At the office, the running joke is to be grateful for Mother’s Day – being the only day of the year when we get a guilt-free lie-in. Since organising the day is left in the hands of the male contingent, past Mother’s Day celebrations have consisted of the mothers exchanging glances, as covert, last-minute phone calls to fully-booked restaurants are made in vain – in a desperate attempt to secure a reservation on the busiest Sunday lunch of the year.
Well, I, for one, am over it; it’s high time we took Our Day into our own hands and came out of it with more than a school craft card to show for our troubles.
The most common wish I hear from my ‘mummy squad’ is the longing to have more time doing something we enjoy. Bag yourself a gym membership and print out the schedule of classes to pin up on the kitchen notice board. Don’t be coy about expressing to your partner how you feel exercise would enhance your lifestyle. Ask for some regular time to dedicate to your well-being.
Be realistic. Expecting your husband to be home early from his full-time job to allow for your gym habit will not always be possible. But agreeing beforehand that, when he does show up, you get a couple of hours out of the house – to allow for commuting and an exercise class, while he takes care of the children – is a giant step for womankind.
Be prepared to feel like the granny of the group as you try your out-of-shape hand at trampolining, barre and zumba. Be open to attempting new experiences. You may surprise yourself by ending up loving high-intensity training and ditching pilates.
It’s high time we took Our Day into our own hands and came out of it with more than a school craft card to show for our troubles
One thing’s for sure – the endorphins released from regular exercise will go a long way towards helping you cope with the stresses of family life. When the kids go on their regular post-bedtime ‘happy hour’ rampage, you will be more able to smile through it, having sweated your way through a boot camp-style circuit training – after coming home feeling appreciated, relaxed and happy.
If you’re not a gym bunny, there are many other fun pressie options for you to give yourself on Mother’s Day. Think back to what you miss most from the pre-kiddie days and talk to your other half about how to go about getting back in touch with what you liked to do in your spare time (ahem, what’s that? I hear you cry).
Start slowly; keep an eye out for good-quality theatre productions and buy a couple of tickets to surprise an old mate with, then chill out at the recently renovated Suq tal-Belt for a catchup. Word to the wise – the last time I did this with my niece we were so deeply engrossed in conversation that we became oblivious to the dimming of the lights and not-so-subtle table cleaning going on around us, until the barman came around asking for last orders. Get creative, take a special relative to happy hour at your favourite bar, though you may need to clear your schedule for the rest of the day, as you recover from those moreish two-for-one cocktails.
Recently I noticed that Mother’s Day high tea has become more mainstream; no doubt in an effort for tea houses to cash in on the commercial aspect of Mothering Sunday. Personally, I love the idea of having a leisurely tea, spending quality time with my mother.
Originally, this was my plan when I started taking my mother along with me to catechism classes, but we soon found ourselves bargain hunting at supermarkets and fruit shopping at the vegetable vendor, when the inevitable onslaught of errands took over. So, schedule in some quality time with your mother, doing something you both enjoy, like window shopping for spring styles, walking along the promenade or chewing the fat over tea and cakes.
Put the Mother’s Day mood to good use by making a permanent positive change for the better. Hold a family conference on how the kids (and hubby?) can better contribute to the mundane work involved in running the home. Be sure to delegate age-appropriate chores. It would be worth taking the time to show your children how to do them properly – as these lessons, once learned, are for life.
As always with kids, leading by example is by far the most effective way of getting them to pitch in with the daily errands. As an added incentive, offer a euro for everyday tasks that are completed correctly.
Lastly, don’t forget to relish the day where you get to put your feet up and order everyone around. Make the most of your big day by having an atypical Sunday – whether you spend it horizontal in its entirety or grab your squad and set off training for your next walkathon is entirely up to you.
Crysta Darmanin is a mother of two and doesn’t know how she does it. She freely admits that parenthood is not for everyone, and frequently finds herself looking longingly at travel brochures. She glares with envy at those perky, responsibility-free 20-somethings and sighs. To find out more about how to cope with kids on a small island in the middle of the Mediterranean, discover The Malta Baby & Kids Directory – online, in print and on social media.