Making it my business: your guide to a lovely Richmond Mother’s Day

Yes, I realize Mother’s Day isn’t for another few weeks. Oh, who am I kidding? You all probably saw that and thought, “Oh crap! I guess I’ll need to stop by that carnation stand on the off ramp.”

April 22, 2008; 9:45 AM • by Valerie Catrow

Relax. Mother’s Day isn’t until May 11th. But any child with manners will invest more than 15 minutes of thought in what to give the woman who carried them, birthed them, and raised them from a wee babe to a lovely adult.

So, here are some wonderfully sweet and wonderfully local ideas for how you can properly honor YOUR MOMS:

When in doubt, go with something classic: a Sunday champagne brunch at the Jefferson. Yes, it’s pricey ($42 for adults, $19.95 for kids) but it will undoubtedly be special day and, c’mon, your mom is worth it. Please note, brunches book up fast, so you need to make a reservation STAT.

If you prefer something more for evening (or if your mom loves booze), give her a wine tasting for somewhere like The Barrel Thief. It can be as simple as getting her a gift certificate, throwing in a few blank invitations, and letting her invite some friends for a nice night out, or booking a private event for her and footing the bill. Whatever the case, it will show that you put some thought into it and your mom will definitely appreciate it.

If your mom likes a little pampering, try splurging for a spa day at Rituals Salon & Spa. I frequent this place often and it’s always a great experience – wonderful, attentive staff, luxurious and natural products, AND HAND MASSAGES WHILE YOU WAIT. They usually run specials for Mother’s Day, so make sure you ask about that when you call. Want to one-up yourself? Get two certificates: one for her and one for a friend. Her heart will crumble from happiness.

Ok, I know what some of you are saying, “Valerie. I don’t have millions of dollars to spend on Mother’s Day, no matter how much I want to.” I can relate because I fall into that category, too. Fear not. There are some other great options that require significantly fewer Benjamins:

Take advantage of some of the delicious stuff available from the local Etsy crowd. For example, beeskneesstudio has some sweet prints of mama and baby animals for $15, including elephants, pigs, cows and sheep. That’s sure to make her go “Awwww.” Or if your mom prefers the bling-bling, try these sweet earrings from Artistic Creations or this not-deathly expensive pearl bracelet from Ergo Design. Bonus: some of these Etsy craftsters will do custom orders if you give them enough time. Imagine the motherly love that will overflow from her bosom.

Another easy (read: cheap but meaningful) option is to take your mom & co. out for a picnic (weather permitting) to somewhere like Maymont or Echo Lake Park. Both have great, rolling fields for everyone to spread out, lounge, and chase any little ones that might have come along for the day. And if your mom raised you in Richmond, chances are she’s taken you to one or the both of these parks several times and it will bring back fond memories for her.

And before I go, here are a few things to keep in mind as you’re considering your options (these apply to anyone anywhere, so don’t try turning a blind eye now, non-Richmonders)…

1. Keep it about her. Mother’s Day is not about getting together when it’s convenient for everyone else or doing something that everyone will like. It’s her day; make it as such.

2. Thank the others moms in your life – those who didn’t necessarily birth you but loved you just the same (i.e. in-laws, mothers of close friends). A simple card or a phone call will mean so much to these special ladies.

3. Don’t forget mothers-to-be. If your wife, sister, best friend, what have you, is expecting later in the year, it’s an incredibly sweet gesture to include her in the celebration and give her some much-needed encouragement. It doesn’t have to be something big – again, a card or maybe some flowers will do.

Hope that helped. Now get cracking. YOU’RE ON THE CLOCK RICHMOND.

(P.S. If you have anything you want to hear about, need a guide for, or *need* to hear/read my opinion on, email me at val@rvanews.com.)