Because our mothers do so much for us, we should demonstrate our appreciation more than once a year, but especially on Mothers Day we can let Mom know what she means to us. Here are some suggestions:

1. Make her breakfast and clean up afterwards.

Heres an easy breakfast: Get some fruit of different colors. Two kinds of melonhoneydew and cantaloupe would work. Cut it up into chunks and serve with a wedge of lime on the side. If you want to be fancy, add a stemmed maraschino cherry on top. If melon isnt available, you could use strawberries, which are always in season around Mothers Day. Buy some cinnamon rolls to go with the fruit. Wrap them in foil and warm them in the oven at 300 degrees F for about 20 minutes. If you must use the microwave, be sure to set it on half power, or the rolls will turn out tough.

With breakfast, give her some flowers. If they are cut flowers, dont make her find a vase and arrange them; you do it. If the budget is tight, buy a single flower or pick some wildflowers from your garden, or ask a neighbor who has a flower garden if he or she would give you one.

With the flowers, give her a sentimental Mothers Day poem, like this one:

You Let Me Know You Love Me

You let me know you love me
In so many different ways.
You make me feel important
With encouragement and praise.

Youre always there when I need you
To comfort and to care.
I know Im in your thoughts;
Your love follows me everywhere.

Thank you for all youve done
And given so generously.
I love you, my wonderful mother,
Youre a heaven-sent blessing to me.

By Joanna Fuchs

You can find more mother poems like these at www.poemsource.com. These copyrighted poems are free for personal use, according to the Terms of Use detailed at the site.

2. Take over all her chores for the day. You may not have noticed what those are, but you will now. Every time she starts a chore, you take over. Say to her, I love you and I want to show you that I appreciate you on your special day. Say it every time; she wont mind the repetition. Shell love hearing it.

3. Take her out to dinner or make dinner at home for her and whoever else is there. If others are coming over, ask each of them to bring something.

Youll need the following:

A green salad. You can buy this in a plastic bag at the supermarket if you want. Some even come with dressing. If the budget is tight, make it from scratch. Wash and cut up some romaine and iceberg lettuce. Add some washed and peeled, thinly sliced or shredded carrots and some washed, peeled, sliced cucumber. Make or buy some ranch dressing. Everyone likes that.

An entre. You can cook something if you like, or you can buy a frozen, family size entre, like lasagne, at the supermarket.

Rolls and butter.

Dessert. Make your own. Something really easy is chocolate puddingNOT instant, but rather the Jello brand kind you cook. It says Cook and Serve on the box. Making it in the microwave is really easy; just follow the instructions on the box. Make more than you think youll need. Cook it in a big glass bowl so it wont boil over. Put it into individual servings. You can use little dishes, if you have them, but you can also use juice glasses or wine glasses. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving time. Buy a can of whipped cream and spritz some on the top of each serving.

Or you can buy a pie or cake from the bakery. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if appropriate.

If Mom drinks coffee, be sure to make some.

4. After dinner, surprise her with a gift. A personalized gift is nice. You can find some nice ones at personalizationmall.com. They have a special section for mothers. If the budget is tight, go to the dollar store. Or go to a used bookstore and get her a book by her favorite author.

5. Finally, tell her youre glad shes your mom. I know its hard to express feelings for some people, but it will mean so very much to her. Moms are like that. You cannot know how much time is left with her to tell her what she means to you. She could be around another fifty years or she could be gone tomorrow. Just say something like, Mom, I just want you to know Im really happy that youre my mother. Youre the best. Or whatever feels right to you.

Do these things, or even some of them, and you Mom will have a great Mothers Day!