How to Have Peace, Serenity AND Breakfast in Bed on Mother’s Day

Most mornings, I make breakfast, but there’s one day of the year I like to have it served to me, in bed preferably.  That would be on Mother’s Day.

This gesture of love is too sweet for words, with adorable little waiters tripping over themselves to help and watching me eat each bite with pride on their faces.

Let’s be honest, though; there IS a downside to this Mother’s Day tradition, and I’m not the only woman to perceive it. In recent lurking on popular women’s forums, I picked up on underlying grievances at having to exchange a short period of relaxing and pampering for cold eggs and a messy kitchen to face after having dressed. (Not to mention hollering instructions down the hall to the kitchen. Raise your hand if you’ve done that.)

How can we make this much-deserved experience more enjoyable?

Well, I’m not ashamed to admit that in my home breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day is rigged ever so slightly. That is, I prepare and freeze some baking ahead of time, stock the fridge with my favorite organic yogurt or local triple cream Camembert, and pick up a few of my favorite fruits to ripen for Mother’s Day. My husband makes an incredible latte, and that, together with my prep, ensures a top-notch breakfast tray.

By simply planning  ahead and offering a few instructions/suggestions for the well-wishers, I increase my chances of getting a speedy and tasty breakfast in bed, minimize kitchen disasters, and ensure a relaxed start to the day for all.


Some might say this is taking matters into my own hands or over-complicating things, but I think there are many husbands/significant others out there who would actually appreciate pointers.  Perhaps you have a competent pre-teen who’s happy to make waffles, or luckier still, a chef-husband who’s had a menu planned and the flowers ordered for  a week already, but the rest of us are probably going to need a little help to ensure a peaceful morning AND breakfast in bed. Here’s how it can be done:

Mom’s To-Do List (day before)

  • Prepare do-ahead recipes for muffins, scones, or your favorite breakfast treat (see suggestions below). At the very least, purchase your favorite Danish or croissants and stash them in the freezer. Most of them re-heat quite nicely in the oven (not microwave.)
  • Purchase your favorite juice, cheese, yogourt and fresh fruit. Label them ‘M-O-M’ if you think they may get eaten before their appointed time.
  • Pick-up a favorite magazine or book if you really intend to make the most of your time alone.
  • Locate a tray or basket, cloth napkin, utensils, etc… and leave them in plain view.
  • Print this post for Dad.

Dad’s To-Do List (morning of)

  • Make coffee or tea, juice. Serve immediately.
  • Prepare fresh fruit.
  • Assemble yogurt and toppings (granola, muesli) or cheese plate.
  • Warm or bake pre-prepared baked goods and open the best jar of jam in the house.
  • Assembling everything in a sturdy tray or basket, along with cloth napkins, cutlery, and fresh flowers if available.

Let’s give the guys a break, shall we, especially the ones who don’t get behind the stove often. Mornings tend to be hectic for the best of us, and we’re used to it!  In my kitchen I’ve got two little ones under age five clamoring for food and drink and my strong dependence on coffee makes me a tad sluggish until it kicks in. My hubby is going to have his hands full; I want him to know he has my support.

Keeping breakfast simple for dad also ensures a peaceful morning for the whole family.

Tasks for Little Helpers

We all know they love to help. Here are some suggestions for keeping the children busy and feeling involved.

  • pick flowers for a vase
  • deliver the paper or a magazine to Mama
  • arrange fruit on a plate
  • color a pretty placemat for the tray
  • make a card for mom
  • practice singing a song for mom

Consider handing an older child the camera and let them document the morning; you’ll be glad you did.

Do-Ahead Breakfast Baking

Recipe: Basic Cream Scones

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 cup butter, cold, cubed
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup light cream (10 or 15%MF)
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar

1. Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder. With a pastry cutter, cut in butter until the butter is roughly pea-sized.

2. In a small bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Add cream and sugar and beat well.

3. Combine wet ingredients with the dry and fold gently to combine. Stir as little as possible. Add in currants or desired ‘extras’.

4. Using your hands, gather the dough into a rough ball and place on a floured counter top. Pat into a disc about 3/4 inch thick. Cut into triangles with a sharp knife or make shapes with a cookie cutter.

