My Mother turns 60 this summer and I want to do something special for her. First I am in WV not TX, I can change it all I want and it goes back to Tx the next time I log in. I have thought about a picnic at a park and inviting guests or a hot dog roast at my brothers (haven't asked him, but doubt it will be a problem), but I am looking for some other ideas before my brother and I get together. It can not be anything too expensive, because my mom would hate that rather than feel cherished like she is. Nothing fancy, because she would feel out of place. Any suggestions?
Thanks everyone for all of the wonderful answers. I haven’t talked to my brother yet, so nothing as been decided “officially”. Everyone of you gave me some wonderful ideas and I appreciate it tremendously. My mother and I don’t see eye to eye on everything and she drives me crazy some days, but she is my mother and I love and respect her dearly and I want to make her 60th very memorable for her.
I absolutely love the scrapbook/photo album idea. That will get done. Some way or another, I was given several suggestions. However I do it will get the title of “60 reasons why we love her” ~ even if there are 160 reasons that we end up with : ) I may do a more scrapbook one for people to add to and write in and then take pictures at the party and have that made into a photo book for her.
My mom will say she doesn’t want a surprise party, but she will be thrilled. With just her siblings and their kids and their kids our numbers top 40 and we show up pretty good to most things. Add in some friends and it is hard to tell how many we will have. Which is why I am leaning towards the state park as the parking would be better than at my brother’s house.
It will likely be an outdoor event, because my mother loves to be outside, no matter the weather. At 60 she hasn’t really slowed down yet and was complaining the other day about having to come in after working in her flower garden, because it got dark. We just need to make sure she has a shady spot and pray for no rain.
I picked hot dogs because my mom loves them. Personally for a birthday bash I would prefer something else but she will love it, especially if she has to roast it herself over a fire. My mother is a WONDERFUL cook, of which that talent I inherited none of. I try, I just don’t succeed. It has become somewhat of a family joke, but I do keep trying.
Jody R ~ no concrete plans yet, but you can come regardless of what we do.
Thanks again everyone. I think you have helped us make my mothers 60th birthday even more special.
I think a nice family cook-out/BBQ would be really nice! Are there any friends/siblings/relatives she hasn't seen in a while that you could also invite? That might be nice.
For my mom's 60th we surprised her with a birthday dinner with close friends and family but the best surprise was my brother & his wife coming from out of town. My brother, sister, & I split the tab for dinner.
My mom turned 80 last year. She's been battling ovarian cancer for a number of years so we realize that every birthday may be her last. We had a large BBQ gathering - with all the family and a number of friends.
We told everyone to prepare to honor my mom - sort of like a roast - but not sarcastic or poking fun - as my mom does not have a sense of humor involving her own foibles. Her old friends told stories of their childhood togther, my aunt told of raising children together, trips to the beach and the grocery store that got hilarious or silly. More recent friends shared how blessed they were when she prayed for them or prepared a dish when they were ill. My siblings told of "mom-stories" that were unique to them. Even the grandkids joined in and shared stories of baking with grandma, or the joyous anticipation they'd had driving to her house for Christmas, or cookie baking, etc. My then 13 yr old daughter told of how she went with my mom while I went to the hospital to give bith to her younger brother, how nervous grandma was, etc.
How blessed my mom was to hear all these sweet things told of her while she was alive to hear them! We usually reserve these things for eulogies - when it's too late for the subject to enjoy listening.
Whatever you do - if it involves her children and granchildren your mom will enjoy it.
I do think that a 60th ranks higher on the food chain than hot-dogs - but I am a "food-snob" I'm told (I love hotdogs BTW - saurkraut or chili - or one of each).
BBQs are fun and so are weenie roasts, but I dont know a lot of 60 yr old women that want to be outside in the summer.
I've got a fun idea. Why not make mom a Clebrating 60 yrs of Mom theme? Make a meal of all her signature dishes. My mom used to get a big kick out of us making her recipies - lasagna, her famous stuffing, her stuffed bell peppers, celery with peanut butter. Just all the childhood favorites we grew up with. Assign each sibling to a dish. You can make little table tents on the computer that say - Moms Famous Corned Beef by John. You can make a little poster or something that says - Celebrating 60 yrs of our Mom. Wont cost any money, but will make her feel special and appreciated and like she passed down her heritage to you. I would reccomend inviting any extended family that lives far away. A 60 yr old birthday party could be just the excuse one of her brothers, sisters, cousins needs to come visist. Wouldn't that be a fantastic gift for her! And with summer being months away it gives people time to budget and plan for the trip.
