What to Say on Mothers Day
Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day present? Give the gift of communication and get closer to your mom.
Lisa B. Marshall
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What to Say on Mothers Day
Mother’s Day is just a few days away. It’s a perfect day to celebrate our mothers and show our gratitude and appreciation for their love, encouragement, and sacrifices. I rarely talk about my mother, but lately I’ve been thinking about her quite a bit..
I know many of you will make a trip to the card store and spend time carefully choosing a card with the right picture and the right words. Many of you will make reservations a local restaurant and buy some lovely flowers. For my Mother’s Day, I always request that my family help me to clean up my garden and plant new flowers. This year, I’ve asked for a new tree to be planted.
Today, however, I want to talk about the present that all mothers want: the gift of communication. All parents want a loving, caring relationship with their children. They want communication that builds and develops trust. They want communication that deepens and strengthens the bonds with their children. Mothers know that communication is the foundation of strong families. It’s the foundation for all of our relationships.
Today, in honor of all mothers around the globe, here are 3 tips for better communication with your mom:
Tip #1: Express Your Appreciation
Don’t rely on a card or wait for a holiday to express your feelings. Take the time to think about all the positive things your mother has done for you, then explicitly tell her what you appreciate. Be specific. If you find it hard to say the words, then write it in a card or a letter.
Tip #2: Ask Simple Questions
This Mother’s Day is the perfect time to ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask your mom. When did I challenge your parenting skills the most? What makes me different from my brothers and sisters? When were you happiest being a mom? How did you feel when I announced I was leaving for a 2-month trip through Europe all by myself? (Of course, you’ll need to fill in your own reckless adventure on that one.) What were you thinking on my wedding day? Do you have any regrets? Did you life turn out the way you wanted it? What were your biggest disappointments?
These questions will serve to open the lines of communication and teach you some fascinating lessons about your mom.
Tip #3: Listen
Asking these questions takes courage, however, it’s a risk worth taking. Listening and respecting the answers will help move your relationship from mother-child to friend-friend. Most importantly it will give your mother a chance to be heard.
In close relationships, sometimes we forget to listen. We get busy with our daily lives; busy with work, busy thinking about ourselves. We get distracted by all the things that need to be done. We get caught up in our computers, our smartphones, and our social media. We forget to listen—especially to our parents, because we expect them to listen to us.
This Mother’s Day, listen to you mom. Ask your questions and listen, I mean really listen. Allow you mom to be heard. Remember that communication is the bridge between yourself and your mother. It’s a wonderful gift, one that can’t be bought like a card.
This is Lisa B. Marshall, passionate about communication; your success is my business.
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About the Author
Lisa B. Marshall Lisa holds masters with duel degrees in interpersonal/intercultural communication and organizational communication. She’s the author of Smart Talk: The Public Speaker’s Guide to Success in Every Situation, as well as Ace Your Interview, Powerful Presenter, and Expert Presenter. Her work has been featured in CBS Money Watch, Ragan.com, Woman’s Day, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and many others. Her institutional clients include Johns Hopkins Medicine, Harvard University, NY Academy of Science, University of Pennsylvania, Genentech, and Roche.