2. Letting yourself cry
Mother’s Day can be a very emotional time and whilst it may not be fun cry, sometimes it’s a good and therapeutic way to release some of the sadness to be able to heal. Don’t resist the tears, it is definitely important to let your emotions flow on this day.
3. Light a candle
This may seem so simple but lighting a candle can be a symbolic and emotional way to remember your loved one this Mother’s Day. Using this time for reflection is important to many families as it’s a good way to honour the memory of their loved one. To make the occasion a bit more special you could also have a scented candle that reminds you of your loved one or create/decorate a candle holder to add a personal touch.
4. Write a letter
Writing a letter to your loved one gives you the chance to say all the things you may not be able to say to your family or friends. This can be a therapeutic way to share how you’re truly feeling, or even a way to tell your loved one what you have been up to since their passing. You can talk about the people you've met, the things you have seen or even the sad times since you last spoke. You can keep the letter and re-read it every year or perhaps make this a yearly tradition to write a letter to your loved one every Mother's Day.
5. Create a memory book
Creating a memory book for your loved one is a great way to commemorate their memory. You can fill it with a mixture of photographs as well as letters or anything which is of meaning and is special to you and your loved one. You can add to your memory book whenever you like and it will be extra special to look through your memory book every Mother’s Day, Christmas or Birthday.
6. Listen to their favourite music
If your loved one was a music lover, you could spend some time listening to their favourite songs and reminisce on the good times you have shared together.
7. Purchase your loved one’s favourite flower
Many people find comfort in purchasing special flowers for their loved one on Mother’s Day. Perhaps its their loved one’s favourite flower or maybe it symbolises a fond memory shared in the past. Often people bring these flowers to the cemetery or the spot where their loved one’s ashes were spread, but it can be equally as meaningful to pop some flowers in a vase at home or perhaps plant an 'In Memory Seed' and watch it bloom in memory of your loved one this spring.
8. Tell stories about your loved one
Telling stories of your loved one can be a great way to commemorate their memory on Mother’s Day. Sharing your fondest memories whether that’s face to face with family and friends or perhaps digitally on our tribute page or your personal Facebook page, it is always lovely to share your memories with others and hopefully they can share some of their fondest memories of your loved one with you too.
9. Spend time with family or friends (if you’re able to)
Spending time with family and friends gives you the opportunity to create new memories. Coming together with other people that you love can alleviate some of the pressure from the day and you can also spend some time sharing your fondest memories of your loved one with others.
10. Ordering their favourite meal
Arranging a take-away of a particular dish or from your loved one’s favourite restaurant can also be a very lovely thing to do on Mother’s Day. Perhaps you and a friend or family member could order this at the same time and share happy memories over a video call?
11. Complete an act of self-care
When we lose someone we love, sometimes self-care seems less important to us, but being kind to ourselves is ever so important, even more so today. At times we can almost feel guilty for taking the time to look after ourselves when we’re grieving, but it is so very important to take some time to look after you, and there are ways to combine looking after yourself and also remembering your loved one. You should consider doing something that you enjoyed doing with your loved one, perhaps going for a lovely walk, having a spa day or even just catching up with a friend or family member for a nice chat, but whatever you do you should put yourself first on this particular Sunday.
12. Reach out to someone
Words are powerful, especially when you’re grieving, so whether you want to talk to someone you know or perhaps you want support from an external source, make sure you ask for the help you need.
There are many external sources available to help people struggling with grief, here are a few:
