From home-cooked breakfast plans to high-end dinner reservations, the approaching Mother’s Day is stirring a flurry of preparations from staff and students alike. For anyone at a loss for last-minute ideas, we asked the RM community for their ideas and experiences.
Media assistant Magda Rabbat
What are some unique gifts or places that you might recommend people go with their mothers on Mother’s Day?
I am not really for gifts. I’m really for doing what you can. For example, you can prepare her breakfast. You can prepare her lunch at home or something sweet to cook for her. Or do some cleaning at home for this day. This is what I look for, not really an invitation outside.
Do you have any memories of your favorite gift or favorite experience for Mother’s Day?
Of course, I have, when my daughter was very small, she did for me a necklace and at school, they did a bracelet. They started at school and she finished it at home. I really love it because she was really a small one when she did this for me.
What was the necklace like?
It was like some pearls blue and red. And I have them in a tin now and she’s grown up now.
When you mention cooking dishes and stuff, do you have any recommendations for what people should make?
No, it’s something that the mother like. It means everyone is different. So if, for example, if your mother likes pancake, you do pancake for her. If she likes certain cake chocolate cakes, you do chocolate cake for her. It’s whatever each one likes. So, each one should like, I like chocolate cake. Everything’s chocolate. Anything chocolate.
Senior Zahra Jeffery
What are your plans for Mother’s Day?
We’re taking my mother out to dinner. My father is currently abroad, so he’s coming back and we’re gonna go to a fancy dinner, get her some flowers.
Do you know where you’re going for dinner yet?
No. My brother wanted to decide that, so I’m letting him decide that, I guess, but yeah.
What are some unique gift ideas or places that you would recommend to other people for Mother’s Day?
My mother really likes gardens and flowers. So one year we took her to the gardens in Georgetown. I don’t remember exactly the name of the gardens there, but we did take her there and I think that was really fun. And then all her gifts were kind of designed around flowers. So I think that’s just knowing, like, what your mother likes and tailoring Mother’s Day towards that and not only about what she does for you, but her herself.
Staff development teacher James Goldsmith
What are your plans for Mother’s Day?
So luckily, my mom lives just in southern Maryland. So it’s about an hour drive south. So I go down and my whole family gets together. My brother, my sister, my two nieces, my dad and we all celebrate my mom over the weekend.
Do you have any favorite memories of Mother’s Day or traditions for places you would go to?
We usually had a low-key mother’s day where we would just celebrate at home. It was a day where she wouldn’t have to cook. So we would all cook something. Then we would spend time opening presents that we got her and usually have like a cake or some dessert at the end. So it was more like family time together at the house.
Do you have any recommendations for what people should make or where people should go?
Well, I think if your mom is close enough that you can actually visit her and spend time with her, that’s the most important. But if you’re living farther away and you can’t actually be there in person, a phone call so that she can hear your voice or at the very least, a card and some flowers.
What do you normally cook?
It changed over the years. We would usually ask her what she was craving at the time. But, I mean, when we were younger, of course, it was really simple things because we couldn’t cook and my dad doesn’t know how to cook water very well. But then as we got older, we could start making our more complex dinners.
Secretary Debra Hirrlinger
What are your plans for Mother’s Day?
I don’t have any yet. It’s usually a surprise at the last minute. Hopefully something fun.
Do you have any favorite memories of things you’ve done for Mother’s Day?
It’s usually just gathering with the family and having a big dinner with my kids and grandkids.
Do you have any recommendations for unique gift ideas or what to make?
I think most moms just like being able to relax and let someone else take over and maybe do the cooking or take them out, that kind of thing.
Senior Kiyan Mbah Jr.
What are some plans that you have for Mother’s Day?
For Mother’s Day, I plan on taking my mom out for dinner, getting a nice pedicure with her. I was gonna surprise her with flowers, pick her up and then, you know, we get to dinner at like 7:30, 8 o’clock. And you know, just try to make the day as light as I can for her. It’ll make her feel special.
What is a good place for you on Mother’s Day?
There’s this restaurant called Nobu. It’s in DC. So, you know, we’re probably gonna go there, just me and her and I already reserved a dinner.
What are some unique gift ideas or places for people to take their moms for another day?
I’ve gone to this one garden and we’re in it, it’s called a botanical garden. It’s really, like, beautiful and it’s peaceful and I can say, a tip. I would just say, like, take the load off your hands, you know, for the day. She’s really gonna appreciate that.
Freshman Shirley Klein
What are your plans for Mother’s Day?
I’m probably gonna try to go to DC with my mom. She really likes Waffle House for some reason, so maybe go there. Maybe bake, actually, because I like doing that with her.
What are some unique places or gifts for mothers on Mother’s Day?
Make sure you match it to your mom and pay attention to what she wears. Like, don’t get her silver jewelry if she wears gold. And don’t get her gold if she wears silver.
What are some experiences that you have on Mother’s Day?
Um, when I was younger, we would always go to the aquarium. So that was really fun, or we would go to the park. It was always really fun. Okay. Yeah, of course.
Social studies teacher Kerri Fry
What are some good, unique gifts that you will give to your mother for Mother’s Day?
My mom really likes pictures of my children or her grandchildren. Right. So I will probably give her a framed picture of my kids.
What are some places that you would recommend to other students to go with their mothers on Mother’s Day?
Something that I do with my family is we usually go to the CNO Canal and go for a walk and I take my dog.
What are some good experiences that you had on Mother’s Day?
Usually my kids, at their school, or sometimes my husband helps them to do this, make me a little craft or a card. Those are the best gifts. Just something that they put their effort into and it’s really sweet and I love it so much.
