PsychCentral: When Mother’s Day Isn’t Happy for Your Loved One

"Mother’s Day is intended to be a happy day — a celebratory day filled with ways and words to let moms know how loved and appreciated they are.

But Mother’s Day can bring up feelings of sadness or depression for some. Dealing with feelings of depression and sadness on Mother’s Day can be difficult, particularly if the person has children or loved ones who want to honor and celebrate with them.

If you know a mom who experiences feelings of depression on Mother’s Day, there are ways you can help lift their spirits.

In addition to grieving a mom who’s no longer alive, there are several reasons that Mother’s Day can bring up sadness and pain for some.

These include:

• having a mother who’s living with dementia
• being estranged from your mother or children
• loss of a child or miscarriage
• being unable to become a mother
• living with depression

How motherhood affects mental health

According to the National Institute of Mental HealthTrusted Source, women are more likely to have depression than men.

There are certain types of depression that are mostly unique to women. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and postpartum depression (PPD) — a type of depression that occurs during pregnancy and after childbirth — are two examples.

Perimenopausal depression is also typically associated with women, occurring during the transition into menopause.

7+ gifts to cheer up moms on Mother’s Day

A day to sleep in

Letting moms get good shuteye may be the best gift you could give them. This may be especially the case for new birth parents.

According to a 2021 study, lack of sleep in the first 6 months after having a baby can actually add up to 7 years to the biological age of new mothers.

Time away from the kitchen

On Mother’s Day, many moms want to stay out of the kitchen. According to a survey by the online coupon provider RetailMeNot, 40% of moms said they would like a nice dinner out to celebrate.

IOU for babysitting

Sometimes the best gifts are ones that can be used in the future.

Letting a mom know they can call on you when needed to watch their kids so they can care for themselves, run errands, or do something fun is not only practical but thoughtful in many ways.

A framed picture

Framed pictures of children can also cheer up a mother who’s feeling sad on Mother’s Day. Photo calendars or gifts such as mugs and mouse pads displaying pictures of family, friends, and pets can remind moms how loved and supported they are.

Make a charitable donation

A great way to honor a mom is to make a donation to her favorite charity.

Consider making a donation to any organizations where your mom may have volunteered.

Bake a cake

If your mom had a favorite cake or pie, consider making it on that day and sharing it with family, friends, or a neighbor.

Flowers, gift cards, a spa day, and more

According to the RetailMeNot survey, 32% of moms said they’d like flowers for Mother’s Day.

Other gifts they’d appreciate included gift cards and a spa day."

Read the full article here!

Reflection:

What did you do for Mother's Day?

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