Girl Bonding: A Fun Filled day for Mom and Daughter
Mother-daughter relationships are a precious commodity that should be cultivated and cared for as the years go by. No matter how old your daughter may be, 3 or 33, your relationship with her is worth a major time investment. Make some special plans starting this Mother's Day season to do something unique together. Consider it a priority!
How to Get Started
SCHEDULE IT Don't just hope that things work out; make things happen. Get out your calendar and write it in. If your plan requires an appointment to be scheduled, or reservations made, call ahead to make sure the date and time will work. For older daughters who have their own schedules, coordinate with them first.
MAKE ARRANGEMENTS Are there others who will need to be considered as you plan your big day? Make sure everything is covered. If you have a daughter at home who is too young for the activity, an infant perhaps, someone will need to take care of her while you and your other daughter(s) have special time together. If your plan includes an overnight, pets may also need someone assigned to tend to them. Does your family share a car? Arrange to have access to it. Get everything in place now so that you can have a relaxed and fun time when the big day arrives.
EASE INTO IT Highly scheduled people have a tough time coming down from the "rat race" to enjoy themselves. If this is you, Mom, you may have to schedule a "warm up day" by clearing two days on your schedule. The first day will be yours to slow your pace and prepare for fun on the day following. Use it to do nothing at all - a day to yourself - or to get a few essentials out of the way and off your mind, such as the grocery shopping. This prepday will allow you to totally devote your time and attention to the actual “Girls Day Out.” It is the "Big Day," remember that!
PLAN WHAT TO DO What do you and your daughter like most? Is it time at home together or going out? Maybe a combination of the two is in order. Talk it over. You can have a lot of fun with a plate of cookies and milk just mulling over the possibilities. The local newspaper and online resources can provide a lot of ideas. Make a list together and rank them; favorite, secondfavorite and so-forth. You may want to challenge yourselves to schedule the first two or three dates sometime this year and reserve the others for the future. But the most important one is this first “Special Girls Day Out.” Make it great! So Many Possibilities to Choose From!
ANIMAL LOVERS' PARADISE Do the two of you share the love of animals? A day that animal lovers would enjoy includes a tour of the great "animal hang outs" of Rochester. The Seneca Park Zoo is a natural location to build your day around. Add to it a tour of Lollypop Farm or a visit to a horse stable. There a number of great stables in the area. Call ahead to set up a riding lesson. If you do, ask them what you need to bring.Love puppies? If you think you can visit without having to bring one home, ask a local dog breeder if you can come see the puppies. They just might say "yes." Bring your camera to take some photos of the memorable moment. Offer to share it on Facebook with the name of the kennel included for some free advertising for your generous hosts.
GAME DAY Love board games? How about setting aside a play-day for you and your daughter. Is there a game the two of you have heard about but never tried? Buy it (or borrow it from a friend) to make your play-day more memorable. Be sure to have your favorite snacks on hand and maybe the makings for some incredible ice cream sundaes, too.
GARDENING Working on a garden can be a fun way to spend time together. Have someone till the ground for you in advance to eliminate the tedious work. Get the tools and mulch all set, too, before your big day comes. Sit down with your daughter and some gardening books, or a laptop, to research the types of flowers or vegetables that you would like to plant. When the big day arrives, go with a list and visit the local garden store. If you don't have a favorite, the Garden Factory, Gro Moore Farms and Van Putte Landscape are three good choices.
LEARN TO COOKCooking classes are a fun opportunity to learn something new together. If you know a professional cook or pastry chef, ask for a private lesson. Another possibility would be to team up with a few other mothers and daughters and set up a special "Girls Day Out" cooking party at Young Chefs Academy in Webster. However you create your event, cooking is a great way to spend quality time together. Plan to bring your new-found skills home and practice often!
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT We are so accustomed to pre-recorded entertainment. While the movie theater and DVD rentals are a lot of fun, why not look for a live show to see? Pick a day at the ballet, a professional performance at GEVA, the Auditorium Theater, or the Eastman Theater for an RPO performance. Check to see if an ice show or the circus is scheduled to come to town. Rochester has many great stage productions through community theaters, children's theater, and college and high school productions. Coupled with a stop at a special restaurant, the two of you will have a day to remember.
PAMPER YOURSELVES Plan a spa-day out or, better yet, a spa and pajama party at home. Give each other a manicure and pedicure. Fill up the table with lots of colors and sparkles. Make it fun. Have a facial. Look at fashion magazines together. Call out for pizza. Eat chocolate-lots of it! Watch a chick flick. Even if it's during the day, pajamas are a must!
SCRAPBOOKING Even your little ones will love a scrapbooking party. Go out together to buy the supplies, bring them home, put on some nice background music or a fun family movie reliving some of your favorite family moments. Have some microwave popcorn and hot chocolate standing by for important breaks. Be sure to laugh together, a lot.
SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP Now, this one requires a little bit of a bankroll, so save up and know your limitations. Make a plan together and adopt an attitude that "looking is half the fun." Set a time limit. When time's up, go to your favorite restaurant to complete your fun day.
TEA PARTY Little girls love tea parties. You can set this up right in your own garden or the living room of your house. Make it a location that is a bit different. Even your daughter's playroom, small as the furniture may be. Older girls will love a trip to a local tea room. Try La-Tea- Da! Tearoom & Parlour on Alexander Street for a real experience. Decorated with girls in mind, they provide vintage hats of numerous kinds for their patrons to put on while they enjoy a delectable meal. La-Tea-Da has atmosphere! Your special day out is just for the two of you. Have someone take some pictures of you on your big day! Put them in a scrapbook and build memories! You may bring your cell phones, in case of emergency, but keep them off or on vibrate. No calls in or out. No texting. Concentrate on what is really important while you are together – each other!
Sinea Pies is a contributing writer to Rochester Area & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. She lives in the Rochester area. She is a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who often writes about her passion – the value of being organized and personal success strategies: getting your "ducks n' a row". Visit her at www.ducknarow.com
