Belmont Village Quarterly Newsletter
on Senior Living

Honoring Mom & Dad

Since we were children, most of us have honored our mothers and fathers each year on special days set aside for this purpose. Americans honor motherhood on the second Sunday of May (May 10, 2009), and fatherhood on the third Sunday in June (June 21, 2009). In elementary school you probably created homemade cards, which your parents and grandparents lovingly tucked away in a shoebox or family album.

In case you left your crafting skills in the classroom, try a few of these ideas for honoring your parents this Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. They’re sure to bring pleasure to your loved ones, and to you.

• Play the question game. Your loved one probably has a lifetime of stories you’ve never heard. Treat yourself and let them do the talking. Ask questions such as, “Who was your first best friend and why?” “What were you really good at in school?” “What was your first job?”
• Recognize their skills and successes. Honoring your parents means recognizing them not only for who they are, but also for past achievements, abilities and talents. Compliment them for their accomplishments in raising a family, contributing to the community, and being good citizens. Be specific in your praise. Thinking about their past achievements may bring to life a latent talent or a special memory.
• Laugh together. Laughter is like jogging for the spirit. Drag out the baby pictures, look for cartoons and jokes that match your loved one’s sense of humor, watch a silly movie together, or look at your long-forgotten homemade cards. Reminisce together and give them the opportunity to share stories with you and your family.
• Keep in touch. If you’re not near your loved one, the right phone makes a great gift. Shopping suggestions include looking for jumbo buttons and easy-to-read numbers that do not wear off, cordless models and speed dials. Then, call to say “I love you” or to ask, “Remember when?”  Tell her or him, “I need your help,” then ask an opinion about something. It’s important to your loved ones to know they are still your mother and father, and you respect their ideas, even as they get older — more often than not, you’ll learn something as well.

Finally, whether or it’s Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, it will always be a special day to your loved ones when you say, “You’re a great mom” or “You’ve always been a great dad.”

For information about upcoming special events honoring parents and grandparents at Belmont Village, please contact your local community. 

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