9 Sweet Valentine's Day Traditions to Start with Your Mom This Year
While Valentine's Day is meant for celebrating love, it doesn't have to be all about a significant other. This year, I plan to celebrate one of the people I love most—my mom. Typically I'd plan an outing or a fun brunch, but we don't live in the same city, so I'm getting creative with virtual ideas. To help you celebrate your mom this holiday, we've rounded up some of the most meaningful ways to spend time with your mom that double as fun Valentine's Day activities.
If mom would rather stay in, plan an at-home spa day for the two of you, or snuggle up for a movie marathon on the couch. If you can't celebrate in person, plan a virtual cooking date, or host a virtual game night for you, your mom, and a handful of other mom-daughter friends.
No matter what you do, you'll appreciate the extra time spent together—and it may even inspire an annual tradition. Keep in mind that you don't have to celebrate on February 14 if either of you wants to spend the actual holiday with a significant other—plan a Galentine's Day celebration for the two of you instead!
Related: The Sweet History of Galentine's Day
Plan a Virtual Cooking Date
If you can't be in mom's kitchen physically, dial in via video chat! Plan a virtual cooking date for the two of you this Valentine's Day. This one takes a bit of planning, so set up the call a few days in advance and choose the recipes you want to make so each of you has time to pick up the right groceries before you get started. When it's time to start cooking, start your video call and start preparing your dishes.
Make Valentines
Reminisce about the days when mom helped you make your classroom valentines and have a card-making afternoon. Pick up a pack of blank red greeting cards with envelopes ($2, Joann) and decorate them with paper hearts and glue. If crafting isn't your thing, print a few of our free printable valentines and send them out to friends and family.
Have a Virtual Movie Night
Just because Valentine's Day is a holiday doesn't mean you have to plan an elaborate evening. If a cozy movie night at home is more your speed, pop some stovetop popcorn and plan a virtual movie night for the two of you. Binge-watch your favorite Netflix show together or cue up one of these classic movies to watch with your mom.
Make a Memory Book
Spend the day reflecting on your favorite memories while making a photo book together. Go the traditional route with paper, photographs, and glue, or make a digital photo book online and order two copies—one for each of you to keep! This customizable memory book (from $22, Artifact Uprising) is one of our favorite picks. It comes in three sizes with six color options, and the die-cut circle in the middle allows you to customize the cover with a photo.
Volunteer Virtually
Share the love with your community this season. Pick a few local organizations and call a few weeks beforehand to see what their needs are before making plans. Spend this mother-daughter day dropping off supplies a local food pantry, or make it a virtual affair by hosting an online fundraiser for a local animal shelter. If you're looking for more ways to do good together, here are 7 ways you can volunteer from home.
Bake Heart-Shaped Treats
There's nothing better than spending a relaxing afternoon in the kitchen with mom—especially when there are sweet treats involved! Invite her over and choose a few of our best Valentine's Day dessert recipes to make together. If you can't spend time with her in person, bake the treats at home and mail them to mom or leave them on her porch.
Host a Virtual Game Night
For an evening full of fun, invite mom to a grown-up game night. Planning a virtual game night is easy, and it can be a fun way to involve other mom-daughter duos as well. Invite whoever you like to a video call, and use our easy tips and tricks to coordinate a virtual game. If you're spending time together in person this holiday, coordinate a board game night for just you and mom. Set out a few snacks and drinks, and offer a selection of card games and board games for her to choose from. Stick to a classic 2-person game like Scrabble ($15, Target) or try something new, like What Do You Meme? ($30, Target).
Make Breakfast Together
Mom has cooked us breakfast so many times, we jump at the chance to return the favor. This heart-shaped waffle maker ($13, Target) is an inexpensive way to dress up homemade waffles. Stock up on all of her favorite toppings (think fruit, flavored syrup, or even whipped cream and sprinkles) to make her feel extra special this Valentine's Day. If she doesn't have a sweet tooth, make the waffles savory and serve for lunch instead.
Make a Terarrium
While the weather in February is often too cold to start planting your outdoor garden, a container garden or DIY terrarium can be made anytime! Stock up on succulents, soil, rocks, and terrarium containers ($17, Crate & Barrel) and set out matching gardening gloves for you and mom.
