Category: Parenting

Preparing Your Nearly-Grown Child For Life Success

Many parents have a skewed understanding of what it takes to be a success in life, especially if they came into adulthood in the seventies, eighties, and nineties. Back then, jobs were plentiful and secure, housing was affordable, and there were less “global issues” to think about. There’s a reason why many teenagers are suffering from mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. If you have a child who will soon be in adulthood, then one of the best things you can do for them is to prepare them real-world success. We take a look at a number of ways you can do this below.

Source: Pexels.com

Stop Babying Them

In the olden days, children were the employees of their parents. Now, they’re the bosses. However, it’s just a fact of life that out there in the real world, there are no bosses, and if there are, it’s unlikely to be your son or daughter. As such, it’s a good idea to prepare them for life by nudging them towards adulthood in your own way. You can give them more responsibilities, and make sure they’re accountable for their actions. It’s what they’ll have to face when they’re out there trying to make it. There won’t be anyone to clean up after them when they’re living on their own.

Put Away Funds

As we said at the beginning of the article, it’s not easy for young people out there. There aren’t that many jobs, and for the ones that are, competition can be fierce. People are often forced into taking unpaid internships if they want to have any hope of making it in the most desirable industries. To ensure your child doesn’t need to turn down these opportunities due to money issues, look at putting a little bit of cash away each month. If the time comes when they need to take an internship – or pursue another option that requires startup cash – then you’ll be on hand to help them out. It’s not a gift though; they can pay you back when they finally land that job.

Setting Them Up

Many young people have to deal with debt, be it because of education or the high cost of living. As such, many young aren’t thriving and being the best version of themselves: they’re just trying to get by. And that means that the basics of life, such as property or a case, can be impossible to come by. Here’s where you come in. Consider buying a piece of real estate, and letting your child live there rent-free (or they can pay a discounted rent). If you have a car that you were thinking of replacing, hand the keys down to your son or daughter when you buy your new vehicle. Both of these will make a dramatic difference to your child’s life and will have a minimal impact on your own. You were going to buy a new car anyway, and the property will still be in your name and part of your financial portfolio.

Handling Finances

The most common grievance people have about school is that they learned a lot about useless topics, and not enough about the things that really matter, such as how to handle finances. But schools can’t be responsible for everything. As such, look at filling in the blanks, and educating your child about the best approach to money. It’s much easier to avoid debt altogether rather than try to get out of later on down the line. Learning good practices as early as possible will set them up for a financially healthy life.

Set Expectations

There’s no such thing as a self-driven person. Those entrepreneurs who pushed through their dreams weren’t self-driven; they were simply responding to the expectations that were set for them. Humans have a phenomenal capacity, every single one of us, but sometimes we need to be nudged in the right direction to reach our full potential. If you maintain high standards in your personal life and let your child know what you expect of them, then you’ll be setting a bar for them to reach. The people who are a success often look back at the discipline and atmosphere of hard work in their family as the reason why they were successful.

…But No Pressure

It’s worth remembering, however, that there’s a fine line between expectations and pressure. Expectations reflect a standard of output (as in “if you’re going to do something, do it well”). Pressure pushes people into doing something that they don’t really want to do. Your son or daughter will be more likely to be successful (also happier) if they feel the freedom to go in any direction they want (within reason, of course). We’re all different, including your child, so let them find their own path.

Helping with the Career

Because competition is so fierce for jobs, it usually takes more than just a cover letter and resumes to land a position. Indeed, somewhere in the region of 80% of jobs aren’t even advertised. When your child is just reaching adulthood, they won’t have any of the contacts that can help grease the wheels when it comes to finding employment. But you might. Talk to your friends, colleagues, and so on to see if anybody knows of a job that’s available. You’d be surprised just how many jobs are filled this way.

Dealing with Setbacks

Life isn’t easy, no matter what circumstances we’re in. Even if everything seems like it’s going swimmingly, it can all become undone pretty quickly! It’s not what happens to us that matters, however, but how we respond. Teach your children the art of resilience and overcoming setbacks. It’ll be one of the best tools in their arsenal as they navigate their way through life.

Be Open

Finally, remember to be open. If they feel like they can talk with you about what’s going on in their life, you’ll be providing a mightily useful service in their life. Just because they’re an adult, you’re still their parent!

