Your mom is likely one of the most important people in your life, so it can be hard to see her feeling down. If you are wanting to cheer up your mom, there are many ways to put a smile back on her face, from talking to her about her feelings to showing her you care with gifts or acts of service. We interviewed licensed clinical psychologist Rebecca Kason for expert tips on making your mom feel happy when she’s upset. Find those tips and more in the guide below!
How to Make Your Mom Feel Better
- Ask your mom what’s bothering her and how you can support her. Give her a big hug and remind her how much you love her.
- Show your mom you care by reaching out to her or giving her a small gift. Randomly call or text her and invite her to do something fun with you.
- Comfort your mom when she’s stressed by taking something off her plate: offer to help around the house or run an errand on her to-do list.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat do you do when your mom is sad?Dr. Rebecca Kason is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist licensed in both New York and New Jersey. She specializes in adolescent mental health, dialectical behavior therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Dr. Kason treats clients struggling with emotional dysregulation, behavioral disorders, interpersonal difficulty, family conflict, anxiety, depression, and phobias. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The University of Delaware and a Master's degree in Applied Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. Dr. Kason completed an APA accredited internship at Mount Sinai Services. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapy.Start with validating their emotions, behaviors, or thoughts. This doesn’t necessarily mean you agree with them, but that you find them understandable.
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QuestionHow can I help my mom with stress?Dr. Rebecca Kason is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist licensed in both New York and New Jersey. She specializes in adolescent mental health, dialectical behavior therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Dr. Kason treats clients struggling with emotional dysregulation, behavioral disorders, interpersonal difficulty, family conflict, anxiety, depression, and phobias. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The University of Delaware and a Master's degree in Applied Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. Dr. Kason completed an APA accredited internship at Mount Sinai Services. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and Association for Behavior and Cognitive Therapy.Ask how you can support her. If she is having trouble answering, you can give a multiple choice option that includes a normalizing statement. For example, “Sometimes when I am upset I like to have some alone time, other times when I am upset I want someone to hear me out. Which do you think would be best for you right now?”
Tips
- While it’s kind of you to comfort your mom from time to time, remember that it’s not your job to support your parents emotionally. If you’re experiencing emotional parentification , it may be time to establish boundaries with your mom and find new ways to support her that don’t affect your own mental health. [11] X Research sourceThanks
- Remember that it is also possible your mom may just be feeling a little blue. This happens to many people, and it doesn’t always happen for a particular reason.Thanks
- However, if your mom continues to feel sad or you’re seeing signs of depression, you may want to gently advise her to talk to a therapist or doctor.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- If she doesn't want to say why she is sad, don't keep bothering her about it. Maybe it is something that she doesn't want to say or can't say. You can still make her feel better by helping around the house or doing something nice for her.
- If your mom is feeling sick in bed, cheer her up by dressing as her personal butler or waitress. Ask her what her order is, then cook it up in the kitchen and bring it to her on a tray.
- Try to stay in a positive mood, at least for a little while, and avoid starting needless arguments with siblings or other people in the house.
- Make a craft for her like handmade jewelry or a homemade card.
References
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/depression/how-to-cheer-someone-up-with-depression#what-to-do
- ↑ Rebecca Kason, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.
- ↑ Rebecca Kason, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.
- ↑ Rebecca Kason, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.
- ↑ Rebecca Kason, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/unified-theory-happiness/201406/4-benefits-hugs-mind-and-body
- ↑ http://psychcentral.com/lib/best-things-to-say-to-someone-whos-depressed/
- ↑ https://www.joinonelove.org/learn/19-ways-show-s-o-love-without-saying-word/
- ↑ https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/healtharticle.7-ways-to-show-someone-you-care
About This Article
If you want to cheer up your mom, show her you love her by being supportive and helping around the house. The easiest way to make your mom happy is to reach out and tell her comforting words, like “I love you” or “You’re important to me.” Spend some time with her doing an activity she enjoys, which shows you care about her interests. For example, if she's a foodie, take her to a new restaurant in town. Even simply giving her a hug can cheer her up. Additionally, ask if there’s anything around the house you can do to make her day easier. For example, you could clean your room or offer to make dinner so she can spend some time relaxing. Alternatively, you can surprise her by doing some of her chores, like cleaning the dishes, without telling her. For more tips from our co-author, like how to send your mom an encouraging text, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "This advice is a game-changer! My mom has been doing yard work all week and is always tired afterwards, After I made dinner and helped around, I noticed her a lot brighter. Thank you, I will definitely pass this advice to my other friends! " ..." more