Inside: A treasure for you to tuck away for your kids’ teenage years.

She gave you heartburn while you were pregnant. 

photo by Inna Lesyk

He ran you ragged for hours on end when he was three.

photo by Annie Spratt

She decided that you won’t sleep again for 27.3 months.

photo by Amanda Jordan

         You thought, “If only I could bottle their energy”.

photo by frank mckenna

Kids.

They have a knack for placing dirty hands on clean surfaces, those kids of yours. Those kids of mine. What is it with kids and dirt anyway?

You learned early on that:

• If you wore white, they would find mud, fall down, skin a knee and NEED a hug. NOOOOWWWWWWW!
• If you happened to find the bottom of the laundry hamper, your son would have explosive diarrhea- guaranteed.
• If you mopped the floor, your precious baby girl would slather herself with your expensive face cream and empty the baby powder in the bathroom. After you recover from your heart attack, she will proudly tell you that she was “helping”.

Get your FREE Tic Tac Toe with MOM Printable and DIGITAL Game.

Children.

Maybe your babies and toddlers are a handful.

Maybe you are exhausted.

Maybe you had to turn your shirt inside out because “sweetie-pie” puked on you as you were running out the door for a doctor appointment and all of your other shirts have been waiting to be transferred to the dryer for 48 hours.

photo by Kristopher Roller

Did you know there are women who wash, dry, fold and put away a load of clothing within 2-hours? Yeah, I was confused when I first learned about this too. Everyone knows you have to re-wash a load of laundry 4 times before transferring it to the dryer.

I know:

• You think you’ll be wiping noses and smelling diapers forever.
• You are confident that “she” stole your diamond ring, but since she can’t talk yet you will never see it again.
• He will be your undoing.

You do your best. You really do.

You are hoping it will buy you a “get out of jail free card” for those adolescent years. You pray that when your little darlin’ breaks into all their teenager-glory, that they will still be gushing with praises, pride, and pleasantries for you, their precious, perfect, mama. You believe that when your little darlin’ will always adore you.

“She will be different, he will defy the odds,” you hope.

I hate to break it to you…

Mother’s Day is around the corner.

Sanity saver: While it may seem self-serving to have your kids make you a Mother’s Day Craft,  you’re gonna want a reminder that your children love you some day.

‘Cause they will suddenly realize you are not perfect and you are, in fact, a flawed human… just like them.

It will happen without warning. But you will be shocked too when you discover that they are no longer angels either. (Pop. Bubble burst) You will snap out of the “baby bliss” to be suddenly giving a lecture to an eye-rolling, snarky, 6-foot tall (dare I Say) teenager.

This will be hard on you. This will be so hard for your kids.

Them: “How can it be that their perfect mom is not-so-perfect?”

You: “How can I survive my 12-year-old son, hormonal, weeping, angry son?”

Sometimes I dream that parenting through those hormone valleys was like going under general anesthesia.

“OK, mama. Breathe deeply and count backward from 10-1. You’ll be on the other side before you get to 5.”

I wish!

Unfortunately, you will fall hard from that pedestal you sit upon when your kiddos are little, just like I did. There may even be a shadow of the valley of adolescence for you both to travel through before your children “rise up and call you blessed again”. It’s ok.

But today. Today, you are going to take advantage of their total adoration of you, their beloved mother, by helping them make this beautiful Mother’s Day Keepsake craft, right now. You are gonna have to trust me if your kids are still little. You will NEED this later.

This is one of my very favorite creations.

It always turns out great! It’s beautiful and allows your kids to customize it “Just for You”. Plus, it’s treasure-chest worthy.

Pro Tip- As long as you don’t try to get your kids to finish it in one sitting, they really mean all the nice things they write about you.

This booklet craft is easily modified for different age kids.

Recommended Time for craft:  3 days- each with an hour block.

(some children prefer to complete the project in one sitting. Younger children require smaller chunks of time spread out over a few days)

Why do a Mother’s Day Keepsake?

• Your kids love you. Give them a chance to show it!
• They enjoy talking about you. Let them.
• Write it down while they still remember…
• You’ll want to capture the essence of where they are right now. Before you forget. Before they forget.
• Kids say the darn’dest things and it is precious to capture these funnies on paper. Plus, you will want to pull it out again when they are teenagers. You might need a reminder that they really do love you when he/she is temporarily insane.
• This craft uses scissor skills, helps fine motor development, and nurtures creativity.

• I pray you skip over the craziness of hormones and jump right into the “Wow! I really love the adult you’ve become” stage.
• I pray you even write a handbook for the rest of us.

71 Easy and Adorable Mother’s Day Crafts and Gifts 

Fingerprint Art Glass Magnets by Rhythms of Play

Pet Rock Tic Tac Toe by One Creative Mommy

Handprint Mason Jars by Christina’s Adventures

65 DIY Mother’s Day Crafts by My DIY and Crafts

Gifts for Mom