Breakfast in bed is always a treat, but there are other ways to make your mom happy on Mother’s Day. This year, give your mom the gift of time, and home improvement. Make her life a little easier by crossing off some to-dos on her list. These tasks don’t take a lot of DIY skills,, so grab your cleaning supplies and a couple of tools and show your mom how much you appreciate all she’s done for you.
Plant Some Color
Bouquets are a great way to show your mom how much you love her, but we all know those beautiful flowers don’t last long. What if you could remind your mom every day of your unwavering devotion with colorful blooms or ornamental trees that make her think of you on the daily. Consider adding bright, colorful perennials, like Black-Eyed Susans, Peonies, or Chrysanthemums. If perennials aren’t obvious enough, there are several, beautiful ornamental trees that will keep you forefront in mom’s mind, like a Blooming Redbud or a Tulip Tree.
Hang Something!
Does your mom have photos of her family, (yes, that means you) she would love to display, but hasn’t taken the time to do it? Grab a hammer, a level, and the perfect picture hanger or hook for the job, and get going. There are great videos online to help you conquer the task. Once you master the picture hanging, ask your mom if there are other items she has been wanting to display. She may need help installing a simple floating shelf, which is the perfect place for your mom to display even more pictures of you.
Organize Her Garage
Let’s face it, most of the stuff out there probably isn’t your mom’s. Purchase open shelving if necessary to get clutter off the floor and make it easily accessible for her. Hang bicycles, folding chairs, and other seasonal items on wall hooks. Help her go through clutter to determine what she’s ready to give away, and what she’s ready to toss.
Get Her Summer-Ready
It’s time to get the outdoor furniture ready to go. This means hosing off last summer’s grime from chairs and tables. Wipe down plastic cushions, and throw others in the washing machine if possible. Wash down her outdoor seating area or patio, and make it inviting and clutter-free.
Build a Bench
Take a walk down memory lane to your woodshop class. Remember all those useless items you built for your mom? It’s time to present your mother with something she will use and appreciate every day. Depending on your DIY abilities, it’s time to demonstrate your skill level to your mom. Plans are available online for beginner bench projects which use no nails or screws. If you’re feeling confident, check out plans for a more challenging, but practical farmhouse-style bench with storage.
You know your mom will appreciate any gesture you show her on Mother’s Day. If she’s impressed with a card and flowers, and you know she is, your mom will flip over the idea that you decided to Give Your Mom the Gift of Time & Home Improvement this year. Any one of these thoughtful projects is the perfect way to give back to the woman who has given you so much and asked for so little.