A Day to Impress

Ways for New Dads to Make Her Mother's Day Special

By Mark Stackpole

Fathers, you are about to take a very big step. I'm not talking about the arrival of your baby – I'm going to assume that you'll pull your weight on that one. You'll undoubtedly change diapers, get up in the middle of the night for those 2 a.m. feedings and rub your wife's feet after she has put in a full day of mothering.

That next big step that you are about to take is adding your wife to your Mother's Day shopping list. Yeah, you've been shopping for your mom for as long as you can remember, but this is different. This is for the woman who decided to put up with you in sickness and in health and ultimately gave birth to your child. Mom had to love you – this other lady picked you and helped make your life complete. That's got to be worth something.

First things first: Impress her by remembering when it is. Then we can worry about how to impress her even more by genuinely showing how glad you are to have her and your new baby – or soon-to-be new baby – in your life.

The gift options are limitless, though men seem to prefer to stick to the old stand-bys of candy, flowers and jewelry. There is nothing wrong with these gifts, but it might be time to be creative, stretch those gift-giving muscles and prepare for a whole new kind of Mother's Day.

No matter what the gift, it is important not to let it speak for itself. Make sure that you take the time to put it in writing. Whether you go with a sexy, funny or serious card, make sure that you add some of your own sentiments to it. She needs to know that this means as much to you as it does to her and that you have been paying attention not just to the baby, but to her as well.

As a general rule, we men are not famous for being able to communicate our softer side. Take this opportunity to do it. It will mean even more to her if she knows that you are opening yourself up a little bit and sharing some of your genuine feelings with her.

Katherine Miracle, an attorney in Dallas, Texas, and the mother of 6-month-old triplets, believes that it is the card that brings an important touch to even the most special gift. "Best of all would be a card saying thank you for living with the flab, the stretch marks, for giving up our careers for a little while and for loving your kids so much," she says.

Lesley Ballard, a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse from San Diego, Calif., was most touched by her husband Jim's heartfelt words, also contained in a card. "I think the most special thing he did for me was giving me a card telling me what a wonderful mother I was," she says. "This simply warmed my heart because I knew that he noticed all of the work I was putting into being a good mom. Even though I was still new at it, he took the time to praise my new role in our relationship."

Now that we've established that the card is important, don't for a single second think that even the most beautiful card will make up for a lousy gift. In this situation, it really is the thought that counts. So guys, don't forget to think.

Want to see more?

• Be Good to Your Valentine! Foods That Say, "I Love You"
• Passionate Parents: Keeping Love Alive After the Kids Arrive
• Emotional Workouts for a Happier Marriage
• Beyond Flowers: Gift-Giving Ideas for the New Mom
• Talk about it!