Every Mum is different but special in her own way, and they all deserve to be spoiled and celebrated on Mother’s Day! Here are some fun, free or funky ideas that will help you honour and thank your Mum for her un- conditional love and support.

1. Ask for her to-do list, and take some- thing big off
Mum has things that she really wants done and keeps putting off. Take a weight off her shoulders and just do it.

2. Find an old friend of your mum’s and reconnect them
Help her find long-lost friends through Google, social networks or other services.

3. Host a gathering at your house

Host a brunch, lunch or dinner celebration in honour of Mum.

4. Go through old albums

Reminiscing for a few hours will bring back people we love, laugh out loud moments and even bring new insight into your cur- rent life.

5. Make her a new album

In an age of Facebook and Instagram, printed photos have become special. Make a personalised photo book that Mum will love looking through over and over again.

6. Get her your favourite book

Think of a book you love or one that has made an impact in your life. Write Mum a short note inside the book telling her why you think she’ll love this book too.

7. Give her a clean house

Whether you do it yourself, bribe her grandkids to do it, or get a professional cleaning service.

8. Have a movie marathon

Get a stack of chick flick classics, add popcorn, wine, blankets and a cozy couch for a girls night in.

9. Write her a letter

There’s nothing like a handwritten letter. Acknowledge your Mum for who she is and the contribution she has made in your life.

10. Make her a video

A video greeting for Mums who aren’t nearby, makes her feel like you are right there with her.

11. Learn a craft together

Knitting, scrapbooking, jewellery making, find out what Mum would want to learn. You might find a new hobby you can con- tinue together for years to come.

12. Make her something yourself

There are a tonne of DIY ideas on Pinter- est with instructions.

13. Give the gift of time

If you want to help younger Mums cele- brate Mother’s Day, they all want the gift of a little bit of relaxation, and a little time for themselves.

14. Give a gift that arrives more than once
A subscription keeps on giving! Whether it’s a magazine, a fresh food box, a wine club, whatever tickles Mum’s fancy – she’ll think of you every time her surprise comes in the mail.

Mother’s Day is a celebration honouring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of moth- ers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.

The modern holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her campaign to make Mother’s Day a recognised holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died.

Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother’s Day Work Clubs to address public health issues. Anna Jarvis wanted to hon- our her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honour all Mothers, because she believed they were “The person who has done more for you than anyone in the world.”

In 1908, the US Congress rejected a proposal to make Mother’s Day an official holiday, joking that they would have to pro- claim also a Mother-in-Law’s Day. However, owing to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, by 1911 some states officially recognised Mother’s Day as a local holiday, the first being West Virginia, Jarvis’ home state, in 1910.

In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proc- lamation designating Mother’s Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honour mothers.

Although Jarvis was successful in founding Mother’s Day, she became resentful of the commercialisation of the holiday. By the early 1920s, Hallmark and other com- panies had started selling Mother’s Day cards. Jarvis believed that the companies had misinterpreted and exploited the idea of Mother’s Day, and that the emphasis of the holiday was on sentiment, not profit.

As a result, she organised boycotts of Mother’s Day, and threatened to issue lawsuits against the companies involved. Jarvis argued that people should appre- ciate and honour their Mothers through handwritten letters expressing their love and gratitude, instead of buying gifts and pre-made cards. Jarvis protested at a can- dy makers’ convention in Philadelphia in 1923, and at a meeting of American War Mothers in 1925. By this time, carnations had become associated with Mother’s Day, and the selling of carnations by the Ameri- can War Mothers to raise money angered Jarvis, who was arrested for disturbing the peace.

In 1912 Anna Jarvis created the Mother’s Day International Association. She specifi- cally noted that Mother’s should “be a sin- gular possessive, for each family to honour its own Mother, not a plural possessive commemorating all Mothers in the world.”

(Source: Wikipedia)

With Mother’s Day fast approaching on Sunday, 14th May, Parkes Newsagency is the place to go for all things for Mum.

Parkes Newsagency has a large range of candles, diffusers, handbags, wallets, Wil- low tree, cups and mugs, scarfs and flow- ers to name a few of the unique gifts you will find.

When you purchase a Mother’s Day card you go into the draw to win a T2 prize pack. Go and see the wonderful staff who are always happy to be of assistance and can

even gift wrap that special purchase. Check out Parkes Newsagency on Fa- cebook to win a fabulous Mother’s Day gift

pack. #notjustanewsagency #parkesnewsagency