The Remedy For Baby Rash Lies In Changing The Wipes, Not The Diaper

As a mother, you constantly worry about the well being of your child, which is but natural. Sometimes the most common issues bother us a lot and even after trying so many remedies, we aren’t able to combat the issue. Temporary solutions may provide some relief to the child, but unless we identify the root cause, it’s all in vain. Diaper rash is one such pain point both for the child and the mother. Some people may see it as a small issue, but it plays havoc on a child’s skin and is usually responsible for making the child cranky and irritable.

But have you ever wondered, what actually causes the rash?

Well, after a lot of research myself I learned that contrary to the belief that diapers cause rashes, it’s actually the wipes that cause them. With half knowledge, mothers end up changing the diapers frequently or switch to cotton nappies, but they aren’t the actual reason. The chemicals present in baby wipes are actually harmful and end up leading to rashes on the child’s skin.

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My suggestion to all mothers would be to learn about the products that they use on their children. The products that have parabens are extremely harmful to children’s skin and we often end up ignoring them because we don’t know about them. But as a mother, it’s our responsibility to update ourselves about these things and then make the right choices.

I recommend Mother Sparsh Wet Wipes, because they are not just chemical free, but also completely safe for the child’s skin in all ways. This small video here will just help you understand more about the same.

 

The mildness of the product has been testified by a lot of mothers and I have personally seen it with the help of a flame test. You can read more about it here.

Read In Detail About The Flame Test Here

Some of the product highlights are

98% Water Wipes- mostly wipes have more lotion content, which has preservatives and chemicals and can leave the baby’s skin prone to rashes or other allergies. These contain 98% water and hence are completely safe.

Alcohol-Free

Parabens Free

pH Balanced

Hypoallergenic

Extra Moisture

Non-Woven Spunlace Fabric and Biodegradable- Made up of 100% plant fabric which makes it totally nature-friendly

Proven for Mildness

Suitable to be used right from birth.

Natural Care with Aloe Vera

Enriched with Vitamin E

Why Should You Choose Mother Sparsh Water Wipes, Read Here

I am sure these facts will help you choose the best for your child and you would only trust brands like Mother Sparsh for your little one.

Buy Mother Sparsh Wet Wipes Here

To Know More About The Brand, Click Here

 

 

Luvlap Stroller- Made Evening Walks With My Nephew So Much Fun

I still remember when I took my child out for his first visit to a park in his stroller. A stroller is much more than just convenience – it’s about my baby’s comfort, and being able to spend quality time together. I am sure every parent would be able to relate to what I am saying.

We all have so many stories and memories, and we tend to remember these moments the most – the moments when our baby is happy while walking in the park, or when they fall asleep in their stroller. I remember each and everything that I experienced with my son and just recently, I was blessed with an adorable nephew, and I knew that the best gift for him would be a stroller.

After looking for some strollers, I got my nephew a Luvlap Cruze Folding stroller, and I’ll never forget the day I first took him outside in his brand new stroller. He had a sparkle in his eyes as he looked around. Must say that I was impressed too. It’s lightweight, easy to handle, and kept my nephew comfy and safe. I cannot express in words, the happiness I experienced while bonding with my nephew. He was so comfortable and happy as we walked around, and he gave me the cutest smile ever.


The stroller has become more and more useful for us. I regularly take him out for evening strolls now, and it’s a ritual that we absolutely enjoy, all thanks to the ease and safety of the Luvlap stroller.

Mother Sparsh Water Based Wipes; Proving The Mildness With Flame Test

Baby Skin Care

When it comes to Baby’s Skin Care, no mother wants to take chance with her choice of products she uses on the baby. Nothing but only the best and the most gentle products are used for the children. Their skin is so sensitive that taking a chance could sometimes lead to a big skin problem. Rashes and allergies are especially common when it comes to using skin care products. One has to be very particular and also try and use only trusted brands.

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Trusting a Brand

How to gain trust in a brand is also a challenge these days, a lot of brands may claim their gentleness but in the true sense, they are not. They end up hiding the list of chemicals they use and do not disclose the details of the elements used in making those products. But then there are some brands that go out of the way to not just claim but also challenge you enough to see the proof with your own eyes.