5. Place in an airtight container or plastic bag, label, and freeze OR bake at 450°F for 10 minutes. Serve warm.

To bake from freezing: Preheat oven to 425°F. Place frozen scones on baking tray and bake 12-16 minutes, or until sightly golden. Baking time will vary according to size of scones.

Variations/Extras:

  • zest of 1 lemon, orange or lime
  • toasted chopped nuts
  • 1/4 cup dried currants
  • chopped candied ginger
  • dried cranberries
  • sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • fresh herbs, chopped
  • berries
  • sliced rhubarb

A French press of dark roast, warm scones with homemade jam and a good non-fiction book is my ideal breakfast in bed. What’s yours?

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55 Comments

  1. This is a great list for the helping family members. My ideal breakfast in bed isn’t far off from yours, but I would swap the coffee for a good cup of tea and the scones for some homemade bread. Good reading is essential too and maybe, if possible, some favourite music to play in the morning.
    .-= Jan (Family Bites)’s last blog: Meal Planning Monday =-.

  2. Did you hear my fingers flying across the keyboard to forward this post to my hubby? 🙂

    Thanks for a great plan, Aimee! (and good reminder to label them “Mom” because, yes, in my house these goodies would be eaten) This sounds simple, delicious, and perfect!

    Happy Mother’s Day!
    .-= Kara Fleck’s last blog: Showcase: Link Love =-.

  3. I’m forwarding this to Steve right now! =)

    Love your practical pointers here, sometimes we do need to plan ahead to keep the peace.

  4. Those scones look splendid. Did you get to enjoy a pre-mother’s day morning, so that you could take pictures for the post?!
    .-= Jennifer Jo’s last blog: How to get your bedding/house/kids clean all in one day =-.

  5. This is the only way I’d let breakfast in bed happen. My husband actually loves to cook, but he is not the neatest person in the kitchen, and I threaten regularly to cut off his kitchen privileges unless he starts to be a bit less of a loose cannon, sprinkling salt and pepper haphazardly and leaving the stove a splatter-filled mess.

    I know I probably shouldn’t complain that he spends so much time in there, but really, my Type-A tendencies get the better of me each and every time. I try to keep him out by the grill, where a hose is always available to clean up the aftermath. 😉

    1. I’m happy you can relate. 🙂 That loose cannon stuff is not fun to clean up after.

      Let us know how it goes! You certainly deserve a break…

  6. I just made French Toast stuffed with brie, raspberry jam, and topped with berries. I think any mother would be happy with that breakfast:) Recipe is on my blog if interested:) Love your tips! Happy Mother’s Day to all!
    .-= Maria’s last blog: 2peas3-0 =-.

  7. Totally bookmarking this for Kyle right now, Aimee. Though I’m blessed to say that I have a great cook for a husband, so I’ll just let him pick the recipes and do the work himself. 🙂

    Great post!

  8. Ooo.. do I ever love these ideas. My hubby isn’t necessarily the best cook but he does take good care of me. I’m not allowed to do a stitch of work on Mothers Day (his rules not mine) so if they make a mess then they clean it up! 🙂

    My perfect breakfast in bed would be a cup of tea and something savoury. I’m a salty breakfast kind of person (for the most part).

    1. Love those rules. 🙂
      Hmm, savory… quiche is nice. Then again, so is a soft boiled egg with toast soldiers.
      Let us know what he makes!

  9. I read this and thought, “TYPE-A!! I can so relate…” With both kiddos under 3, I have yet to experience a Mothers’ Day breakfast in bed. (Though my husband does bake scones or an elaborate breakfast scramble almost every weekend.) For Mother’s Day, we go a different route for “relaxing” and head to our favorite breakfast resturant – no cooking or dishes for anybody!
    .-= Alissa’s last blog: Oreos =-.

  10. I’ll just be happy if someone in my house, besides me, even remembers that it is Mother’s Day.

    In my dream world though, an ideal breakfast in bed is one that does not involve my children but does include a pot of tea, sunshine, and my Hubby. And maybe room service.
    .-= Cheryl Arkison’s last blog: Taste Adventure – Eggplant =-.

  11. My birthday lands on Mother’s Day this year so I DEFINITELY don’t want to be involved in my breakfast process that morning 🙂 So I have forwarded this as fast as my little fingers could type!! Great ideas…seriously. And it’s much better to plan for ourselves than to play the martyr.
    .-= Aimee’s last blog: Raising Chickens =-.

