Photo by Diva Plavalaguna
Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. We all have mothers or mother figures who helped raise or nurture us, and May 14th, 2023, is a day to celebrate those champions among women!
Here at FunTimes, we have a specially curated list of five (5) ways you can appreciate and celebrate your African mother today:
Cook her favorite meal/dish
Image: East African pilau. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Food is a love language in African culture, with many conversations of care and love beginning with the phrase, ‘Have you eaten today?’ Many of the continent’s cuisines are rich in flavors and have a wide variety of delicious dishes; your mother will surely love one or two the most.
Show appreciation to your mother by cooking or ordering her favorite dish (extra points if you make it yourself). It will be a delightful surprise for her and a fantastic way to honor her heritage and culture.
Plan a family day out/in
Photo by RDNE Stock project
African mums love when there is peace and harmony in their household between all the children and the parents. Despite our disputes with our loved ones, show your mother how much you all get along by planning a day out together to build memories. It could be a trip to the photographer to update the family portrait, a trip to her favorite place, or even an indoor home bonding session where you all share stories and show her appreciation. It will also encourage your mother to share stories from her childhood, family history, and memorable experiences. This will provide an opportunity for intergenerational connection and the passing down of cultural knowledge.
Learn a popular African social media trend!
Photo by cottonbro studio from Pexels
Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram turn regular people into stars through their content. Your mother may not mind being a part of many funny, sweet, emotional, and entertaining trends on social media. Through these videos, you get to show the world how much you enjoy and appreciate your mother and allow your mother to bond with you over your hobby or budding career. Plus, even if the video is not successfully done, the bloopers will make for funny content and stories down the line.
Give her a day of relaxation and pampering
Photo by Diva Plavalaguna
Mothers never really stop worrying about their children, families, and loved ones, so find a way to encourage your mother to de-stress and take a much-needed break. Find out if she prefers spas, massages, getaways, shopping sprees, etc., and once you know her favorite is to unwind, let her indulge in it today, and she will appreciate it. It is a reminder that she is worth rest as she needs it and deserves to be treated like a queen.
Support one of her causes/passions
A considerable number of African mothers do not just take on the needs of their children, but they tend to be very passionate in other areas. Be it a local community, a religious cause, another family, etc., you can pour into something else your mother is very enthusiastic about today. This gesture will go a long way to the people and organizations your mother supports, making her happy and contributing to positive change on the continent.