 

Mother Sparsh Wet Wipes

Mother Sparsh Wet Wipes is one such brand/product that is 100% true to its claims. They claim 98% water in the water wipes, unlike the other competing brands that have more lotion content that is made of chemicals and preservatives.

But this kind of claim is not easy to believe, 98% water obviously means that the product is extremely safe for baby use, but to prove such mildness is another thing. Also claiming that the wipes are made from 100% biodegradable material and are not synthetic is a very important claim.

I have been using these wipes for quite some time and I am extremely satisfied with the same, but recently a friend of mine almost challenged me on the quality of the product and I really took it personally to prove her with a simple ‘flame test’

Also Read- Mother Sparsh Wipes- The Next Best Thing To A Mother’s Touch

Flame Test

In this extremely simple flame test that you can conduct at the comfort of your home, if you burn a wipe and it burns like paper, turning into ashes and the whole wipe getting disposed of with fumes, it proves that it is made of biodegradable material.

Other Brand Wet Wipe
Mother Sparsh Wet Wipe

If at all the wipe is synthetic and made of polyester, it won’t burn fully and its corners will remain hard. It won’t completely turn to ashes and this test is a proof enough to confidentially say that Mother Sparsh Wipes are extremely safe for the baby’s skin.

Mother Sparsh Wet Wipe Burns with Ashes
Other Brand Wet Wipe- Burns Like Plastic with Hard Corners
Flame Test Comparison

Conclusion

I conducted this test in front of my friend using Mother Sparsh Wet Wipe and other well know baby care brand that my friend was using. While the Mother Sparsh Wipes burnt completely to ashes, the other one left a lot of residues behind. Hence my trust in the brand was multiplied and also the brand found a new customer in my friend.

They are easily available online, you can buy it on Amazon

 

#CHOOSEgentle With The New Johnson’s !

Yes, our favorite brand, who was always gentle, got gentler. Keeping up with the changing times and changing needs of both the children and mothers, Johnson’s revamped their products and made them even better and safer to be used on kids. They understand that, with atmospheric changes like pollution, dirt and the otherwise stressful life, it’s important to bring about some changes in the products too. With this thought as the main motto, on the 8th of August, Johnson’s launched its new range of products and emphasized on #CHOOSEgentle.

Being a mommy blogger I was privileged enough to be called for this launch, and to our surprise, the best part was that we mommy bloggers were the first ones to not just see but also experience the products. Leaving the traditional way of ATL launch before anything else, in Deepali Agarwal’s (Head Baby Care, J&J) own words, she literally had to fight the senior management to leave that conventional route and chose a soft launch between the influencers community of mothers, who also happen to be the primary TG of the brand, because only a mother knows whats best for her child.

A few selected mommy bloggers from across the country gathered at the ITC Maratha in Mumbai for this grand launch. The brand had quite a few revelations to be made about the new products, primary being that the products would have the following

  • No Dyes
  • No Parabens
  • No Sulfates
  • No Phthalates
  • Highest IFRA Fragrance Standard
  • Each Product Tested For 12 Months

Along with these chemical changes that are brought in the products to make them even gentler for the kids, the brand has kept a special focus on ease of using the products.

  • Tear Drop Shape for Easy Holding
  • Safety Locks on the Bottles
  • One Hand Press for Opening the Bottles

 

The products have no been made so safe that they can easily be used on the baby from day 1. Have been tested with 5.5 lakh people globally and recommended by doctors.

 

As a mother, I have personally been very loyal to the brand, my mum used Johnson’s on me and then I blindly followed it for my son. Even now, some of the products are in regular use, not just by my kid but the entire family. The mildness which has been proven for years and that special Johnson’s fragrance is something I find difficult to get over myself.

Well, Johnson’s once again proved that there could be no brand better than them, who understands baby skin care as well. Not just going by the theory, but we also did some practical demos, which instilled the faith even more. The baby shampoo having the perfect pH balance is something I myself tested practically. We were given an apparatus which included litmus strips, and 3 different kinds of shampoos, one Johnson’s, one regular family shampoo and one herbal shampoo. We had to take one spoon of each shampoo in different beakers, add 60ml water and mix them. We dipped the litmus strips in each solution and the results were astonishing. The litmus strip which was dipped in family shampoo turned literally black, which denoted its pH balance was on the higher side, making it extremely harsh even for adults, forget children. The herbal shampoo was less in comparison to the family shampoo, but when it came to Johnson’s shampoo, the litmus did not change color at all, hence proving that its pH was less than 4.5 which was perfectly balanced and very mild, gentle and safe to be used on children.

