love the prospect of treating myself more than receiving a gift from someone else. Here are my ideas:
No Tech
A whole evening not looking at technology. I am SO guilty of regularly spending the whole night on my phone. I am also guilty of watching TV whilst checking notifications on my phone. On the rare occasions I have evenings free of both these things I feel amazing! I should do this more and schedule it in.
A Juicy Book
Do some research and buy yourself a brand-new juicy book to get stuck into. A real treat.
Turn It Up!
When was the last time you listened to the music you loved as a teenager or in your early 20’s? Remember what you loved, find that album, turn it up loud and spend some time getting nostalgic. It does wonders for the soul.
Reconnect
Reconnect with old friends. I hardly ever pick up the phone and speak to my mates anymore. It’s all texts and whatsapp messages. But nothing beats an actual conversation.
You Matter!
Be kind to yourself. We tend to spend so long dwelling on our imperfections. Dedicate half an hour writing down all the stuff you love about yourself, or the things you are most proud of. May sound wanky, but it’s so powerful!
Memory Books
Reminisce and make an album of pics. It’s so common to take pics and store them on our phones and laptops and never look at them. Spend some time downloading and printing them off and make some memory books to cherish.
Nourish
Make a meal you love from scratch. I know, cooking doesn’t sound like a treat, but I spend so much time keeping my kids happy that I forget what I actually love. On the rare occasions I cook my favourite meals I’m so happy and feel so nourished. If this sounds like too much of a chore treat yourself to some food you love in whatever form you choose! It’s all about YOU.
Get Creative
Dedicate some time to drawing or painting, or book yourself in for a life drawing class. I know it sounds scary, but I did this and it felt AMAZING. I’m one of those people who tell themselves they’re no good at art, but I realise that is just a narrative I’ve been telling myself for years, with no actual foundation. It felt great to be creative and lose myself in drawing, and I realised I was actually pretty good!
A Bed In?
A bed in. We all know a lie in is great, but what about an ‘early in’? Clean your bed sheets so they’re fresh and crisp, add some lavender spray, and try to go to bed EARLY…as in 2-3 hours early, ideally with a good book. Bliss!
Bio
This blog was written by Sally Bunkham, founder of mumsback.com, who provide luxury hamper gifts for new mums focusing on the yummy stuff denied in pregnancy. £1 from every hamper goes to perinatal charity PANDAS Foundation.