  12. Sounds lovely- e-mailing my husband this post as we speak.

    I refuse to make breakfast this Sunday!

    I’m so excited!!!

    (Hahahaha!)
    .-= Amanda G.’s last blog: Link Love :: The Mommyhood Edition =-.

  13. What great lists! My husband once sprinkled sanding sugar on cheddar dill scones, so he’d definitely need a list!

    Though this year I am not asking for breakfast in bed and asking to sleep in a not be disturbed and let me wake up on my own accord! That is something that hasn’t happened in almost two years.
    .-= Melissa’s last blog: GO TEXAN Grapefruit, Honey and Lavender Cupcakes =-.

  14. I once read how Mother’s Day is society’s attempt to assuage our guilt for exploiting moms the other 364 days of the year. This post reminded me of that, and I’m left with a deep sense of sadness. The idea that we’d even have to plan our own special day ……. it’s actually the kind of situation where you have to laugh to keep from crying.

    Aimee – I’ve loved your past posts and this isn’t a criticism of you. It’s more an observation of our North American culture overall. I dream of the day when mothers are valued year-round for their profound contributions to families, churches, workplaces, communities and the world at large.

    1. I hear what you’re saying, Brenda. Mother’s Day (as well as Valentine’s Day, ect) was probably created for more commercial reasons than honoring mother. Unfortunately, it might be the only day some mothers get a call or a visit.

      I certainly feel honored year-round, and receive spontaneous acts of love and appreciation from my family. Still, I look forward to Mother’s Day – even if it means I have a good excuse to buy a new top! And that’s usually all it means.

      Thanks for your input!

  15. Brenda, I agree with you, or at least part of what you’re saying. My mother always poo-pooed Mother’s Day, when mothers get hoisted up on a pedestal. She always said that when people do that to mothers it’s actually an excuse to not have to truly respect them, in the sense that they are people like everyone else, with needs of their own; it excuses other people from taking their share of responsibility. I mostly hold the same belief—give me a hug, say I’m wonderful AND wash the dishes and scrub the toilet. But do it because I’m a person in our family, not any more special than anyone else.

    All that said, I’m very tempted to make scones and carry my laptop up to my room on Saturday night. I’ll do anything for some alone time!
    .-= Jennifer Jo’s last blog: How to get your bedding/house/kids clean all in one day =-.

  16. One of my friends laid down the law with her husband last year. It wasn’t about breakfast in bed, but she made sure he knew that he HAD to do something and HAD to get the kids to do something for Mother’s Day. If he didn’t do it, no one would. And despite the constant feeling of being taken advantage of – don’t we all feel this way at some point? – she wanted to stress the importance of taking time to say thanks. Her husband and kids are great nearly every day, but she wanted one day to have some attention focused back on her. And I totally agree with that.
    .-= Cheryl Arkison’s last blog: Taste Adventure – Eggplant =-.

    1. Bravo! Sometimes things literally have to be spelled out to our significant others.(well, kind of like this post) It’s not because they don’t love us, but guys are just wired differently. Plus, if most men are like my hubby, they rather like being told what to do. Danny loves lists; there’s nothing vague about the task, and he can execute with efficiency.

  17. Great post Aimee! My kids are teens now so they’re on their own, using their own creativity, but for the younger years, I totally agree. Help by being a bit organized! 🙂

    Found you on Twitter 🙂

  18. This will be my first Mother’s Day, and I’d love breakfast in bed! (Or maybe just an extra hour of sleep?)
    .-= Abbie’s last blog: More Animals! =-.

  19. I love this realistic approach to breakfast in bed. In fact, I had never even considered breakfast in bed as a relaxing treat until I read this post! Thanks for this, am forwarding now to husband 🙂

    Theresa
    .-= Theresa’s last blog: 65 =-.

  20. I love breakfast in bed and am blessed to be married to someone who will do that for me…no planning ahead on my part and no clean up afterwards. And not just for Mother’s day. The first two weeks post partum, he would bring me breakfast in bed everymorning after he feed the older children. When I was on bed rest with our first pregnancy, he worked near our house and would often come home to make me lunch. If he couldn’t he always made sure there was something in the fridge that I could just warm up. I know how lucky I am. I do love his thoughtfulness, and I let him know it.

