Forget Fancy Gestures, Mum Wants Some ‘Me Time’
From the second you are awoken by a shrill shriek of “I’m cold” “I need a wee” or merely “I’m AWAAAAAAAKE!”, your day as a Mum begins. Toddlers can be a challenge, school-agers a pain, and students a drain, so it’s hardly surprising that if you ask most Mums what they’d like this Mother’s Day the immediate answer is a weary “Just a bit of a rest”.
The average mum doesn’t put her feet up until 8.07pm each night, and the majority start their day at 6.42am, according to a recent survey of 1000 UK mums*.
The study also showed that mums spend an average of two hours tackling jobs in the evening – often after a full day’s work. Clearing up after evening meals emerged as the top evening chore – with 83% claiming this falls to them most nights. In fact mealtimes emerged as the biggest chore overall for the nation’s women – serving up meals was second in the list of tasks (78%), followed by prepping and cooking meals. (77%.)
Helping with home-work (36%), washing clothes (43%) and reading with the children (38%) were also high in the list of tasks. Checking work emails (16%), bathing children (41%) and getting school uniforms ready (42%) featured in most mums’ evening “to do” list. And more than half of those surveyed (55%) said by the end of each day they felt ‘worn out and completely exhausted’.
A further 57% of those who took part said they felt ‘close to breaking point’ amid the sheer weight of tasks awaiting them.
So what does Mum really want this Mother’s Day? A box of chocolates? A bunch of flowers? It’s more likely to be a long bath or a bottle of wine! Watching television is still the relaxation activity of choice for the nation’s mums – 83% said it was their favourite way to unwind. Two in five wind down by logging on to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram – or by shopping online. And 17% said a glass of wine was the ultimate way to relax at the end of the day.
With this in mind we have carefully collated a collection of superior gifts guaranteed to help your Mum unwind this Mother’s Day.
- Appleyard Bouquet – A quintessentially British luxury online florist, Appleyard has a focus on selling unique varieties of flowers that are not available in the high street. Spoil Mum with a bouquet for her bedroom so she can close her eyes and inhale the scent of spring. Such a calming way to start the day. From £20 at www.appleyardflowers.com.
2. Lovepop Butterfly Card – Words work just as well as grand gestures when it comes to showing mum how much you love her. Hand-crafted and intricately decorated, these Lovepop cards are 3D paper sculpture greeting cards that can serve as gifts in themselves. Simple and affordable, they make a thoughtful gift at around £15 including delivery.
3. Sanctuary Spa at Home. This sleek box is filled at-home pamper products for the mum that needs a bit of indulgence but doesn’t have the time for a spa day. Containing more than £40 worth of products but costing just £20, it’s a great bargain too. Products include Body Scrub, Body Butter and a Rose Gold Radiance Liquid Gold Bath Elixir, all with the familiar Sanctuary scent.
4. B Loved have a range of organic, hand-poured aromatherapy scented candles to help relax the most exhausted of mothers. The Balancer candle has a scent of geranium which is great for anxiety, stress and nervous tension. It also contains uplifting patchouli, and reviving bergamot with its rich, citrus scent. Buy online for £15.99 at the B Loved website.
5. The Ultimate Spa Day at Champneys. Take it from us, she doesn’t want company of kids, she wants to escape them. Send her on a spa day and she can relax, recharge, and return feeling ready to take on the world.
World renowned spa Champneys is offering a Mother’s Day one-day escape deal so Mum can flee the stresses of parental life for a precious 24 hours, or older offspring can reap the benefits and go with her! Arrive at 2pm, relax in the first class facilities and take advantage of any clases you like, or simply relax in the outdoor hot tub. A three course dinner, wholesome breakfast and buffet lunch are all included in the price, as is a 55 minute manicure and surprise gift for Mum. The break cost from £285 at the Springs location to £350 at Forest Mere, Hants, and £360 at the flagship Tring location. Breaks must be booked by March 31st and enjoyed by April 26th. For full details, click here.
6. Rodial‘s Bee Venom Moisturiser is an advanced formula that revitalises and renews for naturally younger looking skin. Luxurious and easily absorbed, this wonder cream contains plumping agents to smooth the appearance of fines lines, and hyaluronic acid for intensive hydration. It smells good too! Working in synergy with plant stem cells it gives skin an overall more youthful appearance, something almost every mum will be grateful for at the end of a long day. £160 for 50ml from Harvey Nicholls.
7. Princess Prosecco Box: Driven to drink or just appreciative of an aperitif, most mums will be grateful for a truly delicious bottle of something special as a gift on Mother’s Day. But why limit the treat to once a year? Organic, vegan and gluten-free, Princess Prosecco not only tastes good, it’s not actually that bad for you either. The ethical brand offers a one-off gift box option or monthly subscription service, delivering a much-needed bottle of delicious Prosecco to Mum’s door 12 times a year. Each box contains on or two full-size bottles of Prosecco imported from Italy, one miniature 50ml that changes each month, seveal snacks, and a pampering treat. From £29.50/month on the Princess P website.
8. Ditch the Flowers for Flour at PAUL: Step up the grand gestures and show your gratitude with an exclusive masterclass at PAUL bakery. Mum can learn the ABC of the Éclair, the skill behind sourdough, and the Art of the Tarte from PAUL’s master bakers. This unique experience unleashes the secret to classic French pâtisserie and bread-making for just £80pp and includes a glass of bubbles, cheese and charcuterie sharing boards and goodies to take home – the perfect foodie gift to keep you in her good books! For more information visit the website.
Rodial‘s Bee Venom Moisturiser is an advanced formula that revitalises and renews for naturally younger looking skin. Luxurious and easily absorbed, this wonder cream contains plumping agents to smooth the appearance of fines lines, and hyaluronic acid for intensive hydration. It smells good too! Working in synergy with plant stem cells it gives skin an overall more youthful appearance, something almost every mum will be grateful for at the end of a long day. £160 for 50ml from Harvey Nicholls.
