Strongsuit’s members are a healthy mix of moms and dads who celebrate lots of people in their lives. So while we send out both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gift suggestions (our members received gifts for the moms at the end of March), the two holidays sometimes elicit different responses.
The dads never mention that they think their partners might forget their day in June. But we always have moms who worry that the brunch plans won’t be made, the gift a two-day shipping special from Amazon, or that there won’t be time carved out for a favorite family hike. Our whole goal is to get way ahead of that. So here’s what I would forward to my husband…
Weekend Things
Celebrating Mother’s Day
For me:
I’ve asked for a new bike. Some version of a nicer beach cruiser to tootle around town or pedal to the beach. I have (unrealistic?) visions of the kids riding to the farm stand (without whining) or heading to ice cream (without bribing) on warm summer nights. And because it is a total image in my head, I want a cute Nantucket Beach basket for my new handlebars.
If I hadn’t been debating a new bike for a few years, these would be on my wish list: bag for weekends running around / shower steamers to enjoy my moments of quiet / not-so-basic hoop earrings / a bright edition of my wardrobe staple / a morning at a museum followed by brunch
FWIW, my twins are 8 so no longer draining every last ounce of my physical energy. For the first 5 years all I wanted was a night in a hotel alone. I didn’t go far, but having my husband give me 24 hours of silence, bad TV, and just being totally lazy was bliss.
While I have grand plans of the kids making homemade cards to send their Grandma and Nana, I am also thinking about gifts…
For My Mom:
My mom is all practicality. She doesn’t hang grandkids artwork or wear jewelry. She also hates a candle. But the things that make her an amazing grandma is her doing with the kids. She gardens with them, she taught them to knit, and she’s pretty unstoppable at the park.
Here’s what I’m thinking for her: A Storyworth subscription / Gardening Protection Sleeves / a stylish tea kettle / a garden bucket caddy / a framed photo of the family
For My Mother-In-Law:
My husband’s mom is a bit different. She’s sentimental and loves to show off her grandkids with jewelry, items for her home, anything. And words of affirmation are much more her love language. She is my kids’ ultimate hype woman.
Here’s what I’m thinking for her: a robe personalized by the kids / a key chain of kid drawn portraits / a book filled in by the kids / a cutting board with her mom’s famous fudge recipe if I can get a photo of it / a mini orchid trio
Can't Live Without this week...
This week the Strongsuit leadership and engineering teams were holed up in a conference room rapidly prototyping for the future. When we needed breaks from systems and structures, these cards led to great conversations. I just ordered the Future Edition set to pull out when my kids refuse to engage in conversation about their day at school.
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