Eight Ways to Celebrate a Socially-Distanced Mother’s Day in Boston
There’s truly no time like now to show the special women in your life how much you care.
Get a compelling long read and must-have lifestyle tips in your inbox every Sunday morning — great with coffee!
Photos by Alyssa Vaughn
Mother’s Day is certainly going to look a little different this year. Maybe you’ve found yourself quarantined miles away from mom, or maybe you’ve found yourself holed up in your childhood bedroom and spending a lot more time with her than usual, but one thing’s for sure: Your annual brunch, spa day, and family party aren’t happening this time around. However, while your normal reservations may be canceled, Mother’s Day certainly doesn’t have to be—in fact, there’s really no time like now to remind the mother figures in your life of how much you care. Whether you’re quarantined together or celebrating apart, read on for our best ideas to help you safely and creatively honor the mothers, grandmas, aunts and other special women in your life this Mother’s Day.
Send her a stunning bouquet.
While you may not be able to picnic at the Harvard Arboretum for Lilac Sunday this year, you can still dress up your mother’s quarantine zone with some beautiful blooms. Kinship Floral and Winston Flowers can deliver a sweet springtime arrangement, an orchid plant, or even a small succulent garden to her front door. Or, if your mom has a green thumb, send her a self-care gardening kit from the South End’s Table & Tulip, and she’ll be able to watch her garden grow all quarantine long.
Expand her reading list.
Everyone is looking for something new to read right about now, so this is the perfect time to help mom restock her bookshelf. In honor of the holiday, try browsing the website of Somerville’s All She Wrote Books, a bookstore that stocks the work of female, queer and non-binary authors of all genres. Whether mom wants to curl up with an anthology of feminist essays or a “radical new” guide to astrology, this small but mighty bookstore can provide, with quick shipping to boot. For more book recommendations from All She Wrote’s owner, Christine Ciampa, check out our self-isolation reading list.
Move your brunch or dinner reservation to your kitchen table.
Mother’s Day wouldn’t be the same without an indulgent family feast, and this year is no exception. Celebrate (and keep the kitchen clean!) by picking up or ordering delivery from your favorite Boston restaurant. Some local spots are even getting extra creative with their Mother’s Day takeout menus—South End hotspot SRV is offering a family-style tasting menu; the North End’s Alcove is offering several different crowd-pleasing dinner and brunch options; Season to Taste Catering has take-and-bake cinnamon buns, strata, and more; and Summer Shack will even pack up all the fixings you need for a kitchen clambake.
Want to kick the at-home dining experience up a notch? If you’re a Cape-dweller, you’re in luck: KG Events & Design is offering custom Mother’s Day tablescape kits for pickup at their Edgartown studio, so you can dress up your dining room table with chic chargers, glassware, flatware and centerpieces.
Propose a toast.
If you and mom are quarantined together, don’t forget to raise a glass in her honor—you can play bartender by mixing up Instagram-worthy cocktails with a kit from Blossom Bar, sending a bottle of rosé or prosecco to mom’s doorstep from one of these local bottle shops offering delivery, or grabbing a pack of Night Shift Brewing‘s new gose-style ale, “You Da Mom,” via curbside pickup or delivery. To keep the party going, sign yourself and your parents up for the virtual wine tasting class Somerville’s Rebel Rebel Wine Bar will be hosting on Sunday—just pre-register on Eventbrite, reserve your class wines, and head to Rebel Rebel’s Bow Market location in advance to pick up the bottles you’ll need. Cheers!
Give her the gift of wellness.
Is your mom getting tired of her daily jog around the neighborhood? Help her shake up her workout routine by gifting her a subscription to one of these virtual fitness classes by Boston trainers. If she likes barre, yoga and mindful meditation, the on-demand classes from the Exhale app would be a great fit. If she’s more into strength training, try signing her up for Achieve Fitness’s 30-day Achieve at Home program, or subscribe her to Redemption Fitness’s live or on-demand classes. Whatever fitness class you choose, match your virtual gift with with a new tank or leggings from local athletic brands Peach, The Cue or Fierce + Regal.
Help her cultivate a new hobby.
Photo by Alyssa Vaughn
Again—we’re all just looking for ways to pass the time. Instead of recommending your favorite Netflix show to your mom yet again, try giving her a Mother’s Day gift that will help her kickstart a new hobby. Maybe mom could get into one of these feminist embroidery kits from Boston artist Elise Huguette, an intricate cat puzzle from Trident Booksellers that doubles as a work of art, or some adorable new baking supplies from East Cambridge’s Elmendorf Baking.
Turn her bathroom into a spa.
If mom is overdue for her mani/pedi or massage appointment, she’ll certainly appreciate an at-home spa day. The South End’s Olives & Grace has everything you need to pamper her in their online store, from bath salts to eye masks to aromatherapeutic candles. You can even bring her some tea in an on-theme mug for extra good vibes.
Go for a socially distanced stroll.
Photo by Alyssa Vaughn
Yes, you’ll have to dodge plenty of other groups, and yes, your face will be obscured by a mask in any commemorative family photos you take, but if you’re up for it, spending some quality time with mom in the great outdoors is the perfect way to cap off a quarantined Mother’s Day. Since others will certainly be out if the weather is nice, consider foregoing the Boston Common or the Esplanade in favor of a less-traveled destination—like one of these tucked away parks.
Please, share this post on Twitter !