It sounds like youre mom is a no frills type, I think having a hot dog roast would be fun, you could step it up, rent a tent or some other covering with "misters" am assuming in WV it gets very humid and hot. Have a gourmet table set up with "fancy" fixings, bacon, pepperocini''s, different cheeses, saurekraut, onion, chili, gourmet mustards, etc. Also, use a better grade of hot dogs, such as Nathans or Kosher ones, with a variety of gourmet buns, offer brats and knockwurst. Some people like potatoes with hot dogs , so you could offer a "mashed potato" bar, some of the same fixings could be used as toppings as well, but add sour cream with fresh chives to it. You can buy plastic martini glasses to use instead of plates for the potatoes. Set her up a special place to sit,, have cupcakes and place them on a 2 tier serving setting them in the shape of a cake, hope this helps! if you do this can I come? LOl
The picnic sounds delightful! How about making a photo album with a photo of each of her children and grandchildren. Have each person write a sentence or more about your Mom and include it under their photo in the album. I can assure you if my kids did this I would be in heaven.
How about a surprise party? We did one for my mom for her 70th birthday, and she was so happy to see friends and family that she hasn't seen in a while. And she was completely surprised! She thought that the guests that came were the best present. Hope this helps.
keep it simple....it should be all about her & not what you feel is expected!
My Mom is adamant about not having big or surprise parties. She hates them! She prefers simple gatherings with just the immediate family & friends.
Next year, Mom is celebrating her 70th & I will be 50. I already know that the celebration will be a road trip with my Sis. That's what makes Mom happiest!
my mom turned 60 just after we moved to AZ and didn't know anyone here or have family. So i went to her house when she wasn't home and printed off all her xmas card labels (over 200 of them!!). I sent a letter to each person asking them to send my mom a bday card to ME (I included a sticker with my address on it for them to use) saying some nice things about her or sharing a fond memory. I put them all in a basket that I decorated and gave those to her. She has a great time reading all of them and thinking back about the memories. Some even included pictures. I know this isn't a party idea you were looking for but thought it was kind of cool and would share it anyway. :o)
I think it sounds perfect!
If you all do not want to bother with the cooking get a BBQ place to bring out all of the food, or have someone pick it up.
Maybe Fried Chicken from the Chicken Shack.. Serve ice cold watermelon and a huge cake!
She is going to love it.
When my mother turned 60, we got her 60 boxed roses. It was funny, she opened the box and just kept pulling out more and more and more. She was flaberghasted. As long as it's not next to any holiday, you should be able to get a good price. Maybe a florist would give you a discount since you are buying so many.
My other idea is to get her family and friends to submit writings to compile into a "60 reasons why we love her" book. Stories, anecdotes, histories or talents. They all can go in to this book. Maybe you could take the finished product to a Kinkos or something and get it professionally printed.
Good luck!
Yes - I would do a back yard suprise party with close family and friends. We did that for my MIL 50th bday last summer. We got out some baby and school pictures of her. I printed some things off the internet about how much stuff cost when she was born, age 10, age 20 etc and also printed up a list of historical and important things that had happened during her life time. Everyone got a kick out of the list and really like looking thru them.
A family BBQ would be wonderful. She would be surrounded by family and friends and there aren't the time constraints associated with using a restaurant or renting a hall. You can do this really inexpensively with a caterer... I was surprised at how reasonable it was, especially if you factor in your own time. We had a catered BBQ with tent and rentals for our rehearsal dinner for 60 people and spent under $3000 for the whole event (including all paper supplies, beer, wine and soda)- and we live in NY!
I would also suggest having the guests contribute to a scrapbook for your mom. Have everyone email or mail (ahead of time) letters, pictures, memories, etc and then assemble them into a beautiful scrapbook for her to be given at the party.
