I can’t believe Mother’s Day is this weekend! So if you weren’t aware, this is your official notice to get in gear, which is why today’s editorial is brought to you by a good friend and talented industry leader, Kim Emery of Firefly Publicity. To all moms, including those fur baby moms (that’s me), have a lovely Mother’s Day weekend. Virtual hugs, Michelle Scheuermann, editor, Archery Wire.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, next Sunday, May 10th - time to start planning to make someone’s day special – your mother, the mother of your children, your pet co-parent or perhaps a female friend who could use some extra kindness. This year, if you’re one of the many experiencing economic instability, you have an opportunity to be creative and thoughtful instead of struggling in front of a rack of overly sentimental or goofy greeting cards that really don’t hit the mark.

My pro tip is to learn about The 5 Love Languages, written by Gary Chapman. This best-seller has been helping relationships over the past 25 years. This book usually applies to romantic relationships, but it can be applied more broadly as well. Chapman breaks down the Love Languages into Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts and Physical Touch. You can take a quiz to learn about how you best like to receive love and share the results with your significant other. This communication and resulting way couples can choose to interact can be a game changer.

But for Mother’s Day, you can just cut to the chase and ask the moms in your life what they would like. You may make them happier by asking and delivering on that rather than feeling like you have to come up with an elaborate surprise that may not delight her.

Acts of Service

• Prepare her favorite meal and clean up after. Or pick up take-out, curbside or whatever’s available in your area.
• Prepare or care for plants – weed, till, prepare pots, whatever doesn’t give her joy.
• Detail her vehicle or change the oil.
• Clean up or organize a messy spot in the garage, house, entry that drives her crazy.
• Do that chore that needs to be done without being asked or that you’ve been asked to do and haven’t gotten around to.
• Take the kids out of the house so she has some quiet time to herself, if that’s what she’d like.
• If she’s into shooting sports, ask if you can tune her bow, clean her gun, etc.

Words of Affirmation

• Hand write a thank you note (She may prefer a card, but you might get a pass this year). Don’t know how to get started? Google “how to write a thank you to mom” (or wife).
• Tell her thank you, if writing it down isn’t your thing. Call her.
• Send a heartfelt text, use a new emoji, gif, or create a bitmoji. Or record a voice note on your phone and text it to her.
• Give a genuine compliment on something she accomplished or a choice she made.

Quality Time

• Go for a walk or bike ride together.
• Plan a driveway visit with social distancing if that’s allowed in your area.
• Go fishing, go to the shooting range, etc. if that’s how she’d like to spend time with you.
• Watch something on TV together – that she would like. You can watch a show “long distance” with your mom by staying on the phone with her while watching or if she’s tech-savvy, use Netflix Watch Party.
• Share take-out or a meal you prepared.
• Play a game.
• Reminisce over old photos or memories.

Receiving Gifts

• A handmade card, think nostalgic with crayons, would melt many a mom’s heart. Or generate something awesome on the computer and mail it old school or simply email it.
• Order her favorite childhood candy and have it delivered. Google “retro candy” for some cool ideas or grab a decade bundle.
• Have flowers sent or pick up some from a local shop.
• Pick-up take-out dessert from a grocery store, bakery or restaurant.
• Make a photobook using a service like Shutterfly. Shutterfly will let you use your own Facebook photos and others’ photos (depending on their privacy) to create a physical photo album.
• Ask her if she’d like a magazine subscription. They’re easy to order and even read online.

Physical Touch

• If the mom in your life lives in your household, you may have the green light for a hug or physical touch. If not, there are many other ways to show your love until we get through this. (see above)

This Mother’s Day may have some grief associated with it. Maybe you’re missing a mom who’s quarantined in a nursing home, a mom in heaven, a mom with dementia or you’re grieving the loss of a child or infertility. Then, give yourself a little extra love and do something for yourself.

Remember being kind never requires a big bank account with lots of zeros.

Kim Emery is the owner of Firefly Publicity, a public relations firm that specializes in the promoting clients’ products and services for people who love hunting, fishing and the outdoors.