There are hundreds and hundreds of gifts that you can buy your mother in celebration of just how thankful you. Mother’s day is a day dedicated to your mother or that person who in your personal life has filled the role of a mother.

How about trying something different this year?

As a counselor, I find that two of the most powerful tools I can use are the art of communication and reflection. Together they truly serve to help the person
reclaim their past and reminisce on their experiences. This mother’s day give your mother the gifts of communication and reflection. Sit down with her for a few hours. Maybe take her out for lunch, dinner or even a cup of coffee.

• Communicate and reflect with her on her life and how she has impacted those around her.
• Express to her just how much you truly love and admire her by reflecting on past experiences.
• Listen to her share pieces of her life that you may not have been familiar with.
• Tell her about how you wished that you would have listened more during your teenage years.
• Take in as much advice from her as you can while telling her that you are grateful for her opinions.

Often we pass mother’s day as we do most birthdays or holidays. We simply buy a few gifts that are certain to catch our mother’s attention and add a few words here or there. I am not telling you that this is an incorrect approach. It is not. There are different love languages and manners in which one can show and receive love.

What I ask YOU is to sit back and think to yourself.

What is the most precious gift I can give my mother?

The answer is time. To give someone your time is one of the most beautiful and heartfelt gifts. Time has many faces; it can be seen through communication.

This mother’s day give your mother a start to a stronger and more profound relationship.

Mother’s day can also be difficult and emotionally painful for some. Mother’s day may be a time that you find yourself alone due to your mother passing or due to distance. You better than anyone around understand the emotions that are brought on by this occasions. During this mother’s day, I want to encourage you to work towards healthy grieving and positive emotional release. Losing a parent is by far one of the most difficult challenges in life. It is one that continues to impact life over and over again. Occasions such as mother’s day or birthday’s continue to reopen the wound.

This Mother’s day, I want you to allow yourself to grieve and connect with your mother in a healthy manner by reaching out to her. You more than likely have memorabilia of your mothers. You may have pictures, videos or items that she left behind. Use what you have in order to remain connected to your mother. Below is a description of strategies that you can use in order to grieve in a healthy manner.

Write a letter to your mother.

With this assignment, you are going to write a letter to your mother expressing the following:

• How you are doing in life?
• What you miss about her?
• Your hopes and ambitions?
• Challenges that you have overcame?
• Challenges that you continue to face?
• How she has made you stronger or the person that you are today?
• How she continues to impact your life in a positive manner?

Communicate with your mother.

I’m sure that you understand what “venting” means. Simply expressing yourself through communication. For this assignment, I want you to find a location that is peaceful to you and that reminds you of your mother. Maybe a location that you and your mother often visited such as a park. Once you are at the location, review the questions and statements below:

• How you are doing in life?
• What you miss about her?
• Your hopes and ambitions?
• Challenges that you have overcame?
• Challenges that you continue to face?
• How she has made you stronger or the person that you are today?
• How she continues to impact your life in a positive manner?

Keep your mother close

When someone close and dear to us passes away, one of the reactions that we may display is distance. Creating distance often allows us to feel that due to being away from the person or the location we will not impacted severely. Creating distance can be seen by moving away to another town or no longer revisiting pictures of the individual.

This mother’s day, I want to encourage you to keep your mother close. You can do this by:

• Viewing pictures and videos.
• Visiting locations that remind you of her.
• Visiting people that remind you of her.
• Communicating with the people that remind you of your mother about your mother.
• Visiting the burial site.

I’m hoping that the reading aids you in maintaining a healthy relationship and connection with your mother this mother’s day. As always you are welcome to reach out for support 336-707-1723.