    I do agree with the premise of this blog post. So many times women don’t let their significant others know what they want and then are disappointed when they don’t get it. I say at least let the guy have a fighting chance, let him know what you would like.

  21. I’m glad I subscribe to this blog, even if I am only seventeen! You just gave me a wonderful heads up/plan for Mother’s Day food plans! =D

    I was worried because I don’t know how Mother’s day was going to work out (may have to work) But pre-preparing might make everything work out! ^o^

    Oh, can all of these baked goods be made ahead and frozen? If so, how would you suggest re-warming them?

    1. I’m so glad you’ve subscribed too, Alisa! Thanks for reading.

      The scones can indeed be made ahead and frozen (raw or baked). So can the muffins and lemon loaf.

      To reheat: remove from freezer as soon as possible in the morning (yep, that means pre-coffee-and-email-check!). Preheat an oven to 300F. Place baking on a tray and warm in the oven until heated through. Wrap in a cloth napkin and serve.

  22. As a single Mom for over 10 years, I am well versed in the art of appreciating myself on Mother’s Day (& b’days & Xmas etc). This is a wonderful idea and I shall use it and spread it around my house for all the children to see. Thank you. And Happy Mother’s Day.
    .-= Sandy B’s last blog: Fertilizer Friday – 7 May 2010 =-.

  23. Oh, Aimee! My breakfast this morning was warm, delicious, and created entirely by my husband and kiddos – I didn’t have to do anything but print out this post 🙂 THANK YOU!

    What a relaxing and pampering way to start out the day …. I think we have a new Mother’s Day tradition in our house and Chris is already asking me what you are planning for Father’s Day 🙂

    Best Wishes!
    .-= Kara Fleck’s last blog: The Best of Both Worlds: Bringing Our Favorite Indoor Activities to the Outdoors =-.

  24. I love this post. It worked beautifully for me. My five year old was asking me the whole week about Mother’s day and what we were doing. So I made gluten free waffle mix, set out the waffle maker and set the coffee maker to just be turned on. Told my husband lovingly that the kids wanted to do something for me and that I had prepped everything so that he did not have to worry. I know he works so hard, physically hard, all week so I wanted to make it easy for him too. We all slept in. He took the kids and made cards for me and got breakfast ready and we enjoy a leisurely morning. Went to the late service at church and he reorganized the garage to make room for my sewing stuff. So sweet and thoughtful! Thanks for the ideas!
    .-= Keilah’s last blog: Mother’s Day Surprise =-.

  25. I made the scones (I added lemon-zest and dried cranberries) and put them in the freezer with the instructions for baking. Hubby and The Kid bustled around making them Sunday morning, cutting fresh strawberries, a little 6-yr. old cheddar…and brought it all in on a tray, then left me be with a “Hello” magazine. Awesome!! Best Mother’s Day breakfast ever!

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  28. This is too funny, and serendipitous. Just 2 nights ago I implored my husband, “Please-no breakfast in bed!” For exactly the reasons you’ve mentioned. There is usually much hollering and gnashing of teeth, and quite frankly, I’m not a stay-in-bed kind of person in the morning, so it’s difficult for me to lay there and wait (and wait, and wait) for the goings on to finish. Maybe next year I’ll relent.

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  30. I can’t get behind this at all. I had a friend growing up who’s mom purchased and wrapped all of her own presents at Christmas time because it was easier/nicer than dealing with what her husband got for her. Yeah, it ensures that things go exactly the way she would like, but it also ensures that the fun gets sucked out of the holiday. I want my husband and kids to celebrate me in a way that comes organically out of who they are. Even if it means that the day doesn’t live up to some scripted fairy-tale ideal notion of what Mother’s Day is supposed to be. I want to have fun, not perfection.

  31. Hi Aimee,

    I just made these scones with lemon zest and dried cranberries and they turned out beautifully! What a great and easy recipe that I will definitely make again. Wondering how they differ from your recipe in BEJJ? Thanks.

  32. I don’t know why I never make heart-shaped scones. Maybe I’ll do that for a father’s day cream tea, with clotted cream and homemade jam.