Three amusing ways to honor motherhood

1. Embrace Spontaneity

Consider saying “yes” to a spontaneous adventure. For instance, let your child dictate the day’s crazy outfit choices. You might say yes to dessert before dinner, or even throw an impromptu dance party. If you have a disco ball, great! If not, you might want to think about getting one. Either way, turning on your favorite tunes and dancing, whether in the kitchen or bathroom, can be wonderfully silly.

I’ve done this before. On a dreary, rainy day when my daughter was about four, she suggested we wear swimsuits and go for a walk in the rain. Honestly, my initial thought was, “This is crazy.” In our neighborhood, everyone knew everyone else’s business. Did I really want to be seen in beachwear? It felt like a setup for some kind of embarrassing moment.

But then I looked into her big blue eyes and thought, “She’s only four.” So we did it. With our umbrellas in hand, we ventured out for a quick 20-minute stroll. Decades later, my daughter still remembers that little adventure—and so do I. It serves as a lovely reminder to seize moments of joy, even if they seem silly or trivial.

2. Create a Whimsical Gift

Kids have a knack for selecting the most absurd gifts. One year, my grandson gave us a coffee mug shaped like a golden toilet. I kid you not. We loved it, and it now proudly sits on our bookshelf—not in the kitchen with all the everyday mugs.

Consider giving your child something equally goofy, like a practical joke kit or silly games. Or, if you want to indulge your mom, how about revisiting your childhood gift ideas? When I was young, I thought a corny Christmas corsage would be the perfect birthday gift for my mother. I’d decorate it with faux snowmen, fake flowers, and even little elves. One year, I topped it off with an oversized aluminum snow shovel.

I was so proud, imagining her wearing that around. Later, as an adult, I suggested to a florist that we create a sturdier version of that outrageous corsage. To my surprise, my mother loved it—she turned it into a Christmas decoration!

3. Plan an Outrageous Experience

There’s a great chance you might enjoy this as much as your child. Let them plan everything for the day—food, outfits, activities—and just go with it. How about a “yes” day with a fun twist? You can agree to silly challenges, like having marshmallows on pizza while speaking in pirate voices.

Once, my mother and I went to the Virginia State Fair, and I begged her to take a picture with a couple of chimps. I was 35, and she was in her 70s. After much reluctance, I finally wondered why she wouldn’t indulge. Fast forward a couple of decades, and I decided to reenact that photo opportunity for a family gathering. I found a chimpanzee handler and, on the day, told my mom to get ready for a surprise.

This time, she was thrilled. For an unforgettable hour and a half, we played with a little chimp. The high point was sitting down together for a photo. We still have that picture, reminding us to find joy and humor in motherhood.