As Mother’s Day came around last year I realized that in 2018, I would celebrate my first year as mother.

My excitement grew over the past year just waiting for this May to come so I could join the “official” ranks as yet another mom to celebrate. (And if we were in the UK, we would have celebrated the holiday this past Sunday!) But that got me to thinking about how quickly we turn our attention toward the next celebration. Like a supermarket clearing their shelves, we leave Mother’s Day in the wind to make room for the next holiday in the commercial calendar.

But even though Mother’s Day is a great time to get family together and spend time with our parents (which I’m sure is appreciated, since many of us don’t make the time to do it otherwise), it’s still important to remember to nurture our relationships all year round.

If you’re like me, you have a million and one things going on in life that keeps your schedule packed.

And with a busy life comes constant distractions and other important events bombarding us. Trying to just keep on top of our own lives is a challenge, so it’s really easy to neglect our parents – especially the ones who are getting elderly (I’m looking at you, grandma!). A popular BT advertisement in the UK once touched on the important of keeping in contact with our mothers by using the slogan “it’s good to talk”. This is more true than ever.

So how can we expect to maintain our hectic lives and still find time to make our mothers feel appreciated and, more importantly, connected with us throughout the year? I mean, isn’t Mother’s Day – the one day of the year we tend to make time for our moms – just another commercial gimmick designed to make us spend money on unnecessary flowers, chocolate, and expensive meals?

Well, not exactly.

Mother’s Day wasn’t invented by Hallmark, despite popular belief. If you look into the history of the holiday, you’ll find it was actually created by Anna Jarvis in an attempt to honor motherhood and elicit appreciation for the sacrifices mothers make for their children.  After gaining financial backing from a department store owner, in May 1908, the first Mother’s Day celebration was born.

Initially conceived as a day of personal celebration between mothers and families, Anna’s version involved wearing a white carnation as a symbol and visiting one’s mother. But once it had become a national holiday, florists and card companies jumped on the bandwagon and turned into something much more familiar with what we have today.

Soon enough the supermarkets will switch gears from Easter to Mother’s Day.

Consider all the bargains just waiting for you to snatch them up. Just like how post-holiday you see decorations and cards hit rock bottom prices for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and Easter, there will be some incredible sales to be found from the many mothers day 2018 gift ideas. So for all you frugal shoppers out there, don’t forget to check out post-Mother’s Day deals here in a couple of months. For now, keep an eye out for some St. Patrick’s Day and Easter savings (St. Paddy’s is tomorrow after all, and Easter will be here before you know it!).

Just think about the huge oversupply of fresh flowers and various plants in the supermarkets – a perfect time to find deals for the “just because” moments, or to stock up on cards for next year. And if you want to get a head start, repurpose some Easter items for Mother’s Day! (Potential future post alert, we’ll see if I find anything nifty enough for a DIY gift tutorial.)

The main point of all this?

To not lose sight of how significant the relationship with our parents is, and the fact that they won’t be around forever.  If you’re lucky enough to still have your mom in your life, remember that she won’t always be there. That’s just a sad fact of life. But taking her out for a fancy meal every now and then is a great way to touch base and make her feel special. And here’s a secret: we all like to feel special and cared for, especially as we age.

Cherish the connection you share with your parents, and don’t lose sight of that just because your life is a little busy.

You’re never too busy to love your mom. Instead of ticking Mother’s Day 2018 off your to do list, think of ways to show your appreciation for her throughout the rest of the year too. After all, you literally wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her.

P.S. Grandmothers count too. 😉