The Best Ways to Say “I Love You Mom”

Telling your mom that you love her is important and can be difficult for some. Your mother’s love most likely has been apparent since before you remember. She gave you life and you may not know how to express your appreciation and love for her. But, you can do so in very powerful ways. We'll discuss here the best ways to tell your mom that you love her and why it matters. Let’s begin with discussing how mother’s day can play a part in you showing your mom you love and appreciate her. 

How Mother's Day plays a part

Mother's day can play a part for many individuals when showing their mom how much they love her. The earliest modern celebration of mother's day was a Christian festival called "Mothering Sunday." This was celebrated initially in the UK and some parts of eastern Europe, occurring on the fourth Sunday during Lent. It signified when those who were faithful would go to the "mother church," which was often seen as a church closest to their home, and a special service would happen. The day was made so daughters who were domestic servants could take the day off to visit their mothers. 

Let’s take a look at the contemporary history of Mother’s Day to see how important mothers are in, not only in raising their own children, but taking care of the world as a whole.

History of Mother’s Day

This special holiday honoring moms was created by three women who aimed to improve the health of their community. Mother’s Day initially a women’s movement led by Julia Ward Howe, Ann Reeves Jarvis, and Ann’s daughter, Anna M. Jarvis. 

Ann Reeves Jarvis, known as Mother Jarvis, taught Sunday school in the Appalachians of West Virginia. To help improve the unsanitary living conditions of families in her community, Mother Jarvis organized “Mother’s Days Work Clubs”. Mother Jarvis worked to improve infant mortality and family conditions throughout the mid 1850s.

This soon became a more prevalent way to unify moms. Even during the Civil War, where the nation was divided, Mother Jarvis formed a "Mothers' Friendship Day", where the mothers would go to the union and Confederate soldiers to promote peace and reconciliation.

Julia Ward Howe, poet and reformer, worked to improve sanitary conditions in hospitals during the Civil War. In 1870, Howe announced a “Mother’s Day for Peace” to promote the eradication of war and celebration of peace. This version of Mother’s Day was held in Boston in honor of mothers that gathered to protest the war. 

Ann Reeves Jarvis’ daughter, Anna M. Jarvis followed Julia Ward Howe’s and her mother’s example, campaigned to start a national day to honor all mothers. In 1908, she organized the first celebration of Mother's day at a church in Grafton, West Virginia. Jarvis, from there, began a campaign to have the holiday added to the calendar.

Anna M. Jarvis’ campaigning was successful.  In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a decree establishing every second Sunday in May to be Mother's Day. Over the next hundred years, the day became more secularized, where children would give their mothers flowers and other showings of appreciation. 

But of course, you do not have only honor your mom on Mother's day to show your love. There are plenty of ways to show your mom that you are thankful for her and love her.

Why telling your mom you love her is important

Whether she was the best mother in the world or not, your mom played a crucial role in your growth and development. She may be someone who often picks up the phone to talk to you, no matter what time it is. Or she may be your number one fan, always rooting for you and encouraging you when you are successful while supporting you when you fail. 

Some of us tend to take our mother for granted. But, your mom did not just carry you for nine months or raised you; sometimes, your mom is a powerful part of who you are. Moms are very special types of people. They have a nurturing element to them, and while they might drive you crazy, sometimes, remember your mom is human as well. Help you with those hard decisions in life.

If you and your mom are on great terms with but struggle with trying to show her that you love her, that is fine. Sometimes you want to give her the world with a mom but do not know how to do so. We'll go further into amazing ways to show your mom that you love her.

Call her to check on her

When you move out, and life starts to hit you with all its obligations and responsibilities, sometimes you forget to call your mom. Remember that your mom loves to hear from you, even if she may not directly tell you. A simple phone call sends her the message that you do care and that you are thinking about her.

You may tell yourself, “I am just too busy today to call her.” Call her anyway. It does not have to be a huge, drawn-out call, but a quick “Hi, Mom. How are you? I love you!”.  Even just checking in once a week to make sure she is doing well and that you are thinking about her plays a powerful role in the relationship with your parent.

You also can connect with her through a video chat. Many of us are far from our parents and seeing their face (even if it on a screen) increases your ability to communicate and keep the relationship strong.