It was a day filled with a lot of fun activities and of course knowledge shared by the experts about the brand. Loved meeting all fellow mommy bloggers and enjoyed each moment spent at the event. I have already used the products and simply love them, they are really gentle.

So a big shout out to all you mothers who want nothing but the best for your children, trust Johnson’s and #CHOOSEgentle!

 

Mother Sparsh Baby Wipes, the next best thing to a mother’s touch!

When I say this that the mother’s touch is something that can never be replaced with anything, I truly mean it. A mother’s touch is an incomparable gesture for both the mother and the child and the mother always wants the best for her child. Whatever a mother chooses for her child, she wants that particular thing to take care of her child the way she personally would. Its a feeling that cannot be explained in words and only a mum can understand. Hence when buying baby care products, a mother is so cautious that, she would never take a chance. This is one reason that I always believe in a product which a mother recommends when I come across reviews, I know that if a mother has raved about a product it has to be genuinely good. I am a mother myself, and I would never mislead my readers about any product unless I believe in it completely and can confidently recommend it.

One such product that I recently came across was the Mother Sparsh Baby Wipes and as the name suggests, it truly feels like a mother’s sparsh. Sparsh in Hindi means ‘touch’ and yes these wipes are as gentle on the baby’s skin as a mother’s touch.

Highlights of the product:

  • 98% Water Wipes- mostly wipes have more lotion content, which has preservatives and chemicals and can leave the baby’s skin prone to rashes or other allergies. These contain 98% water and hence are completely safe.
  • Alcohol-Free
  • Parabens Free
  • pH Balanced
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Extra Moisture
  • Non-Woven Spunlace Fabric and Biodegradable- Made up of 100% plant fabric which makes it totally nature-friendly
  • Proven for Mildness
  • Suitable to be used right from birth.
  • Natural Care with Aloe Vera
  • Enriched with Vitamin E
  • Cost Effective- pick up on discounted price from First Cry and it works up to just Rs. 1.53 per wipe

I have tried and tested this product and that gives me a reason to recommend it to all mothers. Be rest assured of the quality and go ahead with it.

Is A Care Home Right For Your Parents?

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Watching your parents get older is one of the hardest things in the world. After all, you’ve probably spent your entire life looking up to them and having to come to terms with the fact that they’re not able to do things that they used to do or that they are struggling to take care of themselves can be incredibly painful. However, it’s not something that you, or they, can afford to ignore and it often involves a lot of tough choices. One of the toughest choices of all is whether or not it’s best for your parents to live full time in a care home. It’s something that a lot of people are hesitant to think about but it can often be the best thing for everyone involved. Here are some things that you need to do if you’re considering suggesting a care home for your parents.

Discuss it with them

The first thing that you need to do is to discussthe prospect of moving into a care home with your parents. After all, they’re not going to respond particularly well to the idea that you’re trying to push them into it. Sure, if they’re suffering from any kind of memory loss or other age-related conditions then you may have to make the tough choice but most of the time it’s best to make sure that it’s their own decision.

Be honest about what you’re capable of

You might not want to end up putting your parents in a home and you assume that you’ll be able to take care of themyourself. However, there’s a good chance that that’s not going to be the case. The truth is that if you have things that you need to take care of in your own life, you simply might not be able to look after them. If you already have a family and a career then you might not be able to provide the full-time care that your parent’s need.

Find the right place

Of course, not all care homes are created equal. There are plenty of wonderful places where your parents would be extremely happy but there is also the possibility that they’re not being treated well. There’s plenty of advice online for what to do if you suspect nursing home abuse. But the best thing is to do your research in advance. Make sure that you visit any prospective homes and that you do thorough background checks on all of them. After all, if it’s the kind of place where your parents are going to be living then you want them to get the very best care possible.

