Celebrations and Tributes

Apr 28
4 min read

By Patricia Huey

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed.” Proverbs 31: 25-28 (ESV)

It’s that time of year when most of us are winding down our homeschooling. With the better weather, everyone is looking forward to the conclusion of the homeschool year. You’ve all worked hard this school year and want to finish strong. So, in addition to wrapping up homeschool essentials, let’s focus on two important holidays—Mother’s Day and Memorial Day.

Mother’s Day is May 11

Around the world, people gather in churches, enjoy Sunday dinners, or meet in restaurants to honor and celebrate their mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-law, and other loving caregivers. As homeschoolers, we desire to instill love and respect for mothers in our children.

Why do we celebrate Mother’s Day? It’s a great time to teach our children to honor mothers. After all, Mother’s Day, at its heart, is about gratitude. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the love and sacrifice mothers make every day. Additionally, Mother’s Day provides a great opportunity to build relationships. In Ephesians 6: 1-3, the Bible speaks about honoring our mothers:

“Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. Honor your father and mother. This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” (NLT)

Celebrating Mother’s Day

Reading Mother’s Day books helps us focus on the special bond between moms and their children and impart an appreciation for mothers!

Book suggestions to celebrate Mother’s Day (All available on Amazon):

Ages 2 - 6

God Gave Me You (A Rhyming Picture Book for Young Children and Their Parents) by Cindy Bracken
This rhyming picture book for young children illustrates how grateful parents or for their children. The themes of belonging and feeling valued are highlighted in this book.

Ages 3 - 6

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
This sweet story highlights the themes of identity and the bond between mother and child.

Ages 3 - 7+

Why A Daughter Needs a Mom by Gregory E. Lang
This book features the unique bond between mother and daughter.
Why A Son Needs a Mom by Gregory E. Lang
This book features the loving relationship between mother and son.

Ages 9+

What NOT to Give Your Mom on Mother’s Day by Martha Seif Simpson
This humorous book’s main themes are thoughtfulness and love, and the best gifts come from the heart.
HOW TO RAISE A MOM by Jean Reagan
This book reverses roles and puts kids in charge of raising their moms. It teaches readers how to help their moms and make them smile.

Arts Project Ideas for Mother’s Day:

Some of my happiest memories from Mother’s Day include the artwork I created for my mom, the crafts my son made for me, and the projects my homeschool students created for their moms.

One popular item my kids made for their moms was a family tree made from their handprints. For a Family Tree art project, view this YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwUfZioCco0
We also made cards, and this Mother’s Day folding surprise is super fun! Take a look at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUVAoJvln7s

Cooking with Mom:

What better time is there to have fun in the kitchen with your kids than around Mother’s Day? I love cooking with kids. Mary Bryant Shrader does, too. Through her detailed tutorials and recipes, you will learn how to make traditional and nutrient-dense foods—and have fun doing it! Mary has also created a free Modern Pioneer Cookbook Curriculum for grades 1-12. You could also plan to include Mary’s free curriculum in next year’s homeschooling plans!

To learn more, check out this link: https://marysnest.com/why-i-created-the-modern-pioneer-cookbook-curriculum/
For the free curriculum, go here: https://marysnest.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/The-Modern-Pioneer-Cookbook-Curriculum.pdf

A Lesson on Honor (and a cookie recipe)

For a lesson on the word “Honor” and a recipe for Mother’s Day Love Cookies, visit this link: https://www.christianitycove.com/mothers-day-love-cookies/3981/

Memorial Day is May 26th

While some confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. It is a holiday to honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in all branches of the United States military. I think it’s our job as teachers and parents to teach our homeschoolers about our federal holidays, such as Memorial Day.