Create a personal card

You can buy cards to show your mom that you love her, but if you want to make it a memorable moment, give her a personalized card. Creating one with your own two hands does show her that she loves you. Think of all the handmade cards your mom may have saved from her childhood. 

There are different ways to do make a personal card, including the following:

• Cut-Out Card: Cut out a heart, lettering, or flowers and decorate accordingly.
• Watercolor: Using watercolor paints to create beautiful stationery (wait before you write).
• Pop-Up Flower Card: Cut out flowers, fold, and glue in 3-D form.

Even if you only give her a store-bought card, you can make it personal by writing her a poem or cut-out hearts or flowers to put inside. A card does signify something greater, and when you create a more personalized one, your mom will see how much you care.

Spend time together

If you live near each other, making an effort to spend with her is one of the best means to show your mom love and appreciation. Set aside personal time with your mom when you can plan an activity that you know she enjoys. This mom-and-child date is a fun way to show that you care about her feelings and want to do something nice for her. If you do something with her that she enjoys, it can also communicate to her that you recognize her interests and want to devote your time with her in a meaningful manner. 

Make her dinner

If your mom is usually the one cooking, it might be special for her if you plan a dinner for her. You can ask her what her favorite meal is or recipe, then create a nice homemade meal that you know she enjoys. You can also see if she wants to cook with you, giving you both the time to talk and share stories while you are in the kitchen. Ask her what she prefers. Tell her she does not even need to do the cooking, cleaning up, or any of that, but instead, be there with you. You can show her that you care, and it can be a meaningful action that she will enjoy.

Plan a special getaway

Has your mom been working a busy schedule to the point that she never has the chance to pamper herself? Well, why not give her the gift of a relaxing spa day? You can accompany her, or she can go herself, and this can be something relaxing for her. Keep your mom’s interests in mind. Some people would prefer a movie and dinner at a restaurant over a spa day. Perhaps, there is a local music concert she would like to attend or an evening at the opera. 

Planning a special getaway shows you care because you are considering her personal interests. New  adventures are also fun and is a creative way for you to express your love. 

Getting professional advice

While our mothers gave us life, there are times when our relationship with them may not be as close or healthy as we would like. Perhaps, you are someone who had a mother who was not available for you, or she had other mental or physical health concerns that impacted your relationship. This is not unusual. 

There are certain instances where it can be hard for you to have a relationship with your mom, such as the following:

• Disagreements on life choices
• Estrangement due to conflicts
• Inappropriate parenting and unavailability
• Absence because she has passed

Reading about ways to show your mother you love and appreciate may seem foreign to you, especially when you have an estranged relationship, or you just do not have this connection. In this situation, a helpful solution is to talk to a counselor. A licensed therapist can help you with the hurdles involving your mother, whether they be disagreements or if your mother has passed. They can guide you in processing your emotions and give you a strategy to reconnect with her or heal a broken bond if these are your wishes. Therapist are also available to assist you in restoring your relationship or help you overcome any grief and issues that might be plaguing you. 

A family-centered therapist can also work with you and your mother to help you work on past attachment issues and help you grow closer. You may be distant from your mother or simply feel more comfortable attending therapy sessions in the comfort of your own home. In this case, online therapy may be a preferred option for you in place of in-person therapy. A growing body of evidence has shown that online therapy is an effective option for family counseling. For example, a study published in Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review explored the efficacy of online family therapy, especially as compared to in-person therapy. The review reported that online therapeutic sessions were highly successful in providing family therapy services that shared equivalent positive outcomes relative to in-person sessions. 

Finding someone who can help with improving your relationship with your mother can make a world of difference. While you may not be able to tell your mom you love her all the time, a therapist can help overcome the emotions surrounding your relationship with her. Online therapist at Regain are available at a time most convenient for you and are ready to support on your journey in working through any issue you are facing. 

Takeaway

Showing your mom that you love her does not have to be extravagant or complex. You can find a simple way to tell her you love and care – even through a quick phone call or hand-made card. No matter the way you choose to express your love and appreciation, know your mom will feel your love as you brighten her day. However, in some cases, you may not have the type of relationship with your mom where you feel comfortable enough to reach for her, or she has passed. If you wish to reestablish a bond, know you can work with a therapist to do so in a way that is healthy for you. They are also available to support you through your grieving process, whether you were close to your mom or not. Reach for help with an online therapist when you are ready.