More than anything else, you have to remember that moving into a care home must be your parent’s decision. You might think that it’s for the best but you can’t be the one to make that choice for them. In the end, all that you can do is to support them in whatever choice they make or that

Stress-Free Parenting Isn’t a Myth–You’re Just Doing It Wrong

We’ve heard it all before. Parenting is stressful and it takes the life out of you. It makes you feel tired at the end of a long day and it makes you struggle to manage your own personal goals. You think about your kids all day and it becomes difficult when they start causing trouble for you. It’s understandable and completely believable that you sometimes just want to dump your children with a babysitterand have a fun night out.

Although it’s completely acceptable to do that once in a while, there are actually other ways to help lower your stress when dealing with children. In this article, we’ll be talking about stress-free parenting and why it’s not a myth, but a completely achievable reality.

Source: Pexels

1. Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is underrated. Quality sleepis essential for helping you boost your confidence, keep your energy levels high and also help you recharge after a long day. Sleep can help regulate your mood, it can improve your focus, it can bolster your memory and it can help you fight back against illnesses. Taking afternoon naps is fine, but you’ll want to make sure that you get at least 7 hours of sleep per night. If you’re being woken up by a noisy child then learn to accept it. You can make up for lost sleep in the afternoon. If your job is affecting your ability to get quality sleep, then it may be time to take a day or two off just to give yourself a break.

2. Get rid of stress triggers

Stress can cause a number of different problems such as mental health issues, physical health issues, developing addictions and even becoming easily irritable. The last thing you want is to start shouting at your kids or even your partner, so it’s important to get rid of stress triggers. This article titled “Tips To Reduce Daily Life Stress Triggers In Addiction Recovery” will be a great guide to help you reduce your stress if you’re personally recovering from an addiction and find that having children has caused you to slump back into old depressive habits.

3. Simplify things

Keep things simple when you’re with your kids. Don’t take on more than you can handle and always streamline things. Using food preparation to help you cut down on long cooking times, stick to a schedule so that you know where you are in your day and always try to reduce the number of responsibilities you have. It’s completely normal to split your obligations with your partner and you might even find it helpful to ask your kids to learn to do simple house chores such as making the bed.

Source: Pexels

4. Stop focusing on perfection

The “perfect” parenting voice in your head is only making things harder for you. You might feel like you’re not good enough for your children, you might get frustrated that other parents are doing better than you and it can easily spiral out of control. Don’t aim to become the perfect parent that does everything in the best way possible–someone like that doesn’t exist. What’s actually important is that you love your children and that you’re doing everything in your power to make their life comfortable as well as taking care of your own health.

5. Keep yourself active

Exercise is actually one of the best ways to keep yourself fit, focused and motivated. It’s also one of the best ways to fight against stress. Not everyone loves to go to the gym every morning, so it’s important to just add bits of physical activityhere and there to help you cope with your responsibilities. This can include walking to work instead of taking public transport, it could involve cycling with your kids or even going out to a park to play with your children.

6. Remember to have fun

You should also remember to have more fun. Far too many parents think of their daily tasks as some must-do list and they forget that they can have fun with their tasks. If you’re cleaning the kitchen, then put the radio on or some music and enjoy yourself. You can also learn to have more fun on a regular basis with your kids. If they’re playing video games, try and get interested in the same games and play with them. This can help you connect with your children and even create some friendly competition that will tighten your bond.

7. Ask for help

Remember that you’re not alone in parenting. Whether it’s calling for a local babysitter to help you look after the kids or visiting a support group for single parents, there’s plenty of help out there if you’re willing to accept it. Trying to do everything yourself will only lead to disaster, so be more mindful of how you approach parenting and realize that you’re not alone.

8. Stop multitasking

Far too many people focus on multitasking to helpthem complete more tasks in a single day. This is sadly counterproductive and it’s much better to focus on completing single tasks. Think of it this way; trying to do five things at once will only increase the time it takes to finish each task. If you just do each thing individually, then you’ll complete them faster and with less stress on your mind because you’re only focusing on a single thing.

If you live a fast-paced life and find it difficult to keep up with parenting, then it’s a good idea to take a step back and look at these eight points that we’ve just described. If you find yourself failing to do one or the other, then it’s worth taking a good look at your life and realizing where you’ve gone wrong and what you can do to improve yourself. As frustrating as parenting can be at times, it’s important to deal with all of the problems one by one so that you can live a stress-free life and raising wonderful children.

