How to celebrate Mother’s Day remotely with your mum

From football fixtures to Eurovision, most of life is currently cancelled, but with a little care and attention, there’s no need to add Mother’s Day to the list.

There’s plenty of ways to spread the love without actual, physical presence – you just need to get a little creative.

Video calls are your friend

There are some things for which a text simply will not do. A phone call is the bare minimum, but helping your parent set up Skype or FaceTime might be the gift that keeps on giving in the weeks to come. There’s a big difference between a smiling face and a disembodied voice, and your mum deserves the former.

Play a game together

If you’ve mastered the video call, games like chess and rummy can be played with a simple camera tilt, while word games and quizzes can be managed audio-only. Games like Scrabble can easily be played in two locations – simply plot both players on both boards.

Send a virtual card

e-Cards have enjoyed a surge of popularity in recent times, and in the age of coronavirus they’re starting to really earn their keep. Jacquie Lawson Cards offer intricate, animated greetings featuring natural scenes, based mostly on hand-painted designs.

At the other end of the scale, Sloppy Kiss Cards serves up a menagerie of endlessly adorable cats and dogs, which will invade your chosen inbox with cuteness while wearing silly hats.

Subscriptions and vouchers

A long-standing get-out-jail-free card even in times of plenty, gift vouchers and subscription services are heaven for the housebound. Netflix and Spotify could certainly help keep boredom at bay (other providers are available), but not all subscription services are online only.

You can arrange the delivery of a monthly book bundle, or, if more to their taste, a monthly beer bundle, while the London Sock Company will wing regular pairs of homely-yet-fashionable socks direct to your door.

IOUs

Normally an IOU smacks of disorganisation, but in the present circumstances, we think they’ll understand. Rock concerts, sporting events, and theatre runs have all been cut down by corona chaos, but they’ll be back, and if you pick the right future outing, it will definitely be the thought that counts.

It’s not an easy time for gift-giving, but it’s really good to have something to look forward to.

Playlists and podcasts

If afternoon tea is cancelled, and your bouquet of peonies is still shedding petals in your kitchen, give them the gift of your opinion. Make them a playlist on Spotify, wire them a list of podcasts, or simply recommend a few movies.

More than a commodity, it’s a shared experience. Pop culture has been a reference point for generations, and once you’ve consumed the same things, you can talk about them.

Send a letter

We know, they may not get it in time, but older generations, in particular, appreciate the personal touch of pen and ink, and it’s impossible not to feel important receiving a properly addressed missive on elegant writing paper. The words may be the same as in an email – but the message is not.

A self-isolation hamper

If your mum is social distancing (she should be, and so should you), the ensuing weeks are going to be long, difficult, and most of all boring. Prepare an aid basket filled with her favourite things – sweetmeats, magazines, seeds if she’s a keen gardener, perhaps a few immune-boosting supplements, and, most importantly, wine.