Turn Mommy into a Baby

Turn Mommy into a Baby
Patricia Gaile Cotaoco and Mary Ruth Navarra
The Philippine Star
Special Section
May 12, 2002


Mushy cards flooding the postal service, I-love-you-mom TV commercials brought to you by so-and-so product, posters of a mother hugging her child. Mother's Day was probably made for commercial reasons.

However, this day will also never be enough to thank her for all the things that she had gone through in raising a kid like you. So grab the chance to show how you appreciate her by giving Mom something that will make her special.

Whether she's Bohemian, gothic, or a descendant of Maria Clara, whether she likes to stay indoors or rough it our in the outdoors, she won't be able to resist the temptation of being the queen for a day. She might say no when you ask her to go out, but ask her again and she'll be dressed in a flash.

Head to the malls and spend the day bonding with her. Your budget could be as low as P150 or as high as the sky (anyway it's for mommy), but you'll survive the day.

Find a good salon and gossip about the latest issues on the lives of the stars. We're sure you'll enjoy making fun of them as your hair gets a hot oil treatment. Or if you think both your tresses are already perfect the way they are, you can proceed to a foot spa and get your feet pampered. As your callouses are being scraped off, bask in the luxury of your nerves being rejuvenated. There are some establishments that offer a foot spa with manicure and pedicure as part of the package.

If you're searching for a more physical demonstration of love (pun not intended), a body massage would be a heavenly experience for your mom. This will make her forget the duties she does for the family and relax for a while. Besides, this could be your chance to return the favor. Remember how it felt like when your mom was cuddling you to sleep when you were still a child? With this, mommy can also experience being the baby herself, massaged and cuddled to sleep.

To make your mom understand your obsession with violence in a monitor scree, take her to the arcade area. You can play Spiderman to her Chun-Li or Michael Jordan to her Grant Hill. Just make sure you let her win (but don't be too obvious about it), make her feel she's superior and better than you. If her eyes get strained, invite her then a bump car ride or a roller coaster to bring out the child in her again. Meanwhile, your earned coupons can be exchanged for a lovely teddy bear at the booth – a reminder of your defeat and her victory.

If you're running a little short on cash, you could settle for a feel-good movie than both of you would love. This could be your next step to further bond with your mom since you'll have more to talk about aside from the usual exchange of opinions on the pros and cons of your proposed allowance hike.

However, if you don't have the time to do any of the things that we mentioned above, it's not yet too late to find something for her. As early as possible, rush to the mall and grab a last-minute gift. To help you decide what present to buy, we've come up with a list that will surely score big on your mother's heart.

• A compilation of your mom's favorite songs. While these songs may make you want to lock yourself in your room for the day, there's still a possibility that you will both enjoy it. If your mom has good taste in music, chances are, those songs are already considered classic.
• Very naughty and sexy lingerie. Women will remain women even in their prime years. Coming from her children, this item will serve as a compliment that she can still be as foxy as she was when she was younger.
• Gift certificates of your mom's favorite store. This will save you from buying a gift that your mother doesn't really need.
• A t-shirt with a picture of you and your siblings. This might be an embarrassment for you guys, but moms are naturally proud of her kids. It's in her hormones.
• Custom-made trophies just for mom. We know that this may be costly and mushy. But hey, what could be better than to be honored by your children as the world's greatest mom?
• Scented candles. An all-time favorite especially if your mommy is a collector.
• Jewelry. Rather than buying her the real thing (24K necklace), why not go for the trendy alternatives like silver and beads?
• A good book. Of course, make sure that she has not read it yet, and that she'll enjoy it.
• Perfume. Reward her for all the wonderful aroma that came from her kitchen, that woke you up every morning and the warmth of home cooking at night.
• Flowers. Need we explain further?

Like any other gift-giving season, what's important is the sincerity of the giver. Remember the time when your masterpiece was a wanna-be Hallmark card made our of cheap art paper, paste and a lot painstaking effort? Remember when you gave it to her, and she was so proud of you, regardless that you only got a barely passing grade for that artwork? Maybe, that's all she needs for this day, plus a smile, a hug, a kiss. After all, “She'll take it with her as long as it's free...”