Why Isn’t My Child Meeting Important Milestones?

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If you’re worried about your child because they always seem to be the last of their peers to reach certain milestones like saying their first words or developing motor skills, chances are there is nothing to worry about and they’re just doing things in their own time.

Although there are guidelines as to when kids should reach their important milestones, they are far from art in stone, and many kids will take a lot longer than predicted. That does not mean that there is anything to worry about. However, sometimes, there will be an underlying issue that could be keeping them back and you will need to address those.

Here are some of the most common reasons why milestones are not met to put your mind at ease and/or ensure that you get the necessary help for your child:

Hearing Loss

Depending on which stats you look at, between 2-3 of every 1000 children experiences hearing lossto some degree and this can lead to them not hitting important milestones such as developing speech. On average, children can speak between 30 and 50 words by the time they are 21 months old, with most speaking for the first time at least by the time they are 18 months old. If your child has not reached that target, but they understand speech well, it may just be that they are a late bloomer. However, if they don’t appear to understand what you’re saying, let alone being able to speak themselves, it could be that they can’t hear you well enough to do so and they may need a hearing aid or other treatments for which you will need to see a good ENT.

Asthma

If your child is able to speak, but they do not speak “correctly” and have trouble sounding out words, it could be that they are suffering from asthmawhich can make controlling the air they breath out difficult, thus making it harder to produce the right sounds. If you suspect this could be the case, seeing a doctor should be a priority.

Poor Muscle Tone

If you’re a worried parentbecause your child isn’t crawling at 8 months and hasn’t taken their first steps between 11-12 months, don’t panic yet. Is your child a little less chubby than the other babies? Does he or she have more weight on the upper body than the lower? It could be that weaker muscle tone and a top-heavy body are making it harder for them to do what they will eventually do given time – nothing to worry about.

Temperament

If your baby isn’t walking as soon as you think they should be, or they aren’t developing other motor skillsas quickly as their peers, it could also be that their temperament is the problem. You see, babies and toddlers who are more easily frustrated will push themselves to do things faster and more efficiently than babies who aren’t easily frustrated, simply so they can do what they want to do more easily. This, again, is nothing much to worry about.

Most of the time, when kids don’t hit their milestones as fast as you think they should, there’s no problem, but if they miss lots of milestones and they simply don’t appear to be making progress, you absolutely need to see a doctor because it could be the sign of a more serious illness or disorder. Your doctor should always be your first port of call!

Four Ways to Show Your Mother You Appreciate Her

It doesn’t have to be Mother’s Day to show your mother you appreciate her. She does so much for the family it’s never a bad time to let her know how much you care. Consider four ways to show your mom how much you love her.

Give Her a Gift

Making the decision to give your mom a gift is the easy part. The next step is to figure out what she’d like. One way to go about it is to look at her tastes and hobbies. Maybe she loves to cook. If so, give her a new cooking utensil or maybe a set of pans. These gifts would contribute to her enjoyment of cooking. If you want to be more traditional, give your mom a surprise gift of chocolate or other tasty treats. Finding a selection of delicious treats is simple at a place like The Sweet Basket.

Make a Special Dinner

Another way to show your mom you love her is to make her favorite dinner. If she loves spaghetti, then make that entrée along with her favorite side dishes. If you’re not so confident as a cook, take her to a favorite restaurant and treat her to dinner!

Write Her a Letter

Write your mom a letter describing how much she means to you. Bring up specific times in your childhood when you and she really bonded. This letter is going to mean a lot to her. Put the letter in the mail so she can find it in her mailbox one day. She is sure to treasure it for years to come.

Clean Her House

If cleaning is not your mom’s favorite activity, then why not give her a break? Clean all the rooms in your mom’s home. This includes vacuuming, dusting, washing windows, mopping floors and washing curtains. She is sure to be pleased with all your efforts and glad she doesn’t have to clean her home for a while! Of course, if you don’t have the time to clean your mom’s place, you can hire a professional cleaning service. Though you didn’t do the work yourself, you are still giving her the gift of a clean home. As an added bonus, send her to a day at the spa or to a movie while you get her house in shipshape.

Lastly, take some time to think about what your mom would enjoy. She’s going to be able to tell that you gave some thought to her gift and she will appreciate it all the more!