Mother’s Day is right around the corner! While we definitely think moms deserve to be celebrated year-round, we’re not going to pass up an opportunity to spend an entire day showering them with a little extra love.
This year’s holiday is a little different due to the official advice to avoid non-essential contact to prevent the spread of COVID-19—but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t mark the occasion. There are still a few ways to create a sense of closeness during physical isolation. In fact, we rounded up a couple of ideas!
Here you’ll find some virtual get-together ideas, gift inspiration and a few activities that you can do 6 feet apart. No matter how you decide to celebrate, we hope your mom feels special. And if you yourself are a mom—in any form or fashion—we love you and appreciate you. Happy Mother’s Day!
DIY a Personal Gift
If you’re looking for a special and personal way to say, “thanks, mom!” you can’t go wrong with a handmade craft! Whether it’s a new coaster with your face on it or a refrigerator magnet that reminds her that she’s the “world’s best mom” there’s just something special about a gift that you make yourself. If you’re looking for ideas, check out our list of mother’s day crafts and recipes from local bloggers! It contains DIYs for everything from homemade candles to mug art that you can make for your favorite lady.
Get Her Some Flowers
Photo courtesy of Beyond the Vine Flowers & Home Decor
If you ask us, nothing says “I love you” quite like a stunning batch of blooming flowers. There are several florists around the area that are currently still offering curbside pickup and delivery. Our favorites include Beyond the Vine Flowers & Home Decor, Bloom Works Floral and Janousek Florist & Greenhouse!
Surprise Her with Brunch
Honestly, our second favorite thing about Mother’s Day is brunch (the first is our moms, of course). But when we aren’t able to eat at a restaurant, it can be difficult to bring some of the brunch magic to the holiday. Luckily, many of our favorite brunch destinations in the area are now offering curbside pickup and delivery of breakfast and brunch classics. Head to Overeasy for a few entrees and sides that you can pick up via their drive-thru. Then, pop over to The Tavern, which is offering mimosa kits that include a bottle of champagne and orange juice for $22. After you’ve got your brunch haul, drop it off at your mom’s house for a sweet, breakfast-on-porch surprise.
Watch a Movie Together
One of the worst parts of having to stay home on Mother’s Day is that you don’t get to spend valuable time with your mom. Thankfully, Netflix parties exist to help keep people connected over our love of bingeable television! Head to Netflix Party, a Chrome extension that allows you to open an online party on Netflix and “hang out” with your mom over online chat while watching her favorite film. If you want to make it slightly more personal, give her a call and chat on the phone while you watch!
Enjoy a Social Distancing Picnic
If it’s a nice day—why not head outside? If your mother lives in town, pack a picnic and head to a local park. Set up your spaces (6 feet apart!) with comfy blankets or fold-out chairs, some music and a few cold drinks and settle in for a social distancing picnic with your mom.
Send Her Some Self-Care Essentials
Photo courtesy of Wax Buffalo
We’re big fans of self-care, so it’s no surprise that we included a section dedicated to it on this list. And nobody is in need of a self-care day more than your mom! Fill a box with some local, self-care essentials: a candle from Wax Buffalo, a bath bomb from Benson Soap Mill, some fancy lotion from It’s All About Bees and some yummy chocolates from Chocolat Abeille and then send it to her. She’ll love that you took the time to put together a gift and you’ll love that you supported local businesses along the way.
Order Her a New Work of Art
If your mom is an art lover, there’s no better gift than a brand new, local piece of art! And if you already didn’t know, Omaha has a thriving art scene. Not only are we home to one of the best performing arts programs outside of New York City, but we also happen to have several amazing art museums, galleries and art-related events for you to enjoy all year long. But even when we’re stuck at home, there are still plenty of ways to get your hands on a new masterpiece for your mom—and support local artists while you’re at it! Check out our list of 14 Local Omaha Artists That You Can Support Online and get started picking out a new piece of jewelry, a stunning painting, eye-catching prints or even hand-woven rugs for your madre.
Get Her a Few New Books for Her Nightstand
Photo courtesy of The Bookworm
Is your mother a certified bibliophile? Then we can’t think of a better gift than a few brand new books! The Bookworm, one of our favorite local bookshops, is now offering free, no-contact delivery on orders over $30 to certain Omaha zip codes as well as curbside pickup and shipping country-wide. Or if you’d rather give her the gift of choice, they are also selling gift cards, which you can buy online and have shipped for free.
Sign Her Up for a Coffee Subscription
Some people just can’t live without their signature cup of Joe in the morning (we don’t blame them). If your mom has a particular love of local coffee, we have some good news for you. Many local coffee shops and roasters are now offering subscription services—so your mom can have a bag of coffee delivered right to her door every week, two weeks or month depending on the subscription.
Have an At-Home Wine Tasting
Just because we can’t spend the afternoon at a cozy wine bar, that doesn’t mean we can’t participate in a wine tasting! For a special, social distancing Mother’s Day activity, head to Cellar44, a new wine bar in the Shops of Legacy and pick up a few bottles of wine. Right now, they are offering 15% off six bottles or more. Drop a few off at your mom’s house and then head home and host a virtual wine tasting through Skype or Zoom. You can even make your own charcuterie board to go with it if you want to recreate the full experience.
Set Her Up with a Local CSA
If your mom is a fan of hitting up the farmers’ market on weekends, she might be pretty bummed that she isn’t able to get her hands on fresh, local produce during the pandemic. Thankfully, there are still plenty of ways to purchase local produce—including signing her up for a small farm’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program! These programs allow her to own a “share” of a farm and receive a portion of produce and other goodies every week. Visit our post, CSAs + Places to Get Fresh Produce in the Omaha Area to get started.
Take Her on a Virtual Tour of a European Destination
Just because we’re stuck at home, that doesn’t mean we can’t explore some of the best our planet has to offer this Mother’s Day! Google Arts & Culture gives you the chance to virtually step inside world-class museums, walk around National Parks, explore an overseas destination and more. Has your mom always wanted to explore France? Tour the Louvre, the Eiffel Tour, Versailles and so much more! Her dream European vacation is just a click away.
Play a Board Game Online Together
We love playing a good tabletop game with our moms, whether it’s checkers, Monopoly or Parcheesi. If that’s you too, don’t let social distancing stop you from participating in this beloved pastime! Tabletopia is an online “arena” where you can play a multitude of games with people virtually. All you have to do is choose a game (they have over 800 to choose from!) and share the URL with your mom to play together.
Happy Mother’s Day!
No matter how you spend it, this day is all about your mom. Let us know why you love your mother in the comments!