Nothing is quite the same at the moment, is it? Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic has meant some changes for the good (we’re all appreciating the smaller things more, spending more time enjoying nature and many of us are benefitting from fewer commutes), it’s still hanging over our heads like an unwanted rain cloud. 

Juggling working from home and homeschooling is taking its toll, the kitchen table resembles a mash up between a laptop convention and a craft workshop and not being able to hug, let alone see, friends and loved ones is a very hard cross to bear. 

Now that we’re a year into the first cases and the first national lockdown in the UK, we can add to that all the dates, celebrations and anniversaries that are coming around again only for all our plans to be put on hold for a second time. 

Mother’s Day last year was when things were just about to be locked down, and rumours abound that this virus was more deadly than everyone first thought. That said, things were still open and we more than likely celebrated as we would normally. 

But this year, with Mother’s Day on 14th March and Lockdown 3.0 still in full swing , things are looking very different indeed. So here’s our tips on celebrating Mothering Sunday if you’re apart from your mum this year…

• Zoom calls are a little bit passé these days, as we’ve all become a bit weary of online meetings, quizzes and catchups. But that’s not to say they can’t still be enjoyable, especially since they’re pretty much all we have for seeing loved ones outside of our household at the moment. Try to mix things up a bit with a Mother’s Day breakfast party, where you all dial in whilst enjoying Chocolate Chop Muffins or a Mushroom and Spinach Frittata in bed. Hopefully if you’re a mum, yours would’ve been brought to you too! You could also arrange a delivery from a nearby café or bakery to your mum for her to enjoy while you all watch on and tell her how much she means to you. 

• Rather than sending a shop bought card and flowers, write a letter to your mum telling her everything you love about her. Reminisce about old memories when you laughed and had fun, and add a few old photos if you have them to hand. Memories are precious, and last a lot longer than daffodils ever will.

• Write an IOU for next year, when hopefully things are more recognisable than they are now. Promise your mum that you’ll lay on lunch or you’ll all go out to her favourite restaurant and truly celebrate what being a family means to you. 

Times are tough right now, and we know that so many of you are struggling with not seeing those who you miss so dearly. Take some solace that there is hope on the horizon and that some sense of normality will return again soon.