Mother's Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts For Community-Minded Moms
The gift of community can be especially meaningful for moms who feel isolated. Kristin Teig for League of Kitchens
Picture a mom and the image is one filled with the busyness of others—whether it's children running around or all the interactions mom makes as a parent. Less considered however, is how motherhood can be an isolating experience. According to a nationwide survey published by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center last year, 65% of parents in the United States find the demands of parenthood isolating and lonely, with moms representing a majority of that percentage. The rise of remote work and over-scheduled calendars for both parents and kids, is making it harder for parents to have meaningful connections, according to Kate Gawlik, an associate clinical professor at the Ohio State University College of Nursing in Columbus and the lead researcher on the survey.
65% of parents in the United States find the demands of parenthood isolating, with moms representing a majority of that percentage. Jake Stangel for Mill
'Loneliness has been shown to affect both your physical and mental health,' explains Gawlik in the survey. 'So anything from cardiovascular disease to depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, even your immune system can be affected when you're lonely.' In a post-industrial society with loneliness on the rise and a lack of social support for parents, another study finds moms are at an increased risk for developing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), which affect as many as 17.7% of moms. But loneliness isn't only associated with mothers of newborns and children—loneliness can also affect mothers with newly empty nests or senior mothers who lack intergenerational support from their children or family members.
Connecting with others in nature is an effective strategy for combatting loneliness. The League of Kitchens
While there are many strategies for tackling loneliness, one way for moms to find meaningful connection is to engage with their local community. Ever since the early 19th century, when societies shifted from agrarian to industrial, loneliness in cities has been on the rise. Few cities exemplify this like New York—where mom might be living among eight million people, but still feel disconnected from her immediate environment. Living in an urban jungle also makes it difficult to connect with nature, which has been found to be an effective strategy for combatting loneliness.
Moms across the age spectrum experience loneliness—from new moms to newly empty nesters to seniors who live far from family. Scent Social Club
So this Mother's Day, give the gift of connection. The best gifts are those that keep giving. By building or giving back to the community, these gifts benefit more than the receiver by helping others feel less alone or nourishing the local environment. From a flower CSA to reading parties, these gifts imagine a better world, where we feel more connected to people and the planet.
Reading Rhythms Reading Rhythms
One of the best ways to meet new people is through shared interests, so if mom likes to read, this is the gift for her. Reading Rhythms hosts reading parties throughout the five boroughs and across the United States (with new chapters launching around the world), in which mom can get some focused reading done while connecting with others in her neighborhood. The parties entail two 30-minute blocks of reading and two breaks for discussion, with lose prompts to get the conversation flowing. With curated music, thoughtful venues and a warm, inviting atmosphere, Reading Rhythms can enable mom to escape into a good book—free from distractions and responsibilities—while connecting with fellow book-lovers in her area. Cooking class in a home cook's kitchen
The League of Kitchens Kristin Teig for The League of Kitchens
The League of Kitchens is a platform of female home cooks from around the world who welcome people into their homes—both in the city and online—to share their family recipes and rich cultural histories. Their cooking classes provide immigrant women a platform to share their expertise and knowledge and attendees an opportunity learn a new recipe, taste something new and share some of their own culture with others. The result is meaningful cross-cultural connection over a delicious home cooked meal. The easiest gift is to give mom a gift card for their in-person and online cooking classes. But they also offer private workshops for families and groups of friends, as well as the League of Kitchen Cookbook featuring recipes from their instructors and branded merchandise (think, a 'Cook Like A Grandma' apron). Mill food recycler and farm produce box subscription
Mill food recycler Mill
This food recycler shrinks and dehydrates kitchen scraps at mom's preferred time, removing odor in the process. The impressively compact compost that results can then be used in mom's garden or sent back to Mill to be turned into chicken feed. Mom can feel good knowing she's contributed to the more than seven million pounds of food Mill has kept out of the landfill.
To feel connected to her community, mom can have her compost picked up by Ground Cycle who will deliver the scraps to a local farm to be used as fertilizer. In exchange, she'll receive a box of fresh produce grown from compost used on the farm. Being a member of Ground Cycle means she'll be involved with an organization that prioritizes building community—from donating extra food to community fridges to upcycled flower giveaways to teach people about the importance of composting. A local tour with an expert guide
A GetYourGuide guided tour GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide connects travellers with local entrepreneurs for unique insider tours of various destinations around the world. But mom doesn't have to be a visitor to enjoy a local tour of her city. By working with local partners—prioritizing small businesses that are building community by improving the city's livability—GetYourGuide tours offer a fresh perspective on places mom might have frequented before or been curious about. From guided tours of Brooklyn brownstones and The Metropolitan Museum of Art to food tours of Flushing, Queens—there's a tour for every interest. You can purchase a gift card here. Group spa experience at a bathhouse
cityWell Bathhouse cityWell
A spa day is a foolproof gift for Mother's Day, but most treatments are experienced individually. CityWell provides an opportunity to unwind while connecting with others through their community hydro-sessions which include access to the aromatherapy steam, soaking tub, dry cedar sauna and cold plunge. On Sundays, they have a women's-only community hydro-session for $60, or if mom wants to attend another day, she can book a private small group hydro-session to enjoy the facilities with friends (moms receive a 10% discount for private small groups through the month of May). Families can book a private hydro-therapy session while expecting moms will appreciate the 2.5-hour pre-natal package which includes a foot soak and massage, custom clay mask and 70-minute prenatal massage. Fragrance tour in Nolita
Scent Social Club Scent Social Club
Historically inaccessible to the public, the world of perfumery has long maintained an air of exclusivity. Scent Social Club hopes to change this with their fragrance tour of Nolita, the first and only tour of its kind in the city. A gift card for their perfumer-led, two-hour tour will take mom to Manhattan's finest niche perfumeries, where she'll have exclusive in-store discounts to shop her favorite scents. The tour offers a space for self-expression, shared curiosity and connection over the love of scent. A rowboat ride in Central Park
Central Park Boathouse Central Park Boathouse
It can be hard to feel connected to New York amidst the bustle of visitors that fill the pathways of Central Park—getting out on the water offers a peaceful alternative. Mom can feel more connected to her city partaking in an activity that dates back to the 1860s, when rowboats were first available to rent. Despite the city's many waterways, it's hard to find rowboat rentals, making this a particularly unique experience harkening to a bygone era. The recently redesigned restaurant makes for an elegant apres-boat meal overlooking the tranquil lake. Learn to cook with a chef
Sur La Table cooking class Sur La Table
You might know Sur La Table for their high quality kitchenware, lesser known are the retailer's cooking classes, which take place both online and at their Midtown location. Themed around different dishes and cuisines (think: handmade pasta, globally-inspired donuts and South American steak), guests are led by a chef at cooking stations with up to four people each. The intimate-nature of the classes provide a chance to connect with fellow gourmands while kids-friendly classes are an option for moms looking for a memorable, bonding experience with the family. Connect over shared interests
Closer meet-up CLOSER
Closer is a membership service designed to combat loneliness with a range of facilitated events around the city. From art gallery crawls to dinners at the hottest new restaurants to local hikes, their packed calendar of activities offers something for everyone. In addition to their member events, they host volunteer opportunities to give back to the local community. In addition to New York City, Closer operates in Denver and Washington, and plans to expand to more cities by the end of the year. You can purchase a gift card here.
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