A Working Mom's Secret Wish List for Covid-19 Mother's Day
Our CEO, Anna Robinson, spending quality time with her kids
Mother’s Day is different this year for obvious reasons. You definitely won’t be going out for brunch. But as a working mom, who (if I am brutally honest) is often a teeny bit disappointed by birthday and Mother’s Day gifts, I wanted to offer some suggestions for gifts that would be perfect for the working mom in your life – or – if that’s you – to share with a loved one that needs some gift inspiration!
(We have zero commercial arrangements or benefit from any of the recommendations – these are just things we love!)
1. Flowers - picked yourself.
Pick them during a walk with the kids or order them from a local store, supporting a small business. It amazes me how easy this is to do, how much joy flowers bring, but how seldom it happens (at least in my household). Affordable and high scoring!
2. Time for her, finally
Anything that gives me alone time helps. It is Mother’s Day, but a little space would be great. Especially now. We know that in many dual-income, heterosexual households, the women do the lion’s share of the household work and caretaking, and this is a greater task now more than ever before. So, if you need a last-minute gift for the working mother in your life, give her a break and let her do what she wants for the day. It’s well-deserved.
3. Helps, lots of it.
If you're feeling up to the challenge, do all the household chores for a full week (not just one day). Particularly in these times, I know I run around doing those items, with a never-ending list. Even just acknowledging the full list of the things I am doing is great recognition! Add the quarantine grocery scavenger hunt on the list (to be fair, my husband is already doing this, I think he likes the challenge of securing a delivery spot!). Write a heartfelt card, with a "voucher" for this, or a home-made gift voucher from the kids.
4. Relaxation.
A super cute DIY spa gift can be inexpensive - order a candle and a few bath soaps, along with a lovely gift box. This can be a great complement to list item #2. I recently saw these "baskits" as one example of something affordable and luxurious available online.
5. Quality time
Plan a special virtual date night. Here is a favorite idea to get the romance flowing from a local artisanal Austin cheese shop, Antonelli's Cheese Shop. Put in the extra effort, light a candle, get out the fancy plates and glasses. Any added touches will help this time in quarantine feel a little less like lockdown (as much as is realistically possible).
6. The best COVID-19 shoes
Birdies brand slippers. In my opinion, these are the best COVID-19 crisis (and perhaps all-time) shoes. I don't think there is a better option right now for comfy and stylish shoes than Birdies. They are so chic they could pass in the boardroom but are actually slippers! Not to name drop, but even Meghan Markle wears them so you know you'll get some hip points for introducing these to your spouse's wardrobe, as the latest in comfort-chic fashion. (P.S. Birdie's Founder, Marisa Sharkey, volunteers as a Ceresa Mentor. We are so thankful to have innovative leaders like her giving back to the next generation of leaders).
7. A timeless statement piece
I have a not-so-secret penchant for slightly over the top statement pieces, and there’s nothing more fun right now than bold earrings for Zoom calls. When the earrings get a little compliment, it is a small moment of joy and lightness. Plenty of affordable options, but for something special, I love my Mignonne Gavigan birds and have my eye on their new leopard earrings (hint hint).
8. Get her camera ready
I am not always one for tech gifts, but I am so grateful for my webcam, helping me have better quality interactions in all the work sessions I am leading with my team, speaking sessions, and customer meetings. With my adjustable webcam, I can get a slight downward tilt, diminishing the encroaching jowls. Techradar helps narrow it down to make shopping easy.
9. Special moments, framed
Framing favorite photos of your family can be a beautiful (and easy) gift, especially for a working mom to keep at the office, or just in her home office right now. Framebridge lets you send digital photos, and you can choose from a wide array of their affordable, high-quality frames. Plus, they have gift cards too. (How can we resist?) I’m planning to use them for framing a beautiful tapestry I purchased in Asia that’s been sitting around my house for over a year!
10. Support for my work and career
Here's my motto: show me, don’t tell me you support my work and career. At Ceresa, we have been so inspired by spouses gifting our leadership coaching and mentoring program. If you want to be the most woke partner to a working mother, consider Ceresa's Leadership Accelerator as a perfect gift for her in this turbulent time. As a bonus, we’ll send a special gift and card, with a description of our program, and a personalized note from you. (What a sweetheart you'll be!) I am so excited to see more women being supported with excellent mentoring and coaching, being a great role model for the next generation of little leaders!
And because it's more important now than ever to fulfill this mission, Ceresa is currently offering our program at cost, to enable as many people as possible to receive virtual support during this crisis.