Flowers Gifts Cards Verse Outings Activities   Trivia   Recipes Checklist

Mother's Day Planning Checklist

Planning ahead for Mother’s Day helps make the occasion delightful, fun and relaxing. Whether cooking a meal at home or setting up the extravagant weekend itinerary, you’ll benefit from having a customized checklist of important points to have covered well in advance: tickets, reservations, what to buy, and so on.

Cards

  • Buy Cards — Buy cards, ideally well before Sunday, to get a card well suited to Mom.
  • Make Cards — If any of the kids are making cards, remind them and help them if necessary.
  • Sign Cards — Get the whole family to sign the cards for Mom by Saturday, latest.

.   Find e-Greetings for Mother's Day

Flowers

  • Flowers — Flowers sell fast around Mother's Day. Buy or order a day or two in advance. Pre-order if picking up yourself.

.   Find Flowers for Mother's Day

Gifts

  • Shop & Order Early — Gifts bought online or through a catalog take time to ship. Order 2-4 weeks ahead. (However, even last-minute shoppers might be able to get great gifts online, for the extra cost for rush delivery.)
  • Wrap Gifts — Wrap gifts and attach cards ahead of time. For added impact, place Mom’s gifts in the living room for Mother’s Day morning.
  • Write Poem in Advance — Avoid struggling over it last minute. Give yourself plenty of time.

.   Find Gift Ideas for Mother's Day

Activities Out

  • Make Reservations — Restaurants see more business on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. Resorts, amusement parks, hotels and bed & breakfasts also tend to fill up fast. Make your reservations at least a week in advance, preferably 2-4 weeks.
  • Buy Tickets — Any event on Mother's Day will probably be well attended. If you plan on taking in a play, concert or sporting event, make sure to purchase tickets in advance.
  • Fill up the Tank — As a courtesy to Mom and the rest of the family, make sure the gas tank if full.
  • Check the Weather — Outdoor plans may have to be diverted indoors before a cold and cloudy forecast. Have alternate plans in mind.

.   Find Ideas for Going Out on Mother's Day

Activities at Home

  • Groceries — If cooking for Mom, make sure the refrigerator is stocked with the proper ingredients the day before. If you have a surprise for the meal, like chocolate or some other specialty item, hide it away and keep it as a surprise.

.   Fun Ideas for Staying Home for Mother's Day

Family Members

  • Check In with the Family — If planning to visit relatives, be courteous by calling a day or two before Mother’s Day, to let them know your arrival time, and ask again if there’s anything else you can bring. Even with plans that involve the immediate family, make sure everyone will be able to attend on time, ready to celebrate Mom.
  • Kids Finish Homework — Minimize any potential worries that might get in the way of a fun and carefree Mother’s Day.

General Preparation

  • Cameras Ready — You will probably want pictures to remember the day, so have the camera charged and ready.


. To download a printable copy of this checklist: Click on This Link (PDF)


. . .