March is a month of celebration in the Edspire household. It begins with Daddy’s Saint Day, holds both Nanny and Granny’s birthday and of course, Mothers’ Day.

Last Mothers’ Day was my first and I had a wonderful gift from my children (and husband!). They bought me a spa day at Eastwell Manor which was bliss but I did not take it on Mothers’ Day itself as that day I wanted to spend with my beautiful family and enjoy being a Mummy to my children.

We had a wonderful day at Port Lympne and a walk on the beach in Hythe. Esther and William were just 8 months old and had been home from hospital only 6. It was my first ever Mothers’ Day and I will treasure the memory for always.

This year for my second Mothers’ Day I am hoping that we will go to the zoo again, Howletts this time, and I know that next week we are having a lovely week away together as a family of four, before Matilda arrives at the beginning of May and makes us a family of five. Eeek!

Mothers’ Day is a day to celebrate Mothers’ and the wonderful things that they do. Being a Mummy is a job like no other. Much of the work is behind the scenes to make the family flow successfully and many jobs are done for little reward or praise, especially in those very early days. Being a Mummy is tough and I am glad that there is a day that recognises all the fabulous and challenging things we do. The things we are. The things we love to be, the things we love to do. Our day!

Mothers’ Day.

For mothers, this holiday is less about what gifts they get and more about spending time with their children. There are ways to celebrate Mothers’ Day so that it is a treat for everyone in the family, including the little ones. If you have a spouse or partner who is willing to do the planning, here are some special ideas for how to celebrate your family this Mother’s Day.

Have a picnic in the park.
Here is the simplest but perhaps most fun idea of all. Dad can pack a light lunch (or order it as takeaway) and put a blanket in the car. Then, head to the park, and create a delicious spread to enjoy while surrounded by greenery and birds. The kids can play while the parents enjoy each other’s company, and everyone will have the chance to get some sun. Beware of this kind of plan, however, because it depends on having cooperative weather.

Make dinner as a family.
This is the one day when you shouldn’t have to cook, but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy watching the rest of the family take the work off your hands. Preparing a Mother’s Day dinner as a family is a great way to bond and to introduce the kids to basic cooking methods (if they are old enough, of course). You can supervise to make sure dinner is to your liking, and the youngest kids can even help out with dessert. Make the sweetest course the simplest one as well by making a strawberry short cake out of store-bought shells and fresh strawberries with whipped cream. After dinner, the kids can give you their personalised cards before they head to bed.

Have a movie night.
Don’t spend lots of money on cinema tickets. Create your own family movie night at home by popping some popcorn and putting in a DVD of mum’s choice. Make it fun for the kids by setting up an ice cream sundae bar in the kitchen, and make it fun for yourself by asking your husband to make your favourite cocktail in the blender. Watching a movie at home gives you and the kids the chance to get as rowdy as you want to. And not only is this much cheaper than going to the cinema as a family, but it also ensures that everyone has the best seat in the house.

Set up a Mother’s Day play date for all your family and friends.
Having a brunch where the kids can be included is a great idea to celebrate all the mums you know at once. Breakfast is an easy meal to put together, ensuring that you won’t have to work too hard to impress all of your guests, even the little ones. For the mums, make sure you have plenty of champagne and fresh-squeezed orange juice on hand for mimosas. And for the kids, create a sweet breakfast treat like pancakes with chocolate chips or french toast with lots of berries and whipped cream. And after everyone has eaten, you can exchange Mothers’ Day cards.

Start a family garden on Mother’s Day.
Instead of getting a bouquet of roses that will last only a week, why not create a garden that will last a lifetime? Plan ahead by taking a trip to your local gardening centre or home improvement store to find seeds, fertiliser, nutrient-rich soil, and gardening tools. Ask a professional for help when deciding which flowers to plant. Then, get up on Mother’s Day morning and have a gardening session in the sun with the whole family. You’ll know the kids are having fun when they get the chance to play in the dirt. And your garden can be a place where the entire family gets together, not just on Mother’s Day, but every week to tend to the flowers.

Some of these ideas are lovely. Mothers’ Day is a day to celebrate Mothers but should be celebrated by everyone. I know that I will want to be surrounded by my growing family this and every Mothers’ Day. I want to take the day to realise how lucky I am no matter how tough things can be. I want to take just one day a year to say, “Look what love has done!”

A sponsored post for Hallmark.