Spending Mother’s Day on Your Own? You’re Not Alone: Here’s How to Enjoy the Day Anyway

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, children everywhere are preparing for the special day. A day dedicated to saying thank you to the person who brought us into the world; to the person who chose us.

But as we get older and life takes us away from our childhood homes, so many of us aren’t always lucky enough to be physically with our beloved moms. As Donna Kelce, mom of NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce, told Today, she is “very rarely in the same place as they are on Mother’s Day because it’s their offseason.”

“So they’re out. They’re off and running and doing their own thing. But that’s okay, I have so many blessings, I don’t even care,” she admitted.

And Donna certainly isn’t alone. So we asked moms of adult children how they plan to spend Mother’s Day even though their children can’t physically be with them on their special day.

Attention Moms of Adult Kids: How do you like to celebrate Mother's Day when your kids can't come home to celebrate?

Posted by Dearly on Thursday, May 2, 2024

Keeping the Memory Alive:

Mother’s Day can often be a day of reflection for so many. One way many moms celebrate the day is by keeping the memory of the other moms in their lives alive.

“I go buy my hanging flower baskets,” one of our followers shared. “One in memory of my mom and one in memory of my grandmother.”

“I still talk with my kids,” another mom said, even though they can’t physically be with her, “and I make dinner for my mother-in-law.”

The Celebration Must Go On:

Just because you can’t spend the day with your children doesn’t mean the celebration needs to cease to exist. As many of our moms told us, they still plan on making the most of the day anyway.

“Do something that makes you happy,” one mom encouraged other moms. “Relaxing at home, cook good food, plant shopping, nails or hair treatment, a hike, trip to the beach, get together with friends who also don’t have plans.”

“[I] do what I want to do,” another mom shared. “Enjoy my own company. Sleep in, spa day. The possibilities are endless.”

“Take the day off and enjoy the peace and quiet and call my daughter to wish her a happy mother’s day and wait for my son to call,” another mom added.

Calling All Significant Others to Step It Up:

Many moms said they are hoping their significant others take the lead and celebrate with them since their kiddos won’t be around.

“You can always go out for a nice lunch with your husband or significant other,” one follower shared. “You need to celebrate your special day.”

“We usually spend the weekend going to local nurseries for out outdoor flowers & plants..always a fun time with whoever can go,” a mom added.

Any Form of Acknowledgment Is Nice:

Many moms admit they don’t need much when it comes to celebrating Mother’s Day, revealing that a card, a text, or a phone call on the big day will be sufficient enough.

“My sweet husband always made sure I had a special day,” one mom revealed. “Now that he’s gone, I make do with the cards and phone calls.”

“A text is fine with me,” a mom shared. “I’m ok with FaceTime with them. We’re 1400 miles apart so it’s not like we can just spend a day together,” another mom agreed.

“They call me. That’s the best because they took the time to stop their lives just to say, ‘thanks, mom and I love you!’ You can’t buy that,” a fellow mom added.

It’s Just Another Day:

Surprisingly, many of our moms find Mother’s Day to be “just another day.”

“Honestly, it is just another day to me,” one mom admitted. “My children do right by me all year long. If we get together, fine. If not, that is fine too. I enjoy my day like I do any other day. May have a fire in my fire pit, drink my coffee, love on my dog and cats, and piddle in the yard.”

“[My kids] have their own wives, the mothers of their children. That’s where their celebrations belong.”

“Mine are never here for Mother’s Day so it is just another Sunday,” some other moms admitted. “I am a Mom every day not just one day a year.”