Mother’s day is coming up! If you’re a new dad, you might be a little stuck on ideas. If you’re not part of the family, but looking for a present, it can be hard to choose the perfect one. There’s a lot of pressure to provide a good gift, especially for the first year. After all, your partner, daughter, sister or friend is now a mom, meaning that in the past year, she’s done everything that requires, including growing and birthing the little one.
If you’re stuck for ideas, don’t worry. There are plenty of ideas here for you to choose from!
Get a Babysitter
New moms are going through a huge adjustment period. One of the things they have to adjust to is having very little time for themselves. A night out, with the baby taken care of, can help them feel a little more like themselves, and make the changes easier. This is also a great idea for a date, if you think she feels up to it. If you’re family, then this is a great way to get some bonding time in.
As the dad, if you think your partner would do better with some alone time, offer to be in charge. It’s not babysitting, of course, since you’re the dad, but give her some time to do her thing. Even an hour twice a week can be enough to save everyone’s sanity. Don’t worry if you’re nervous, there are plenty of growing pains to go around, and it’ll help cement the bond you have with your child.
Make Dinner for a Week
Making dinner when dealing with a baby is a bit more challenging than it seems. If the baby is young, they might be crying the whole time, and mom may still be recovering from birth. If the baby’s older, that means that whoever is cooking has to manage both the baby and the dinner, which can be challenging and downright dangerous.
So switch it up! Cook dinner. Or, if cooking isn’t your thing, buy a meal service for a week. But it’s surprisingly easy to make a big batch of chili to last for 3 or 4 days, while burgers are a pretty simple one-night meal. Other great recipes for warm spring nights are easily available all over the internet. Worst case, you’ll improve your cooking skills!
A Spa Day
A bit of pampering does every mama some good, but especially new moms. Giving her a massage, a facial, maybe a mani/pedi and some time with her friends will absolutely make her day. That idea about self-care can be especially hard for new moms to get used to. This way, you can jump start it and help her take the best care of herself. Plus, that offer to babysit comes into play effortlessly.
Keep in mind that this is a spa day for her comfort. Not all moms are comfortable leaving their baby for a whole day right off the bat. This goes double if she’s breastfeeding. There’s nothing like laying on uncomfortably engorged breasts to ruin a massage.
Jewelry
Seriously, everyone loves jewelry. You can make it a family gift, with everyone’s birthstones, or just hers and the baby’s. Jewelry doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy, unless that’s her taste, of course. Either way, it’s likely to mean a whole lot more to her now, than it did before. If you’re a family member or friend looking for a gift, this is also a great gift idea to include the entire family, including the new dad!
Homemade Coupons
There will be days when your wife simply doesn’t want to do it, whatever “it” may be. It could be the dishes, making dinner, going to work, or sex. So make up a few coupons, like a “Get out of work free” card, or a “Daddy’s dinner night”. This is a bit of a cheesy one, so make it better by including funny ones. Include one for an explosive diaper, or a chance to sleep in one morning. You could even include one for a night of drinks – on you!
Of course you can make them actual coupons as well, or give her a few gift cards for takeout dinners.
Clean Up!
Take an afternoon and clean some the house. It doesn’t have to be spotless or anything, but try and clear some of the things off her to-do list. Dishes, laundry, maybe even clean the toilet! This is a simple, but incredibly rewarding gift for anyone to give. No one likes having their house a mess, so taking some of the load off will be very appreciated.
This Mother’s Day is the first one in a long line of them. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it is a great opportunity to showcase your feelings. Your partner has a lot to do, and a new baby changes literally everything about you. She’s likely still adjusting to being a mom, so take the opportunity to help make the transition easier. Remind her that she’s loved, and that she should take care of herself as well as everyone else.
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Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations, cultures, and styles, while communicating these endeavors through her passion for writing and expression. Her love for the world around her is portrayed through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts. You can find her on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.
