In our home, the ideal Mother’s day occurs on Father’s day. My husband takes our children camping, and I am alone in the house for 48 hours. I love this time and look forward to it all year! It is a time for me to get tasks done around the house, to complete unfinished projects, to sleep in, or to do activities I rarely get to do. It is a “mother’s day” dream.

On the other hand, the Mother’s day that takes place in the month of May is a completely different kind of day, and it is a grand day in and of itself. Mother’s day often involves a visit with the in-town (grand)mothers. We make sure to have breakfast at the beginning of the day or dinner at the end of the day so a nice chunk of the day can be set-aside for our family.

My children and husband put me on a throne for Mother’s day and do their best to carve out a day filled with great moments. Here are some ideas for crafting the perfect Mother’s day celebration.

Sleep late. If you are able to take advantage of a morning of sleeping in, go for it! Most of us are dragged out of bed much earlier than we’d choose and, quite often, after a night of constantly interrupted sleep. I have found that the best way to catch a few extra winks is to sneak into my daughter’s bed after she is up for the day. I turn on her sound machine, close the door, and it usually takes an hour or so before the family finds me.

Look at pictures. Mother’s day is the perfect day to reminisce about your journey through motherhood. Exploring old photographs is a true reminder of where you’ve been and how much your children have grown. I enjoy watching the videos (alone) from when my children were born. It brings back memories of magical moments and the contemplation of all that was still unknown at those points in our lives.

Give back. Years ago, I received an appeal from a Jewish women’s organization – Jewish Women International. JWI provides flowers each year to mothers living in shelters with their children. Our family often makes a donation to JWI in honor of our grandmothers and great grandmothers for Mother’s day. It is a nice feeling to know that women going through difficult times will also be honored on this day.

Dream. Spend some time reflecting upon each of your children – their individual personalities, what you wish for them, what you hope they can overcome as they move along in life, how you hope their unique characters will blossom. Take some time to dream of where you want your family to be next year, in five years and in ten years.

Take a day off. Yeah, right. We try every year and our families do their best to support us – but there is really no such thing. Nonetheless, it is worth a try. Tell your family you will not be doing any dishes, laundry or cleaning (and that you also don’t want them left for Monday, the day after Mother’s day). Encourage them to take charge of these tasks without you having to prod, ask, remind, or suggest.

Take a family photo. Mom’s day is one day where children and spouses are more likely to yield to our requests. Getting everyone together for a family photo can be a difficult task. As your Mother’s day wish, however, you may experience greater success – not to mention a great memory through the years of your growing family.

Pick a project. As mentioned above, Mother’s day is a great day to get the family to participate in what YOU want to do. Identify something around the house you have been wanting to accomplish – rearranging the furniture in the family room, cleaning the backyard, or organizing the garage – and engage the whole family in the project.

Create a family heirloom. A visit to the local pottery shop is a great way to spend Mother’s day. Select a piece you can all design and paint together or that has room for everyone’s handprint. This will become a great keepsake that you can use in your kitchen or put on display and cherish for years to come.

However you and your family choose to celebrate Mother’s day, have a happy one.