17 things you must have done with your mother before you turn 30

You have Mother's Day, her birthday, and maybe you even bring her a flower on her wedding day, but those are about the moments when you really stop to think about how happy you are with your mother. That's why the big checklist of things you should have done with your mother, because she is the best and you should seize and celebrate life.

1. Just the two of you away
Just a few days. How long has it been since you both slept in the same bed? Just snuggling up safely against her without fathers, men, or children vying for your attention.

2. Buy something for her with your salary
The first time I could do that felt so good. Instead of her opening her wallet, I pulled out my bank card and spoiled her with a beautiful coat.

3. Exercise together
My mother and I both rode horses. Every day after school, I would hop on my pony and we would ride together over the Zeeland dikes. When I think back to that, I could cry from happiness. But doing something together, enjoying the same things deepens your relationship.

4. Smoke a cigarette together
Very bad, I know. But so cozy.

5. Take her to a concert of your favorite artist
My brother and I brainwashed our mother so much that she also started to like Prince and Guns ’n Roses. Impressive, right?

6. Together to Venice

7. Crying about your heartbreak with her
And then therapeutic shopping together.

8. Her explaining how to insert a tampon

9. Take her on vacation with you and your love
I can imagine that not everyone will be clapping with joy here, but I have a really nice mother (duh) and a really nice man (duhuh) who also really like each other, so a vacation felt like doubled happiness.

10. Take a course together
A language course, for example. How nice. It's fun to have a goal again and something to work hard for (I signed up for the boating license exam, unfortunately not with my mother) and when you do that together, you have a natural momentum in the week when you see each other.

11. Skip the course together

12. Make clothes together
I always found that the most fun. I bought and cut the fabric and pinned the pattern pieces on. She did the rest.

13. Share her with your friends
Having a mother that your friends also like, sitting together at your round table in your little apartment, drinking wine, smoking cigarettes (see point 4, VERY BAD, we all quit but some things are allowed before you turn thirty), laughing, staying up late.

14. Ask her for advice on men
And of course, she was always right.

15. Watch a series together
Especially the ones your partner isn't interested in. We are totally team Downton Abbey, Grace and Frankie and can't wait for the new season of The Crown.

16. Share the Storytel app together
Due to various unpleasant matters (which I will share with you later), my mother sees very poorly. The audiobooks from Storytel were her gateway to the world in recent months. I found it very nice to see which books she had put on her virtual shelf and also very nice to listen to the same book. This way, we were still connected from a distance.

17. Give her a really nice gift
My mother has always done so much for us (my father by the way, so has my father, but that's for another time), like babysitting our children for years and folding and ironing our laundry like a pro. That was generously rewarded with a beautiful bag and when she turned seventy, a stunning necklace. It's nice to buy something for yourself, but being able to give something to your mother is the best.