Mother’s Day is coming! Are you excited yet?
Actually, around my house, Mother’s Day is really Father’s responsibility! Up until now the children really have been too little to understand the concept of Mother’s Day… So every year Papa the Farmer pulls through for me!
Which got me to thinking… What about single mothers? Families where Dad is not going to pull through for Mother’s Day.
Last year, a friend of mine was in the middle of a nasty divorce. I didn’t think there was any way that her ex-husband would remember to take the children shopping for Mother’s Day. Her oldest child was old enough to want to do something for Mom, but too young to be able to pull off a surprise independently.
The solution? A Mother’s Day Kit to give the child, so that he or she has everything they need to make Mama a surprise… without her supervision. If Mama’s not going to be watching, it has to be simple! I couldn’t think of anything more simple than Bath Salts!
Materials:
1 cup table sea salt
1 cup epsom salts
3 snack size ziploc baggies
1 lunch size paper bag (or other similar container)
1 decorative jar (oops! I forgot to include it in the picture! I used an old salsa jar with an unusual shape)
1 jar for mixing
1 fabric circle larger than the jar lid
1 elastic band
1 ribbon
food coloring and essential oil optional.
Instructions:
Measure the sea salt into 1 snack size ziploc baggie.
Measure the epsom salts into 1 snack size ziploc baggie.
Depending on the age of the child, you may choose to mix the essential oils and food coloring for them. (Food coloring spilled on the carpet at home would not be a good surprise for Mom!) Or you may simply include the essential oil and food coloring in the paper bag, if the child is old enough to be responsible.
Include the ribbon, elastic and fabric circle in another snack size ziploc bag.
Then include instructions for the child to layer a couple of inches of epsom salts into the bottom of the jar, then a couple of inches of sea salt, followed by a couple of inches of epsom salts… you get the idea. To make the jar pretty the child should put the fabric circle over the lid and secure it with a rubber band. The ribbon can be tied around the edge of the lid to hide the elastic.
You’ll want to put all this in a paper bag along with a note to the child, giving them the instructions above.
And ta-da! You have an instant Mother’s Day present to pamper a single mother!
