In only a few days, we will be celebrating the most beloved of all holidays: Mother’s Day. Now, typically, the family makes plans to bring “mom” (or your wife or your mother-in-law) to a nice fancy schmancy (i.e. expensive) restaurant so that she can get a break from the cooking and the cleaning and the general caring of everyone else in the household.

But, let’s face the truth here; moms rarely get a break from all of those things at the same time. Even when you’re all together at a restaurant, mom is worried that your food isn’t properly prepared or served at the right temperature. She’s concerned you’re going to spill your soda or knock a plate off the table. She’s eager to pass the oil and vinegar or butter your bread or to rush to the waitress station to grab more napkins. She’s ready to summon the waiter for more of this and some of that and bring this back without the dressing on top, and then ordering the staff to bag up the leftovers just so - this bag for the dog, this bag for me. The truth is mom is never really truly fully relaxed when she goes out to dinner with you. So stay home.

Spoil mom right in the comfort of your own house. Forget about the kitchen though; that has got to be off limits to mom. It’s your show, and you’re gonna run it in the way that’s most comfortable to you: Barbecue! Stoke up the grill, stock up on easy fixins from the supermarket or deli like cold salad dishes, fresh fruit and vegetables and get some fresh bread and buns for the burgers or hotdogs you’re gonna cook. Don’t forget the disposable plates and cutlery either, ‘cause mom doesn’t want to do the dishes (and neither do you, right?). Tell mom to come outside, sit in the lounge chair with a good book, her MP3 player and a chilled beverage, and that you’ll be her servant for the whole day; at her every beck and call.

It’s only fair; mom does all of that the other 364 days of the year.