A toast is the best kind of gift because you make it. True, some people long to be gifted an I-Pad or a Condo, but there is one woman who enjoys the things you create just for her more than anything in the world- Mom. Why do you think she still has your papier-mâché dinosaur or that wallet you sewed in camp? They all have something she has cherished since before day one, your imprint.
We are not saying skip the cards, flowers or the check for brunch. The gift of a toast is that it captures a moment in time. It’s a verbal photograph where everybody looks slim with great hair.
Although we suggest a Mother’s Day toast of two minutes or less, we still recommend that you write it in advance, and use a note card or two. Memorizing your toast will take you out of the experience. Trying to write something meaningful and smooth while at the celebration will you away from Mom. If you make stuff up on the spot you run the risk of forgetting to mention that important thing you will regret forever! Or at least until next year.
The theme of this holiday is the accomplishment of motherhood. A theme for toasting this day is the good fortune to be your mother’s child. You want to express gratitude and sympathy in general, appreciation and understanding in detail.
Since you’re probably old enough to order a Mimosa, we will assume that the bulk of her work is behind her. That said, a toast that solely addresses all she did back then might make her feel like a spectator at her own funeral. When possible, try to tie the past deeds with their present day affects. Did she teach you something that you still do? Did she do something for you as child that still reverberates to this day?
Maybe you are a mother or father yourself? Has mom done something to make you a better parent?
To gain insight into Mom’s world, let us employ the poetic terms of the Wall Street Journal: Mom leveraged her sweat equity to invest in you when you were just a little start up. Now, long past your IPO stage, you’ve grown into an established going concern. Your toast is a report on her dividends. Hopefully her venture has been profitable, one with a strong future.
This is an opportunity to reevaluate her past actions through your mature eyes. Here is a chance to offer long overdue thanks.
Mention more than one thing but less than five, or the toast becomes a grocery list of accolades.
Relay one experience or observation in full detail. Pick a particular, and expand on how and why it matters. What impact did it have on your life? How did it make you feel at the time? How does it make you feel now? Flourish the toast with a few other brief praises. Feel free to mention the quirky along with the admirable.
Convey your thoughts and feeling in the first person, using “I” statements. If you prefer formality over intimacy, make her both the subject and the object, opting for “You” statements.
Conclude with a wish or hope for her future, giving thanks, or just say “I you love you.”
Things to consider:
Stand and deliver or just raise your glass?
Mother’s day is typically cozy, no matter how large your party. We advise keeping things mellow and light hearted, after all we want Mom to relax. In that spirit we’ll give you the guidelines for casual/smaller events:
Stand and raise your voice if you are speaking to a group that cannot hear you if you stay seated, such as six tables full of people in a back yard or private room in a casual restaurant. Find a polite and amusing way to get their attention before you speak.
