Happy Mother’s Day! How are you spending it this year? Hopefully, with something fun, joyful, and would allow you to dawdle a bit — whether that’s time with your family, a long sleep-in, or a little quiet time to yourself.
To be honest, I really love Mother’s Day. It’s the one day of the year, since becoming a mum, where I can ask for exactly what I want — within reason — and not feel guilty about it.I find that, even on my birthday, I sometimes downplay what I want to do, but on Mother’s Day? I let guilt go and lean in.
And yet somehow, it always slips by so quickly — a morning coffee, a lunch that feels a little too fast, and before you know it, the day is over and you’re back in the usual rhythm of things.
Mother’s Day is beautiful. But it can also be busy, noisy, and a little too full. And what I’ve realised is that I’m not looking for more things to fit into a single day. I’m craving space — slow mornings, small joys, and simple rituals that feel like mine.
So this year, instead of cramming celebration into a few hours, I’m starting a Mother’s Day bucket list — just five little things that bring me joy. No deadlines. No pressure. Just moments to stretch across the months ahead, whenever the time feels right.
My Mother’s day (and beyond) bucket List
🌅 A sunrise coffee walk
I want to grab a takeaway from one of my favourite locals (two of my faves are Xtraction espresso and Estabar in front of Newy beach) and do half of the Bather’s walk. That or walk towards Merewether Baths just before the sun comes up. The city still feels asleep, the ocean’s doing its thing, and you get to just… exist for a minute.
🥐 Breakfast at a favourite buffet
I’m a fan of breakfast buffets, especially when I don’t have to clean up after. Rydges in the Hunter Valley is a go-to — it’s away from the crowds of town, has a bit of an escape feel, and the spread is always solid. Sitting there with a second coffee and no rush? That’s the vibe.
💆♀️ Spa and Facial Time
Not the squeeze-it-in kind — I mean a proper booking where I’m off the clock. A facial, maybe a massage, and no talking required unless I feel like it. I recently did the signature facial at a spa in the Junction and it was so relaxing. When you constantly have a mental load of looking after people, it’s just nice to switch off and have someone look after you for a change.
📖 Read at Mereweather beach
I’m currently reading the Wedding People and it’s become part of my nighttime routine. However, given how tired I get at the end of the day, I find myself getting sleepy two pages in. I dream of a full block of time where all I have is a picnic rug or just a patch of grass, and the sound of waves behind me while reading my book uninterrupted and full of energy. A dream solo time.
☕️ Trying a new café
I love my go-to coffee shops, but there’s something lovely about walking into a new café for the first time. I’m on the hunt for somewhere I’ve never been — I’ll order the most indulgent thing on the menu and linger for as long as I like. Or maybe as long as they’ll have me. I’m currently eyeing Equium Social in Mayfield and The Umbrian on Hunter Street.
Final thoughts on Mother's day
Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be a perfectly scheduled event or a string of pre-booked activities. For me, it’s about finding time for the things that fill me up — slowly, quietly, and in my own time.
And of course, the best part of all — better than the coffee walks, the spa days, or the new cafés — is the snuggles with my daughter, who is very much three years old at the moment (in every wonderful, chaotic sense).
Family time — in all its messy, loud, perfect imperfection — fills my cup the most. But carving out a bit of time for yourself, even just to tick off one little thing on your list? That matters too. You matter. However you choose to celebrate — whether it’s all in one day or spread out over a few weeks — just remember: this is your day. More importantly, this is your life, too.
